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Varieties
Baby: Little Finger, Napoli, Nelson, Short n' Sweet, Thumbelina
Processing: Danver 126, Gold King, Spartan Bonus
Fresh: Danver Half Long, Imperator 58, Nantes Half Long, Red Core Chantenay, Royal Chantenay, Scarlet Nantes, Sweet Rocket, Touchon
Soil Preferences
Tolerates wide range of soils and pH but prefers deep, well-drained, friable sandy loam types with pH of 6.5 - 7.8. Extremely sensitive to soil salinity and crusting. Avoid development of hardpan.
Optimum Growing Conditions
Moderately cold nights (45-50°F) with cool days (60-75°F). High temperatures cause bitterness, woodiness, and reductions in root sugar and color. Roots can withstand considerable cold but tops can be freeze sensitive (<20°F). Increasing temperature and day length enhances bolting.
Establishment Methods
| Planting Method | Direct seeded |
|---|---|
| Optimum Time | Spring - soil seed zone temperature 40-50°F Fall - soil seed zone temperature 80-95°F |
| Seeding rate | Raw seed - 2-4 lbs/acre Coated seed - 1.5-2.5 lbs/acre |
| Approx seed/oz | 23,000 |
| Seeding depth | 1/8-1/4" |
| Seedling spacing | 1-2" in-row in 4-6 lines on 38-40" raised beds. Adjust precision planters to drop seeds at slightly greater pacing in the inside lines than for the outer lines. |
Fertility/Fertilization
Rates presented as actual lbs/acre N2, P2o5, and K2o (base actual rates applied on soil test results).| Generalized rate: 80 - 80 - 100 lb/acre | |
| N* | 50-120 divided between pre-plant and 1-2 side-dressings) |
|---|---|
| P | 60-80 banded 2" below seed at planting |
| K | 60-100 applied pre-plant (normally not needed in most areas of Texas) |
Water/Irrigation
10 - 15" of water uniformly distributed over the growing season. Most critical growth stage is emergence due to shallow planting depth. Keep seed beds moist during germination and emergence. Pre-plant irrigation may be beneficial.Pest Management
Carrot Diseases and Common Name of Fungicidal Controls
| DISEASE | FUNGICIDE* | OMRI LISTED FUNGICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf blights | propiconazole, trifloxystrobin, | neem oil, |
| Nematode | 1,3-dichloropropene, metam-potassium, chloropicrin, metam-sodium, sesame oil, | azadirachtin, |
| Powdery mildew | azoxystrobin, boscalid, potassium phosphite, potassium salts of fatty acids, propiconazole, pyraclostrobin, sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, trifloxystrobin, | Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtillus, extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis, neem oil, potassium bicarbonate, streptomyces lydicus, sulfur, |
| Root rot | streptomyces lydicus, | |
| Seedling damping off | fludioxonil, thiram, |
Carrot Insect Pests and Common Name of Insecticidal Controls
| INSECT | INSECTICIDE* | OMRI LISTED INSECTICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Cutworm | Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Carbaryl, Cyfluthrin, Deltamethrin, Esfenvalerate, Methoxyfenozide, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis |
| Grub | Azadirachtin | |
| Leafhopper | Carbaryl, Deltamethrin, Endosulfan, Esfenvalerate, Imidacloprid, Malathion, Potassium salts of fatty acids, Sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, Thiamethoxam, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Kaolin, Pyrethrins, |
| Weevil | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts |
Weeds and Common Name of Herbicidal Controls
| WEED | HERBICIDE* | OMRI LISTED HERBICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Preplant incorporated | bensulide, trifluralin | Corn gluten meal |
| Preemergence (prior to spear emergence) | linuron, metribuzin | |
| Postemergence | carfentrazone, fluazifop, paraquat, linuron, sethoxydim, glyphosate, pelargonic acid, clethodim, metribuzin | d-limonene, clove oil, cinnamon and clove oil |
* The above is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some labels may have been revoked since the publication of this guide. Refer to product labels for specifics and use accordingly. Ensure that products with one of the listed active ingredients is registered for the crop it is to be used on. Failure to do the above may result in crop injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals and the environment may also be adversely affected by misuse.
** As stated in §205.206 of the National Organic Standards, pest management decisions should follow a hierarchical approach, which should be defined in a farm's organic systems plan. Please ensure that you have followed the appropriate steps and any product to be used in certified organic production systems has been approved by your certifying agent.
Harvest
| Days after planting | 85-135 |
|---|---|
| Normal method | Machine |
| Containers | Bulk wagons |
| Grades | Based on root appearance (defects, shape, etc.) |
| Packaging/Handling | Bulk loads washed, graded and packed in 1 lb cello bags (0.75-1.25" shoulder diameter, 6" in length), 50 lb masters |
| Anticipated yield/acre | 350 + masters (15-18 tons) |
Transit Conditions
32°F at 95% RH (root chilling injury occurs at temperature <29°F). Shelf life 4-5 months.Comments/Production Keys
- Difficult obtaining stands due to small seed with poor seedling vigor and emergence strength
- Avoid soils prone to crusting. Sprinklers and drip-applied irrigation water can reduce the problem
- Soils with pH <5.6 require liming (East Texas)
- Carrot stands difficult to thin; precision plant or adjust seeding rates according to germination percentage
- Weed control essential during emergence due to slow growth
- Windbreaks can reduce stress caused by sand blasting and hot winds
- Uneven moisture and hardpans can cause cracking and malformed roots
- Root tip injury can cause forking roots
- Excessive moisture and/or temperature can induce root fading
- Machine harvesting requires strong vigorous plant tops
- Do not store or ship with ethylene-producing produce, as it causes development of bitter taste
- Current market trend toward baby style carrot processing for fresh market sales