Desi Carrot Seeds (Long)

• Sow seeds 0.5–1 cm deep directly in the pot or grow bag. Carrots must be direct sown; they do not transplant.
• Loosen the soil deeply before sowing; compact soil causes forked and stunted roots.
• Mix seeds with a little sand for even spreading as they are very fine.
• Use Ugaoo's Organic Veggie Mix for better results.
• Best time to sow: October to January, in the cool season.

• Seeds sprout in 10–14 days. Carrot seeds are fine and can be slow; keep soil consistently moist.
• Once sprouts appear, thin seedlings to 5–8 cm apart.
• Move to a bright spot with direct or morning sun.

NA - Carrots must be direct sown. Transplanting causes forked, deformed roots.

• Needs 5–6 hours of sunlight daily.
• Water regularly to keep soil consistently moist. Irregular watering causes roots to crack or fork.
• Use a deep pot (at least 35–40 cm deep) with drainage holes. Long varieties need depth.
• Space plants 5–8 cm apart, rows 20–25 cm apart.
• Feed with cow manure every 15 days. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilisers; they promote leaves, not roots.
• Use neem cake and neem oil spray to keep pests away.

• Carrots do not regrow after harvest. Sow fresh batches every 3–4 weeks for a continuous supply through winter.
• Rising temperatures from February cause carrots to bolt and turn bitter.
• Once the plant sends up a flower stalk, the root is no longer good to eat. Pull and discard.
• Sow fresh the following October for the next winter season.

• Roots are ready for harvest in 70–90 days.
• Check by gently brushing soil away from the shoulder of the root. Harvest when the root is 1.5–2 cm in diameter at the top.
• Pull carefully by grasping the greens at the base and easing the root out of the soil.
• Harvest before the root becomes too large; overgrown carrots turn woody and lose sweetness.