In this video, market gardener Dan shares how to achieve two carrot harvests each year, with the first harvest in July/August and the second in Nov/Dec, even up to March/April if your growing region allows it.
Local Harvest is based in the Pacific Northwest (zone 7). Here we can overwinter our second carrot planting and enjoy fresh carrots right through until April.
How to achieve two carrot harvests each year:
– Use a fast variety, say 75 days to maturity (browse varieties at West Coast Seeds.)
– Do your first seeding early May and second in early August (zone 7). This will depend on your growing zone, ref: Canada & USA https://localharvestgardening.com/gardening-zones
– Re-seed in the same bed and ensure surface moisture for the first 10-15 days. As no-till growers, we don’t consider crop-rotation to be an essential part of growing.
– You can initially cover the ground with cardboard or plywood to maintain a moist germination bed.
– After 5-7 days, check under your cover for germination. As soon as you notice any bit of green, that’s the time to remove your cover to expose them to sunlight.
– As the weather cools into the fall and winter, start adding mulch for fertility and insulation.
– Harvest your 2nd planting in Nov/Dec or overwinter if your growing region allows (we overwinter in zone 7).
Storage…
– Keep them a little moist by maybe storing them indoors in sand or woodchips, as options.
– Maintain a cool, consistent temperature, ideally in the 4-5°C = 39-41°F range.
Video length: 8:25
