How to Grow Carrots in Shade

Carrots, like other root vegetables, don't need the prime sunlit spot in your garden bed. These plants grow readily in part shade conditions. Carrots need some sun so cannot grow in full shade. Plant carrots in a garden bed or grow them in containers large enough to accommodate the root system. Carrots are a cool-season crop. Plant from seed in early spring when soil is ready to be worked and in late summer as part of a fall garden bed.

Spade
Clear polyethylene film (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Prepare the garden bed for planting to a depth of at least 9 inches to accommodate this root vegetable. Turn the soil over with a spade, and remove rocks, weeds and anything that can interfere with the carrot growth. Carrots do best in sandy loam soils and need at least part shade, or two to four hours of sunlight per day.
- 2
  Dig a furrow 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep and sow carrot seeds at the rate of two to three per inch. Cover the furrow with soil to complete planting. Space rows 12 to 18 inches apart.
- 3
  Water the soil to wet it, and continue to keep the soil moist until the carrot seeds germinate. During the germination period, you can cover the soil with clear polyethylene film to promote a warm, moist environment that supports seed growth. Remove the film when seeds sprout.
- 4
  Weed your garden bed by hand to reduce competition for the resources.
- 5
  Water the soil to saturate it when it becomes dry to the touch.
- 6
  Harvest carrots in about two months, when they are ready. Ideally, the roots will be 1/2 inch or more in diameter. Dig to loosen the soil, then pull the carrots out of the ground. If you pull the greenery without loosening the soil, you risk breaking the carrot.

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