How Do You Prepare Soil For Carrots?

Question: My garden soil seems rocky. How do you prepare soil for carrots? -Kenny L.

Answer: Using the proper soil medium when growing carrots is essential, as carrots need a loose, light soil with no soil clumps, rocks, or plant debris to block their root growth. Carrots thrive in loose soils with lots of organic amendments. They prefer loamy or sandy soils and despise heavy clay-based mediums. Work your garden beds thoroughly, removing all debris, and loosening the soil to improve drainage and air circulation before planting. Check to make sure that your beds are draining properly and do a soil test to find your soil’s pH levels. Carrots prefer a soil with a pH range between 5.8 and 6.5. When tilling your soil, amend acidic soils with lime to bring them closer to a neutral pH. Also amend your soil with lots of compost to improve water retention and drainage.

To replenish nutrients in your carrot beds, add two to four cups of all-purpose fertilizer for every 100 feet, and work it deep into the beds where it can be accessed by the lengthy roots of your carrot plants. Alternatively, you can sprinkle bone meal on your soil and work it into the beds by watering the soil deeply. Bone meal is high in phosphorus which will promote healthy and vigorous root growth.