Carrot farming is one of the highly as well as lucrative farming activities that you can tap into and earn a living. Here are the key basics that you can adopt and earn good money since it only requires a small portion of land, shorter maturity duration and minimum attention.
1. Facts about Carrots
Most varieties of carrots are resistant to pests and diseases, and
they are also a good late-season crop that can tolerate frost. In fact, they
prefer to be grown during the cooler ends of the growing season - spring and
fall.
Carrots’ root is rich in sugar, and a great source of vitamins and
carotene. Not all carrots are orange; varieties vary in colour from purple to
white!
If there is a challenge to growing carrots, it’s just having soil
that’s not too heavy - otherwise, you’ll end up with stunted, round carrots!
Most carrot varieties need deep, loose soil that lets them grow without
difficulty.
Carrots are grown from seed and take between 2 and 4 months to
mature, depending on the variety.
2. Planting Carrots
Plan to plant seeds outdoors 3 to 5 weeks before the last spring
frost date.
Tip: Plant
additional seeds every 3 weeks or so for multiple harvests.
Plant carrot seeds 3 to 4 inches apart in rows. Rows should be at
least a foot apart.
Carrots are slow to germinate.
They may take 3 or more weeks to show any signs of life, so don’t
panic if your carrots don’t appear right away!
Keep the soil moist, not wet, but don’t let it dry out, either.
Carrots are best grown in full sunlight, but can tolerate a moderate
amount of shade.
3. Preparing the
Soil
One of the most important things to consider when growing carrots
(and other root vegetables) is the condition of your soil. Follow these
guidelines to ensure a healthy carrot harvest:
·
Make sure your
soil is free of stones: Stones obstruct the path of carrot roots, which
can result in a stunted and misshapen crop.
·
Till your soil
before planting: Carrots need deeply-tilled, loose soil that they can
easily push through.
·
Use the right
type of soil: Carrots grow best in sandy or loamy soil (as opposed
clayey or silty soil), so supplement your soil as necessary.
· Avoid using manure or too much fertilizer: Have you ever seen a carrot that has grown “legs” or has forked? Fresh manure, or even recently-applied rotted manure, can cause carrots to fork and send out little side roots. Don’t use it before you plant your carrot seeds.
4. Market
You can tap on local or foreign market. For instance in 2017, a
138-kilogram bag of carrots was retailing highest in Kitale, at a market price
of 7,000 shillings and lowest in Nakuru at 2,000 shillings.
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