Chantenay. Chantenay carrots grow five to six inches into the soil and can be grown in most soil types, though they prefer rich, heavy soil conditions. Ball-type. Also known as “Thumbelina,” Ball-type carrots are extremely similar to Chantenay, though they do not grow quite as long. [2] X Research source Danvers. Danvers carrots are large block-shaped carrots that need heavy, nutrient-rich soil in order to thrive. The soil does not have to be deep, however. Nantes. Originally from France, Nantes carrots are cylindrical carrots with rounded tips that grow between six and nine inches deep. Like Danvers, they thrive in shallow rich soil. Imperator. This variety, commonly found at the grocery store, needs deep, airy soil. Imperator carrots are characterized by their particularly long, spindly roots that hang on to the tip of the carrot. They are very particular about their soil conditions, so make sure your soil is deep, rich, airy, and has good drainage before attempting to plant this variety. Amsterdam: These are a small variety, about 3 inches (76 mm) long, which makes them ideal for shallow soil or poorer soil conditions. They can also be harvested earlier.
Remove any rocks or hard, clumpy soil from the area. Use a rake to catch any small stones. You want the soil to be fluffy rather than hard and clay-like. If the soil is too clay-like, you can soften it by adding organic matter (such as yard trimmings or manure), sand, or compost to the soil. If you do not do this, the carrots will not reach a good shape. You may want to build a raised bed to plant your carrots in. Because carrots require such strict soil conditions, it can be helpful to start an entirely new planting area rather than try to adapt an existing one. Use cedar wood to build the planter beds, as it does not mold when it gets wet.
Carrots like a cool climate. If you are planting in USDA hardiness zone eight or warmer, you should sow your carrot seeds in the fall or winter. Again, make sure your soil is extremely well tilled and loose before deciding to plant. Alternately, learn to grow carrots in a pot. The process for growing carrots in a pot is pretty much the same as in the ground or a planter box. You just need to make sure that your pot is deep enough to hold the carrots and allow the roots to expand.
Pull out any weeds that develop through the mulch by hand. Do so gently so as not to disturb the carrot roots. Be sure to cover any part of the carrot itself that begins to grow out of the ground with mulch. If the carrot crown is exposed to the air, it will become bitter.
This reduces crowding and allows the individual carrots enough room to grow and expand their roots. After another two weeks passes and the carrot tops have grown several inches high, thin the plants again to three to four inches apart. Be sure not to skip this step, as crowded carrots will not grow straight and may not develop fully.
Hand-pull the carrots from the base of the greenery to avoid damaging any roots. Grab the base of the greenery and wiggle the carrot around before pulling straight up. Water the planting area before you pull the carrots up to loosen the soil and make it easier to pull the carrots without damaging the roots.
