Growing Carrots in Containers: My Small Garden Adventure

I decided to try something new in my little backyard garden: growing carrots from seed. I don’t usually plant many things from seed, but I couldn’t find any carrot starter plants at the local greenhouses. I had read online that carrots could be grown in buckets, so I gave it a shot.

Spoiler: It actually worked! I harvested my carrots at the end of July and wanted to share what I learned.


🌱 Starting from Seed

I used cloth grow buckets I ordered online (link below). These containers were the perfect size and allowed for good drainage, which is important when growing carrots. I filled them with loose, well-draining soil and gently planted the seeds according to the packet instructions.

Why Buckets?

Growing in containers helps control soil quality and spacing. It also saves space, which is great if you have a small garden like I do. Bonus: no weeding around rows of carrots!

👉 Grow Bags on Amazon (affiliate link)

🥕 What It Was Like Growing Carrots

I watered the containers regularly, keeping the soil moist but not soggy. Germination took a little while, but once the greens came up, it was fun to watch them grow. Since I’d never grown carrots before, I was a little unsure when to pull them up. I waited until late July, and when I pulled one up and saw a bright orange root, I couldn’t believe it. It actually looked like a carrot!

Even though I’m not an expert gardener, it was exciting to grow something from seed and harvest it myself. It made me want to learn more and keep trying new things in the garden.

Here is a video of me harvesting my first even carrots:

🌞 Caring for Carrots in Michigan

If you live in Michigan (zone 6) like me, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Planting time: Start carrots in late April to early May when the soil is workable.

  • Sunlight: Carrots need full sun; at least 6 hours a day.

  • Soil: Loose, sandy soil works best. Avoid heavy clay or compacted soil.

  • Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially early on.

  • Harvest: Most carrots are ready 60 to 80 days after planting. Check by gently brushing soil away to see their size.

A great resource on local gardening is the Michigan State University Extension, check out their article on "How to Grow Carrots".

🌈 Fun Facts About Carrots

  • Carrots come in more colors than orange; including purple, red, yellow, and white.

  • Baby carrots are actually regular carrots that have been shaved down to size.

  • Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which your body turns into vitamin A.

  • They were originally cultivated for their fragrant leaves and seeds, not their roots.

📝 Simple Wrap-Up

Even with my limited space and beginner skills, growing carrots was a fun and rewarding experience. I don’t garden to grow tons of food. I just grow enough to share something fresh with my family and to learn as I go.

If you’ve never tried growing something from seed, carrots in a container might be a great place to start.

If you enjoyed this, you might like some of my other gardening posts where I share more about what’s growing in my backyard.

Have you tried growing carrots? I would love to hear about your experiences in the comments.

Sensibly and simply yours,
Kat

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Location: Michigan, USA

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