Cracking Carrots
The carrot is officially the world’s second most popular vegetable after the potato – according to a survey by the National Trust in 2002, it was number one in England. Of course, everyone associates carrots with the colour orange; however, you can also get and grow carrots in white, yellow, red and maroon. Carrots can be sown in late spring and small carrots will be ready in August.
Grow carrots
Spring is a good time to plant carrots in rows around 6 inches apart. Firm in the plants and water carefully if the ground is dry. Get rid of any unwanted weeds if they appear. Lift the first baby carrots to allow more space for the remaining carrots to grow larger – baby carrots can be eaten as well so there’s no waste. You may need to think about carrot fly prevention. Carrot flies are the most problematic pest and their larvae eat holes in the roots.
Nutrition
Carrots are a five a day vegetable with plenty of vitamins to keep you healthy. They can be eaten both cooked and raw; they are extremely versatile and can be used in savoury and sweet dishes. Carrots contain beta carotene, an orange pigment. They are high in Vitamin A essential for well-being and healthy eyes, so there is some truth in the old wives’ tale – carrots help you see in the dark!
Origins
Carrots are grown the world over and China and USA are the biggest producers of this vegetable. It is thought (with no documented evidence) that the cultivated and edible carrot dates back around 5,000 years ago when the purple root was found growing in the area now known as Afghanistan.
