Carrots
A fast-cycle, high-value root crop harvested 100–120 days after sowing.
About Carrots
Carrots are one of the most widely eaten vegetables in the world and an excellent source of beta-carotene, fibre, vitamins A, C and K, and potassium. Steady retail, processing and juicing demand makes them a reliable cash crop.
Although botanically biennial, carrots are grown as an annual and can be produced in tropical and subtropical regions on cool highland sites or in the cool season. Plantations International manages carrot blocks for colour, uniformity and short, predictable cycles.
Ideal growing conditions
The site, soil and climate parameters our agronomists work to when developing a carrot plantation.
17–24 °C ideal for root growth
Even soil moisture during emergence
Deep, loose and stone-free
Ridges 30 cm apart on flat land
Stop 2–3 weeks before harvest
Well-rotted, worked in at land preparation
What carrots are used for
Fresh market
Washed, graded and packed for retail.
Juice
Fresh and blended juices.
Processed
Frozen, canned and pre-cut packs.
Baby food
Purées and infant meals.
Natural colour
Beta-carotene extracts and colourings.
Feed
Out-grades used as animal feed.
Nutrition that sells
Beta-carotene converts to vitamin A in the body, and diets rich in carotenoids are associated with better eye health and lower risk of heart disease. Those health messages keep carrots on shopping lists year-round.
Cooking carrots with a little fat, or juicing and puréeing them, sharply increases how much carotenoid the body absorbs, which supports demand from juice and processed-food makers as well as fresh retail.
From nursery to harvest
- 1Pre-sowing
Land preparation
3–4 ploughings and 25 t/ha of well-rotted manure.
- 2Day 0
Sowing
Seed mixed with sand 1:4 and sown 1.5 cm deep.
- 3Day 15
First weeding
Weeds removed while seedlings establish.
- 4Day 30
Thinning
Plants thinned to final spacing; top-dressing at day 45.
- 5Days 100–120
Harvest & grading
Hand-lifted, then graded by size, length and shape.
How we manage carrots
Nutrition
Basal N:P:K 90:90:90 kg/ha, top-dressed at 45 days, plus zinc sulphate.
Irrigation
Regular watering every 4–5 days, eased before harvest for sweetness.
Seed treatment
Biological seed treatments protect against soil-borne disease.
Grading
Damaged and diseased roots are removed before packing.
Carrots in the field
Carrots: common questions
How long do carrots take to grow?
About 100–120 days from sowing under good conditions.
Can carrots be grown in the tropics?
Yes, on cooler highland sites or in the cool season, since root colour develops best at 15–21 °C.
What yield should a carrot farm expect?
Around 25–35 tonnes per hectare with good management.
What soil suits carrots?
Deep, loose, stone-free loam with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
Related crops
Develop a carrot plantation with us
Request a free initial consultation with our plantation development and management team.