Grow Your Own Magazine

i'm growing carrots in a pot as I did last year. unfortunately, I tend to sow too thickly and then when the tops come up all lovely and green, I dont have the heart to thin them.
last year the biggest ones I got were little finger sized... delish, but not exactly useful!
if I do thin them, how far apart and will they really then grow into proper carrots?

About 3", but it will depend on the variety so you could go to about 2" and get about 1" diameter carrot top (in theory)

how about an experiment? Thin half the pot in one way, half another. Might be useful to know - and you can then tell us

I had the same problem this year - sowed way too many in a moment of madness (or the shakes). Had to pull out around fifty perfect seedlings. I had to tell myself off and promise not to do it again.

How soon should you thin? My first sowing are about an inch tall,very crowded in their pot. I was hoping to be able to leave them until I can have a few baby carrots to eat but will this be too late to allow the others enough room?

Thin as soon as you like. You won't even get baby carrots if they are really thickly sown, do better pull a few now and some more later. Make sure you settle the soil back afterwards with a light water.

Remember that thinning attracts carrot root-fly.

thinned mine yesterday, but couldnt bear to go to 2" let alone 3"!!! so I will start another pot and be really mean with the seed... I just think the green tops are so pretty! gave the thinnings to the chickens, who turned their beaks up at them.

I'm hoping that since I've never grown carrots before, and they're off the ground in a pot, I'll escape the pesky fly ... here's hoping! I'll have a thin this evening then water IF it's not raining!