How To Grow Carrots Indoors
This post may contain affiliate links which might earn us money. Please read my Disclosure and Privacy policies hereCan you grow carrots indoors? Growing carrots indoors is a great way to enjoy the taste and nutrition of homegrown carrots all year round. Not only can you enjoy the convenience of having ready-to-harvest carrots at your fingertips, but you don’t have to worry about pests or other outdoor hazards ruining your crop.
Carrot is a versatile vegetable used in many dishes and easy to store when grown indoors. Read on to learn more about how to grow carrots indoors and the benefits of growing carrots indoors.
And the truth is that it is not as hard as you might think. Growing carrots indoors can be done by just about anyone. If you are a beginner gardener, you can grow your carrots indoors using a container.
Can Carrots Grow Indoors?
Carrots can be grown indoors. While more care is needed than for other plants, such as chives, it is still relatively easy to do so. Carrots are incredibly versatile and can grow in planting zones three through ten.
They prefer cooler temperatures of 80 degrees Fahrenheit or less and require two inches of water per week. You can grow a successful crop of carrots indoors with the right soil, watering, and temperature requirements.
Which Carrots are Easiest to Grow Indoors?
Some of the most commonly grown varieties of carrots indoors include ‘Little Finger', ‘Nantes', and ‘Danvers Half Long.' All of these varieties are relatively small and require a slightly acidic soil pH.
When planting carrots indoors, it is important to ensure that the soil is well-draining and to use a low-nitrogen fertilizer. With the right conditions, these varieties of carrots should produce a harvest in as little as two months.
Little Finger Carrots
Growing Little Finger carrots indoors is a great way to enjoy delicious and nutritious homegrown carrots year-round! These small, finger-sized carrots are perfect for growing in containers, as they don’t need too much space or soil.
You can easily sow them two inches apart in deep pots and fill the pot with potting soil. Leaving an inch of the top of the pot open helps promote ventilation and drainage, which is important for healthy root growth.
Nantes Carrots
Nantes carrots are tasty and relatively easy to grow. Plus, you can enjoy a steady supply of baby carrots all year round! The best thing about growing Nantes carrots indoors is that they don’t require a lot of fuss. They prefer a loamy soil that is well-draining, and you can use a medium-sized container about 8 inches deep.
On the flip side, you will need to ensure your indoor environment has enough light for your carrots to grow healthy and strong. If you don’t have enough natural light in your space, you may need to invest in some grow lights. But other than that, Nantes carrots are an excellent choice for indoor gardening!
Danvers Half Long
Danvers Half Longs is another type of carrot that is great to grow indoors. The main benefit is that they are easy to grow, disease-resistant, and fully hardy. You can have a steady supply of baby carrots all year by growing them in containers under lights.
One of the drawbacks is that they require a medium-sized container (about 8-inches) and take about 65 to 75 days to reach maturity, so you have to be patient while waiting for the carrots to grow. However, overall it's a great option for those who want to enjoy the delicious taste of carrots all year round!
Chantenay Red Cored
Another carrot you can grow indoors is Chantenay Red Cored. They are a beautiful, smaller carrot type that can reach up to 5 and a half inches in length and have a golden-orange color with a blunt tip. They are also packed full of vitamins and very delicious when eaten fresh.
They are also great for freezing, canning, or storing. The main advantage of growing Chantenay Red Cored carrots indoors is the convenience and control over the environment. You can ensure they get the right amount of sun, water, and other nutrients they need to thrive.
On the downside, you may need to pay extra attention to them as they may develop a woody core if not harvested early enough. However, with the right care and attention, you will be rewarded with delicious carrots that have been grown in your own home!
How To Grow Carrots Indoors
You are going to need the following:
Pot – At least 8 inches deep or deeper for longer-growing carrots.
Potting soil – I recommend good-quality soil.
Carrot seed packet – I used Burpee Seeds, but you can use another good-quality seed.
Directions:
- Fill the pot with potting soil and leave about an inch of the top.
- Use water and moisten the soil.
- Sprinkle the seeds over the surface. Don't worry about spacing them out.
- Place your pot with carrots near a sunny window.
- Water when you see the soil getting dried.
- When the carrots start to germinate, use a pair of scissors, clip out the seedlings, and leave about one-half inches between the seedlings.
- Do this again when your seedlings are about 2-3 inches tall by thinning them again, and this time make sure you have about an inch of space between them. Follow the recommendations on the carrot seed packet.
Creative ways to grow carrots
Get ideas on how you can start growing carrots below:
How To Re-Grow Carrot Indoors
Re-growing carrots indoors is a simple activity you can do with your kids.
You can grow many vegetables from scraps, but I will admit that regrowing carrots from scraps was one of our favorite things to do. It wasn't hard to do nor expensive, and it was something my kids seemed to enjoy.
To regrow carrots indoors, we used the carrot tops method.
- Use leftover raw carrots and cut about an inch off the top of the carrot or carrots.
- Place the carrot or carrots on a plate or a saucer and fill it halfway to the carrot top.
- One thing that we did was change the water frequently. After a few weeks, we planted the carrots into pots full of soil.
- After transplanting the carrots into the pots, they seemed to thrive and grew faster. Again we watered them when needed and took good care of them.
Will a Carrot grow from regrowing another carrot?
I'm often asked whether it's possible to regrow a carrot from another carrot. The answer is no, you cannot! Carrots are root vegetables, meaning they do not produce new carrots from their roots. You can watch the plants grow and see a flower. Once the flower provides, carrot seeds use those seeds to plant more carrots.
Yes, you can, but you need to increase your light intensity as much as possible with artificial lighting such as LED or fluorescent bulbs.
Yes, you’ll need soil that is light and contains adequate drainage. You should also use a fertilizer specifically designed for root vegetables with low nitrogen content.
You can use anything from a terracotta pot to a large plastic container. Whatever type of container you choose, make sure it has adequate drainage holes and is large enough to facilitate root growth.
Depending on the variety, carrots can take anywhere from 60 to 90 days to mature. It’s important to begin harvesting once the carrot tops have grown at least two inches above the soil surface.
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