Carrots 
Maybe it's time to take a break from zucchini. I'm not even sure that they were zucchini that I grew this year! They were very black skinned and hard. Must have gotten cross pollinated with some other squash.
I'll try three succession plantings of carrots in the same bed as the garlic, also still grow borage and scallions in the same. So plant the two outside rows first, then one in the middle of the summer, and one more August 15 after the first have been harvested.
Carrots may be planted in spring for an early summer harvest, before the heat causes the plants to bolt, at which point the taproots become woody and unpalatable. Sow seeds two to three weeks before the last frost date of spring April 24, and follow up with a succession planting three weeks later, May 15. Alternatively or additionally, carrots may be planted 10 weeks before the first frost date for a fall harvest August 15. Carrots that mature in fall because they become sweeter when they experience a frost.
Carrots seeds’ optimal soil temperature for germination is between 45 and 85° Fahrenheit, though the soil should be 70° or cooler as the carrots grow. Seeds will remain viable for up to 3 years if stored properly.
Because they have taproots, carrots abhor being transplanted. For that reason, carrot seeds should be direct sown in the garden. In full sun to light shade, sow the seeds in loose, fertile, evenly moist soil. Carrots do best in soil with a pH in the range of 6.0 to 6.8.
To avoid stunted and deformed carrots, prepare the soil well in advance of planting. This is the most important step to setting up carrots for success. Start weeks ahead of time, working the soil deep with well-rotted shredded leaves and plenty of compost. Screen out stones, pebbles and any other objects that will obstruct a clear path for straight roots. Raised beds and deep grow bags are superb options for growing carrots as the soil can be more easily managed.
Sow seeds a quarter-inch deep and an inch apart, in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. However, this is easier said than done because the seeds are so small — the size of a poppy seed. I’ve found that using pelletized seed makes the job much easier. Cornstarch gel?
The biggest challenge to starting carrots seeds is making sure they stay moist enough to germinate. This can be tricky because they take quite a while to sprout — from five to 21 days — and can be difficult to monitor. One trick I like is to cover the seeds with burlap fabric. I use old coffee bean sacks. These are great because the fabric is permeable, allowing you to water from above and keeping the baking sun from drying out the soil surface, which must remain moist in order for the seeds to germinate. It’s easy to pull back the fabric to check on the seeds’ germination, and once that happens, the fabric can easily be removed completely.
Thin young carrot seedlings to 2" apart, then thin baby carrots by pulling out every other carrot, allowing the remaining carrots to grow to full size.
Variety: Kaleidoscope Carrots
| Days to Germination | 10-14 days |
|---|---|
| Days to Maturity | 75 days |
| Planting Depth | ¼" |
| Spacing in Row | 2" |
*Sow row, then thin seedlings, 18 carrots per row
**Interplant with Garlic, and Borage (against the fence) and scallions (succession plantings in rows between carrots).
***Leave a few carrots at the ends of the rows to overwinter in the garden. In the spring they will produce flowers that will attract beneficial hoverflies and wasps to the garden.
Variety: Evergreen Scallion- same spacing as carrots
| Days to Germination | 3-10 days |
|---|---|
| Days to Maturity | 75 days |
| Planting Depth | ¼-½" |
| Spacing in Row | 2" |
*Leave a few scallions and see if they will overwinter
**Interplant scallions with broccoli as well.
