Carrots can be grown successfully in containers. They have green foliage above ground and orange roots below. Carrots grow slowly over 10 weeks and can be harvested at various sizes. Small carrots pulled for thinning can be eaten raw with their greens. Larger carrots are also eaten raw without peeling. 'Paris Market' and other short, round varieties are best for container growing. Seeds are sown directly in compost and thinned as the seedlings grow to provide space for the remaining carrots to develop to a reasonable size over 10-12 weeks.

1. Photography © Ray Spence
Carrots
Photography © Ray Spence
Carrots have attractive feathery green
foliage above ground and crunchy orange
(or yellow, white or purple) roots below.
Each plant produces one carrot.
They will grow outdoors in most weather.
A window box is an ideal place for round
rooted Paris Market carrots. You can eat
carrots at any size. Eat the tiny carrots you
have pulled when thinning them out.
Leave the rest to get bigger. You should
have reasonable sized carrots in 10 weeks.
Eat them raw and crunchy, with the leaves
attached to hold on to. A light wash,
but no peeling, is needed.
Suggested pot size: Any wide container, at least 15cm deep.
Early’, round and short rooted varieties are best for pot growing.
Some to try: ‘Nantes 2’ – early, Amsterdam Forcing – early
‘Paris Market’ – short round roots
‘Resistafly’ - some resistance to carrot root fly
‘Amsterdam forcing’ and ‘Ideal’
Plant
Grow
Eat
1. Fill container with moist compost and firm gently.
2. Sprinkle seeds evenly over the surface, 2-3cm apart.
3. Cover with a 0.5cm layer of compost.
4. Water well.
Growing tips
Carrots are quite slow to grow, and
can be eaten over a period of time.
Practice sprinkling seeds evenly over
a piece of paper before sowing into the
pot. Covering the pot with clear plastic,
glass or cling film will keep the compost
moist until the seedlings come up.
Grow outside in a light, airy spot.
Compost to use:
Multipurpose, organic and peat-free
1. the seedlings grow, gently pull
As
some out, evenly across the pot, to
give the remainder more room to grow.
Eat these ‘thinnings’ if they are
large enough.
2. Repeat until the plants are about 5cm apart.
Watering tips:
Use a watering can with a ‘rose’
attached to spread the water evenly
over the plants. Make sure that the
surface of the compost doesn’t dry out
before the seedlings come up.
1. up carrots when they are
Pull
large enough, as required.
The ones you leave in will
continue to grow.
Support: None needed
Protection:
Where the pest ‘carrot root fly’ is
common, cover with net curtain or
gardening fleece.
Feeding: None needed
Early
Spring
Feb
Carrots
Spring
Mar
Apr
Summer
May
Jun
Jul
Autumn
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Sow indoors
Sow outdoors
Harvest
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The One Pot Pledge® concept was devised by Food Up Front, the urban food growing network. Trade Mark registered to Food Up Front. Garden Organic is a registered charity no. 298104