The best time of year to grow carrots in southern Australia is between August and October. If you plant then later then the seed will grow in the hot summer and need to much water.
Prepare the soil being careful not to add to much nitrogen as this can cause the carrot to fork. Carrots need a deep well drained & structured soil with some organic matter.
Over fertilised or rocky soil can cause carrot roots to fork. This veggie isn't a heavy feeder. Grow them in loose soil.
Sow seed into furrows about 6mm deep, they need light to germinate so don't plant to deep or in a dark place.
Water deeply but infrequently to encourage long straight tap roots.
You can mulch between rows with straw to inhibit weeds. Remove weeds along rows by hand as carrots don't like competition.
Once the carrots are big enough to eat, thin them out. Harvest alternative carrots first leaving space for remaining roots to grow bigger.
As soon as you pull the carrot out of the ground, keep them out of the sun and pull off their leafy tops. If you leave them in the sun with the leaves attached they go rubbery and tasteless within minutes.
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