by Pam Hilts

Created on: February 13, 2011   Last Updated: March 22, 2011

There is a great deal of satisfaction to be had from growing your own low-cost, fresh and organically grown produce.  Growing carrots is relatively simple, however, getting them out of the ground without damaging them can be problematic.  The key to the final step in your gardening adventure begins before you plant your first seed.  Easily harvested carrots are based on correct soil preparation. 

Light, crumbly soil that drains easily and is rich in organic material is optimal.  The soil should be free of rocks, sticks or other obstacles.  To remove unwanted particles from your soil you will need to pass it through a sieve.  Here is a website that explains how to construct an easy soil-sifter: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/homemade-rotary-trommel-s creen.php.  Dig and sift your soil to twice the depth you expect your carrots to grow.  If there are foreign objects in the soil carrots tend to grow around them.  You will end up with some funny looking carrots that are hard to pull and peel.

Soils vary from location to location.  You can measure the quantity of sand, silt, clay and organic material in your soil.  To do this, place a fair amount of dirt in a jar and fill with water, leaving enough room to shake the jar and mix the soil in with the water.  Shake vigorously so that all clumps are broken up.  Allow the jar to set for about 24 hours (until you see clear water at the top).  The bottom layer is sand, the next is silt and the last is clay.  This web site gives you a good explanation and pictures that help you interpret your results:  http://www.cheapvegetablegardener.com/2010/07/how-to -find-the-soil-composition-of-your-garden.html .  Now you know the make-up of your soil and can amend it accordingly.  I have a 95% clay profile, so I must add a good quantity of sand, compost and peat moss.  Your soil may need less work.  Soil is always improved with mature compost as it introduces helpful bacteria, provides nourishments for worms and introduces trace minerals into your soil.

The shape of the carrot you choose to plant will also affect its ease of harvest.  Small, round bulbous carrots are easy to harvest and can cope with only a shallow screening of soil.  The drawback is that they take up more horizontal space, produce less volume and are hard to peel.  Carrots come in all shapes from radish-like to long and slender, but be aware that

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