Curing Potatoes: The Three Weeks That Decide the Winter
Fresh-dug potatoes need three weeks at 55-60 F with high humidity before they ever see a root cellar or a cardboard box.
Watering Carrots: Why Uneven Water Splits the Root
Split carrot roots trace back to irregular soil moisture more often than gardeners realize.
Thinning Carrots: When, and How Far Apart
Thin carrots once seedlings show three to four true leaves, cutting them down to two to three inches apart in rows spaced twelve to eighteen inches.
Sowing Carrots: Soil Temperature, Not the Calendar
Soil temperature decides the sowing date, not the calendar page. Carrot seeds germinate best at 55-65 F, but Utah State University Extension sets the…
Carrot Soil: Why the Root Forks and What Fixes It
Carrots fork when the taproot hits heavy or rocky soil and splits into several roots instead of growing straight down.
Harvesting and Storing Carrots: 32 F and 95 Percent
Store carrots at 32 F and 95 percent relative humidity, the benchmark set by Utah State University Extension.
Forked and Twisted Carrots: Reading What the Soil Did
A forked or twisted carrot root usually means the tip hit something it couldn’t push through, or the soil around it changed moisture too many times while…
Growing Carrots in Florida: Soil, Sowing and Forked Roots
Florida’s official state soil is almost pure sand, which sounds like carrot heaven until you learn it’s also rated poorly drained.
Growing Carrots in Delaware: Soil, Sowing and Forked Roots
Delaware’s official state soil, the Greenwich series, runs well drained and only mildly acid, which sounds encouraging for carrots.
Growing Carrots in Connecticut: Soil, Sowing and Forked Roots
Connecticut’s most representative soil, the Windsor series, is sandy and sharp-draining, the opposite of the heavy, waterlogged ground that twists a…