There are a number of different types of carrots including shorter fatter varieties that can be grown in containers if your garden space is limited. As long as carrots have enough depth of soil to fully mature, any pot or container will work, as long as it’s well-drained and gets enough water.

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Carrots will tolerate a little shade and can be sown in short lines among the herbs or flower beds, if space is limited.

They like sunshine but, as with most plants, if grown in direct sun, care should be taken during the hottest part of the day, as the sun can scorch the leaves. And the ground will dry out quickly in a very sunny spot, so crops will need more watering.

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Carrots need warmth to develop and shouldn’t be positioned in cold draughty corners of the garden.

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Check the sowing recommendations on your seed packet before you start because different varieties can have different needs. Sow in short lines up to a maximum of 24 inches (60cm), every 2 or 3 weeks throughout the growing season.

 

There is a reason for this - Later on, carrots need thinning to allow space for them to grow, and long lines can take a long time to sort out.

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When seedlings are a couple of inches high, thin them to allow about an inch of growing room per plant. Do this in the rain if possible to deter the carrot fly. If it’s not raining, water the ground first so that the seedlings come out of the ground easily and with minimum disturbance.

 

Thin plants out again after 2 or 3 weeks to allow more room to grow. The ‘thinnings’ will be tiny carrots by now and are perfect in the salad bowl :-)