How to Grow Carrots That Aren't Forked and Stubby

Why carrots fork, why they never come up, and the thinning most gardeners skip and then regret.

The steps

1. Loosen Deep Soil. Dig a foot down, stone free. Stones and lumps fork roots.
2. Skip Fresh Manure. Rich manure splits roots. Use a bed composted last year.
3. Sow Direct. Carrots hate transplanting. Sow where they will grow.
4. Sow Shallow. Barely cover the seed. Too deep and it never surfaces.
5. Keep Soil Damp. Never let the row dry out. Dry seed simply will not come up.
6. Thin Ruthlessly. Thin to two fingers apart. Crowding gives stubby roots.
7. Thin in the Evening. Bruised leaves attract carrot fly. Water after thinning.
8. Harvest Young. Pull when shoulders show. Sweeter before they go woody.

Pro tip. Carrot seed is tiny and needs constant moisture to germinate, which is the usual reason a row never comes up. Cover the row with a board or damp cloth and check daily, lifting it the moment green shows.