Grow Carrots in a Container

How to grow carrots in a container
Image by Terry Guscott

Anyone can grow and enjoy sweet summer carrots—just grow them in a container

Here is a wonderful opportunity for children, those with patio gardens, or those with unsuitable crop-growing soil to enjoy sweet summer carrots. This edible, decorative and portable veggie garden is as easy to grow as it is to plant. Any carrot can be grown in a container, as long as the depth of the container is large enough to accommodate the mature length of the carrot.

Thumbelina is recommended as a fantastic container carrot. It produces a bright-orange, sweet-flavoured, 5- to 7.5-cm (2- to 3-in.) round root. Seed is available at most garden centres or from West Coast Seeds. It matures extra early and is ready to enjoy within 60 days. Grow it solo or mix with Dragon and Atomic Red for a rainbow of roots.

To grow a carrot container garden, you'll need seed, sterilized potting soil, organic fertilizer and a container. Any container will do as long as it is a minimum 30 cm (12 in.) deep and wide and has drainage. Give new life to an old terra-cotta container, wooden packing box or punctured metal bucket. To have carrots all summer, succession plant every two weeks. Enjoy!

How to grow carrots in a container

1. Assemble seeds, potting soil, 1⁄2 cup organic fertilizer and container.
2. Fill container with soil, leaving 7.5 cm (3 in.) of head space. Gently blend in organic fertilizer.
3. Sow carrot seed according to package directions.   4. Water seeds to settle in and place container in a warm and sunny spot.
5. Apply liquid organic fertilizer 4*2*3 every 10 days.

Comments

22
    • Anonymous
    • April 21, 2013 @ 1:20

    I grew zucchini, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, assorted lettuces, spinach, assorted herbs and climbing and bush beans last year all in containers. It was the best harvest I've ever had. You can control the soil, nutrients and water so much better in pots and you can have a vegetable garden on your patio. Pots can be moved when necessary to take best advantage of the sun.


    • Anonymous
    • May 20, 2013 @ 10:36

    Awesome! How big were your pots? I tried this 2 years ago and it di not work out so well.


    • Anonymous
    • February 22, 2013 @ 1:20

    Try these http://www.westcoastseeds.com/productdetail/Vegetable-Seeds/Carrots/Litt.... mature fast and always delicious.


    • Anonymous
    • May 29, 2012 @ 12:07

    I just started my first round of container veggies but I didn't think I would be able to do carrots because of the depth needed, but you have all made me determined to give it a try now! Thanks for the inspiration everyone!


    • Ottawa_Richard (not verified)
    • January 31, 2012 @ 11:17
    It seems that the popularity of community gardens and growing your own food is coming back. In Ottawa, there is a couple who believe that food should be both sustainable and ethical, hence they began growing their own vegetables, raising their own chickens, and milking their own goats. They even plan to begin hunting their own meat. Such skill of planting your own is very useful, and can add a little fun into your life!
    Ottawa - http://printscanada.com
    • Anonymous
    • September 3, 2011 @ 6:52
    have tried to grow carrots twice now. the tops look wonderful but when I pull them up there's nothing underneath- no carrots. Hilarious but frustrating. Help!
    • Anonymous
    • May 26, 2012 @ 11:44

    I have heard that carrots need sandy soil. I'm wondering if too much other soil supports upper growth and not the root. When it comes to potatoes if the tops are luscious looking the advice is to whack them down and that will cause growth to go down under....I haven't as yet had success with carrots either and this year I want to try them in a container......


    • johngardener (not verified)
    • May 15, 2011 @ 7:56
    This is something we have done every year and to great success. I have found that the larger the pot the bigger the carrots obviously, don't forget to give each plant plenty of space.
    • MKempSup (not verified)
    • April 18, 2011 @ 2:47
    Container vegetable growing is a fantastic option for those living in apartments, or those who have very small plots of land. Creative planting and containers can also provide a pleasant environment that is also edible. Gardening does not get much better than this!

    Regards,
    Mike
    • MattKent (not verified)
    • March 30, 2011 @ 12:18
    I have lived in an apartment for a long time so have gotten quite accustomed to maintaining a reasonable vegetable and herb garden within a small space. Upside-down tomatoes are grown on my balcony, and my pots have carrots, potatoes and broccoli (staples at home). Yogurt tubs hold basil, mint, coriander and spring onions. Just use a little imagination, and RE-USE whenever possible, and, yes, you can practically grow anything you want.
    • paulsalisbury (not verified)
    • March 17, 2011 @ 8:02
    Carrots are one of my favorite garden vegetables, seeing as they grow so easily, and offer so many nutritious qualities. I haven't considered pot growing previously, though as you describe it here it seems like a good option.

    Regards,
    Paul
    • greenteam11 (not verified)
    • February 17, 2011 @ 1:26
    super cool! I've never use the seed strips (which sound cool), but this year my carrot mini garden should be sprouting with joy come spring! This is so much cooler than the topsy-turvy tomato thing I did the last few years. Greenteam
    • Anonymous
    • January 6, 2011 @ 4:22
    I actually tried this this year. We had just moved into our new home and I didn't know where to put the veggie garden (still don't know). Threw some carrot seeds into a HUGE pot, stuck it out in the front yard that gets the most sun and sure enough, had carrots. Next year, I'll actually try thinning them out more. I did cheat a bit and used the seed strips. My carrots were a little on the small side but very yummy. I'll do it again!!
    • Anonymous
    • April 17, 2010 @ 6:37
    I have tried unsuccessfully on several occasions to grow carrots and they keep rotting. What am I doing wrong.
    • Anonymous
    • April 7, 2012 @ 10:47

    leaving them too long


    • Anonymous
    • September 12, 2009 @ 11:28
    yay i can plant a carrot!
    • Anonymous
    • February 20, 2009 @ 11:50
    I love this idea...I have just bought a container and carrots...here i go! Wish me luck!!!
    • Hilary (not verified)
    • February 24, 2009 @ 11:57
    Good luck! And please check back in with the results! We'd all love to hear how this worked and if there are ways to improve the results. Happy (container) gardening! —Hilary Henegar, GardenWise Online editor
    • Anonymous
    • November 10, 2008 @ 1:08
    I just planted some purple, yellow, white, and red carrots in a rubbermaid container. I hope that they turn out it is my first time planting carrots in a container. The soil is quite deep the carrots are going to be 5-7 inches in length so hopefully they work out because they look tasty.
    • Anonymous
    • June 21, 2008 @ 6:37
    I've grown all my vegetables in containers for years, carrots always come out perfectly shaped and tasty. Sure beats the knobby bitter carrots that grow in the soil around here.
    • Anonymous
    • May 30, 2008 @ 4:02
    This sounds like a great idea for thoughs of us who want a garden but do'nt have the space. I think I will try it.
    • Anonymous
    • May 10, 2008 @ 10:39
    I tried this last year as a last resort to get carrots - and it worked great!! Now, if summer weather would arrive I might be able to grow carrots again this year!!

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