Is there anything I can add or adjust in the soil to encourage sweeter carrots?
Sweeter carrots
I've heard that they are sweeter if you wait to harvest until you get a frost or chilled. I've never had luck growing carrots. They always tasted bitter to me. It's the one vegetable that I buy at the store.
They are sweeter if they grow in cool weather, and are kept at a constant moisture. We had a hot spell and it turned many of my carrots to a turpentine-y flavor (with a wood core). Blech.
They should grow in a sandy soil, not acidic. (That said, mine grow in a clay-amended with compost), and if I harvest them early enough, they are fantastic).
Thanks, ladies-I'll wait for fall to plant the next round, and not go so heavy on the amendments.
I figured somebody would say to be nicer to them! ;>)
LOL! Maybe that's the secret! You have to sweet talk them into being sweeter.
The largest variable is variety. There are sweet varieties and varieties that are essentially tasteless.
Farmerdill, which variety would you suggest?
You will need to do trials under your growing conditions. As a general rule Imperator and Nantes types are among the sweetest. These are long types that require good deep soil. Sometimes we have to sacrifice taste for production. You might start with Sweetness III, Sugarsnax, Mokum ...
Farmerdill---I can personally vouch for Mokum. It is Wonderful. Have not tried the other 2, but will try to remember their names. Thanks
For lack of anything better or cheaper I am using 25 gallon black plastic nursery planters, which are about 24 inches deep, so I can try the long ones. Thanks everybody!
I'll search for Mokum seeds and give it a go.
Mountaindweller, sounds like a great idea!!! I'll try that with the Mokum seeds. Thanks!