Carrots

The sugar content of carrots begins to drop as soon as they’re pulled, so the most flavourful roots will always be the ones you grow yourself. Although carrots are a coolseason crop, midsummer plantings are just as successful, providing they’re grown in moist, well-mulched soil. “Short- day” European novelty carrots can’t be planted until daylengths are less than 15 hours (mid-july in many regions), or plants will bolt. In midsummer, sow seeds more deeply than in spring (one centimetre is ideal) and cover them with a light layer of compost or sand for easy seedling emergence. Sow more seed at 20- day intervals, continuing up to about 55 days before your area’s first hard, or “killing,” frost. Carrots are at their sweetest and juiciest when young, so it’s not necessary to wait until they’ve reached maturity before you start harvesting. However, even mature carrots can be left in the ground for several weeks before they begin to get tough.

TIP: Lettuce should be harvested regularly and frequently. Once plants have matured, they quickly lose their flavour and nutritive value. TIP: Overly wet soil conditions produce short, stubby carrots, while drought will cause the roots to fork.