Sow carrots for fall harvest

Carol Stein grows it

By now you've probably harvested your spring carrot crop. But, carrot lovers, you have a second chance. Now is the time to sow more carrot seeds for a fall crop. And because it's about 90 days from seed to harvest, don't delay.

Sow carrot seeds in the garden or in containers that are at least 16 inches deep.

Garden soils should be amended with compost or to make them loose and fluffy to a depth of at least one foot. Starting with rich, loose soil will provide enough organic nutrients to aid in root development, and will eliminate the need to apply surface fertilizers later.

Carrot seeds are tiny, so it's difficult to space them during sowing. Be sure to thin the seedlings after germination, allowing two inches between plants so that they don't become crowded as they mature.

When you thin the seedlings, mark your calendar. That's to remind you to wait at least three months before pulling a test carrot to check on root development and see if it's time to harvest the crop.

Danvers Half Long, Little Finger and Thumbelina varieties are recommended for our climate, and, as the names imply, they don't get really long. But both short and long varieties take about 90 days after germination to reach their full potential. For fun, try purple, yellow, scarlet or white carrots to entice the kids into experimenting with new varieties.

Keep the soil in containers consistently moist by watering deeply a couple of times a week. The addition of a layer of compost or finely ground organic mulch on top of the soil after germination lessens evaporation from the summer sunshine.

Adding a thin layer of straw or mulch on top after sowing carrot seeds in the garden also deters weeds from competing with your crop.

Debbie Moose cooks it

As Carol says, hop to it, carrot fans. I can't get enough of the sweet, small carrots from the backyard or farmers markets. They're tender, not woody like the giant carrots found wrapped in plastic in the supermarket.

And, if you don't know already, the stubby so-called "baby" carrots sold in bags aren't really baby. They're full-sized carrots that have been mechanically trimmed down.

Look for carrots with bright color and a crisp snap. Avoid ones that bend wimpily or are too hard and dry. After you get your fresh carrots home, cut off the lacy tops before storing them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. The tops will draw flavor and nutrients from the roots if you leave them on. Some people include the tops in salads, but I've never cared for them - try it, if you like.

Don't store carrots near apples. The apples give off a gas that can make carrots taste bitter.

If you've only encountered carrot salad as the cloying, mayonnaise-y stuff in cafeteria lines, know that carrot salad can be so much more. This easy salad is refreshing on hot days. Be sure to grate the carrots coarsely for the best texture.