by Mary Loan

Carrots were first cultivated in Afghanistan around five thousand years ago and spread worldwide since then.  The first carrots grown were yellow or purple.  Today's carrot is generally bright orange in color.  Other varieties of carrot include white, yellow and deep purple.  Carrots have green leafy tops that are edible.

How to grow:  Carrots prefer loose sandy soil mixed with loose fertile potting soil.  Worm castings and EM (effective microorganisms) will help promote healthy growth. Turn soil 12 inches deep and remove as many stones and large pebbles as possible.  Break up soil and remove weeds and debris.  Smooth over the surface of the soil with a rake.  Make an even furrow about 4 inches wide.  Gently sprinkle the seeds and cover with about ¼ inch of soil, then water with a gentle spray.  It is important to water at least once daily to help keep the soil moist. Be patient, germination can take up to three weeks.  Once the seedlings are up gently thin to be about 1 ½ apart. You can rinse and chop the weeded seedlings and use them as a salad or soup ingredient.

 

Be sure to water-water-water daily with a fine spray or drip irrigation as the seedlings grow into carrots, but do not allow the plants to get too soggy. Seeds are said to be best planted in April in Belize.

Watch for the carrots to show their 'shoulders' (the orange of the carrot). Gently harvest the carrots, mornings are the best time to harvest, wash, then dry the carrots, cut off the tops and store in a cool location.

 

Disease of insect control:  According to numerous sources, carrots are susceptible to several diseases and insect damage.  Pests and diseases include: carrot fly, aphids, leaf blight, nematodes, black fungus and many more.  Keeping carrot growing spots well weeded and rotating crops helps to control some of the damage. 

 

A simple aphid control recipe: 1 TBS dish washing liquid, 1 cup cooking oil add one tablespoon to one quart water and spray on foliage and soil. Another recipe advises to mix 1 TBS dish washing liquid with 20-30 drops of peppermint oil with one quart of water and spray on affected plants.

 

Health benefits: Carrots are considered to be one of the healthiest vegetables.  They are rich in vitamins A and K, beta carotene, potassium and fiber.  The tops contain all the above, plus vitamin C.  Surprisingly, cooked carrots are considered to be healthier than raw carrots as cooking allows beta carotene to be converted to vitamin A in the intestine.

 

Recipes:  Carrot tops can be finely minced and added to hummus, soups, rice and all kinds of veggie dishes. An easy way to prepare the tops is to chop them up, then saute them with minced garlic, sprinkle with about 1 tsp sugar to one cup carrot tops then add sesame oil and about 2 tsp soy sauce or Bragg Liquid Amino sauce.  Carrots can be washed boiled or steamed for about 10 minutes, then baked at 350* F in a covered pan with one cup of water added,  When the carrots are tender swirl with honey and coconut oil remove the cover and cook for a few more minutes to slightly brown.  Some vegetarians use the carrots as 'hot dogs' in a bun with relish, mustard, ketchup etc.

 

Please visit the World Carrot Museum website, a delightful virtual museum devoted to carrots.  Sparkle and I had the pleasure of meeting the founder of this museum about 15 years ago.

 

Epic Gardening website provides lots of helpful information about successfully growing carrots in hot climates.