What Are the Nutrients Needed for Growing Carrots?

Nitrogen

• Nitrogen is important to the formation of chlorophyll, the substance which gives plant leaves their green appearance. Nitrogen is essential to the growth and quality of the carrots. Carrots derive their nitrogen from the soil; therefore, using a nitrogen-rich fertilizer is recommended. Nitrogen is considered a macro-nutrient (a nutrient that is considered vital to the health of the plant).

Phosphorus

• Phosphorus is also essential to photosynthesis. Phosphorus is the element directly responsible for converting solar energy into compounds useful to the plant. Phosphorus is particularly important to carrots because it promotes root growth; and, since the edible part of the carrot is the root, its importance is obvious. Phosphorus is primarily found in fertilizer and bone meal. Phosphorus is also considered a macro-nutrient.

Potassium

• Potassium is the last macro-nutrient essential to carrots and is also found primarily in the soil or fertilizer. Unlike nitrogen and potassium, which are components of chlorophyll, potassium is not a component of the carrot’s structure. Potassium helps regulate the carrot’s water use, movement of photosynthates (the components that make photosynthesis possible), the production of proteins, and various other processes.

Sulfur

• Sulfur is considered a micro-nutrient and helps form chlorophyll. Sulfur is commonly added to the soil as a component of rainwater, but can also be found in fertilizer. Sulfur helps promote root growth and the carrot’s resistance to colder temperatures. Sulfur is also actively involved in the development of the carrot’s vitamins.