Carrots, Parsnips

PLANTING DATES

Early April (Outdoor Start) 

Carrots can be direct started or seeded into your garden around the beginning of April, assuming the ground can be worked, if you haven’t already started them indoors around the first week of March.

APRIL (PLANT OUTDOORS)

Plant carrot starts or seeds directly outdoors around April 4th, or the first weekend in April. If the ground is still frozen, then plant these as soon as the ground thaws.

Make sure to remove weeds, adequately till the soil, and add any required nutrients or amendments (compost). This creates a healthy environment for your veggies to thrive. 

FROST

Carrots are cold hardy; they can take a light frost. Heavier Frost (colder temperatures 26-31* F) may burn the foliage, but will also typically not kill, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, lettuce, mustard, onion, radish, beets and leeks.

That said, 2ft spring snows in Colorado that last for days are common place. So providing adequate, if temporary, coverage for such times may justly safeguard your starts.

SOIL

The Big Three. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) known as "primary nutrients," are the three main ingredients in most fertilizers, along with necessary trace minerals such as magnesium,  and are vital to tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. Plant growth and chlorophyll production depend on nitrogen, and phosphorus helping these plants grow and cope with stress while aiding in energy production. 

WATER

Ample water from drip or sprayer will produce healthy happy plants with adequate yield.

LIGHT

Identify a sunny spot where they’ll be planted outdoors. These require at least 4-5 hours of sun per day for decent production. Spinach, Chard, Kale, and Broccoli will do OK in partial sun, but you'll have to wait longer for a full crop and they may be more susceptible to pests. The more light you have, the faster they'll mature and the healthier their immune system will be.