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Spokane, WA

How To Plant Carrots the Best Way

How to Plant Carrots the Best way

It’s time to plant Carrots! Yay! Today, I bring you: How to plant carrots the best way (or at least the easiet way).

The first time I planted carrots I remember reading on the back of the package that there were 300 seeds in the packet. I tried to sprinkle them slowly over my planting space. But faster than you could blink, the whole packet had spilled out on the ground. I planted 300 seeds in all of 1 square foot of space. Obviously, I didn’t get a very good crop because they were too cram-packed. I also didn’t get nearly 300 carrots. I was so disappointed and yet, I wasn’t sure how I could have done it differently. The carrot seeds were so tiny and planting them one by one seemed a futile, if not overly tedious endeavor.

Then, I discovered seed tapes. Basically, a biodegradable strip with evenly spaced seeds. I already had carrot seeds, though, so that wasn’t a huge help. Then I discovered a way to make the carrot seed tapes myself. You can see a video all about it here. Or, just keep reading, and I’ll explain it.

Making seed tapes - planting carrot seeds

What You Need for Making your own Seed Tapes

All you need to create your own seed tape is toilet paper, flour, and water. And, of course, carrot seeds. Mix your flour and water so that you have a flour paste. Then, simply take a toothpick, a popsicle stick, or a butter knife and spread dabs of your paste 2-3 inches apart on your toilet paper. I use double-ply toilet paper and separate the two layers into separate strips in order to get the biggest bang for my buck. This also helps the toilet paper degrade more quickly.

After you have your dabs of paste spaced out the way you want them on the toilet paper, carefully add one carrot seed to each one. This is the tricky part. Although, I did have a 3 and 5-year-old helping me with the task and they managed just fine. Once you’ve added your seeds, let the paste dry. It usually only takes an hour or two. If I am planting multiple varieties, I mark the tape with the correct variety. This won’t help identify the carrots once it is planted, but if I don’t get around to planting my seed tapes right away, it ensures I keep everything straight.

Planting your carrot seeds - the best way

The Planting Part – How to plant your carrots the best way

Once your seed tape has dried, you’re ready to plant it. You’ll want to moisten the ground where you want your carrots. Then, spread your homemade seed tape out. Sprinkle a fine layer of dirt (in this case I used bagged compost) over the top of your tape. Water it in so that the ground, the toilet paper, and the dirt on top are fully saturated. And, that’s all there is to it: the easiest and best way to plant carrot seeds.

This is the method I used last year and it worked phenomenally. I didn’t have to worry about thinning my carrots. And, at the end of the season, I harvested beautiful large roots. Give it a try! I promise you won’t be disappointed.

The Harvest - Planting Carrot Seeds the Best Way

Oh, one more thing! Don’t forget to label your seeds when you plant them in the ground. The seed tape will be covered up and you won’t be able to tell once it is. And, be sure to check out my post on things to plant right now in April, for more spring planting tips.

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