Growing Carrots

GROW YOUR OWN CARROTS

Carrot is a root vegetable with a crisp texture, when fresh.With their rich orange color, sweet taste, crisp texture and overall versatility, carrots are a popular and well-loved vegetable. However, because they are a root vegetable, many people assume they are difficult to grow. But that’s simply not true.By following some simple steps you can have this beautiful crispy vegetable in your garden which tastes much better than those from the supermarket.

Sowing And Planting

• Choose a well drained position in full sun. Soil must be well dug and should be free from weeds and stones over prior to sowing of the seeds. 
• Since carrots are root vegetables, they do best when the seed is planted directly into the soil, rather than started indoors and transplanted into the soil when greens sprout.
• Seeds should be sown in rows spaced about 12 to 18 inches apart, at a depth of about ¼ inch.Do not compact the soil on top of the seeds as this will inhibit germination and growth.
• Water gently, as carrot seeds are so tiny they can easily get washed away. Check every day to see if the soil needs water. 
• The seeds will sprout in about two weeks.Once carrot seedlings are up they are very susceptible to carrot aphids. Watch carefully for these and apply a good organic insect spray. 
• Water regularly throughout the hot months. Thin carrots as they grow to enable larger carrots to grow. If you do not thin your carrots, they will become crowded and susceptible to disease and rot.

Harvesting And Storage

• Carrots are ready for harvesting about 12-16 weeks after sowing. 
• Harvest carrots as soon as they are large enough to use; don't aim for the largest roots or you'll sacrifice flavor  Lift carefully using a fork if the soil is heavy.
• Cut the green tops off immediately as they cause the carrot to dry out and shrivel if left on too long  and store them in the crisper of your refrigerator until you're ready to use them. 
• If you're going for long-term storage, carrots store very well in a plastic container in your refrigerator.

Few Health Benefits Of Carrots

• Prevent heart disease-Studies shown that a diet high in carotenoids are associated with a lower risk of heart disease. Also, it is believed that regular consumption of carrots reduces LDL cholesterol level.
• Improves eyesight- Deficiency of vitamin A can cause some difficulty seeing in dim light. Since carrot is rich in vitamin A it is good for improving eyesight.
• Diabetes- Carrot is good for blood sugar regulation because of the presence of carotenoids in carrot. Carotenoids inversely affect insulin resistance and thus lower blood sugar.
• Anti-aging-Carrots contain a lot of beta-carotene, which serves as an antioxidant that helps the body to fight against free radicals. It also help slows down the aging of cells and various negative effect associated with aging.
• Nourish Skin-Carrot has a strong cleansing properties that are effective in detoxifying the liver, and thus very effective for treating acne that is caused by toxins from the blood. Carrot is also useful for treating uneven skin tones due to pigmentation.

Carrot Pudding Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 cups grated carrot
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup condensed milk
• 3 tbsp clarified butter
• 2/3 cup cashews, almonds, raisins
• 1/2 tsp cardamom powder

Preparation

• Heat clarified butter in a thick bottom pan. Fry the nuts. Add the grated carrot and fry for about 2 minutes on medium heat.
• Add sugar and mix well. Now add milk and mix it well. Keep on low-medium heat and let it cook until the milk has almost been absorbed. Keep on stirring from time to time.
• Now add the condensed milk and mix it well. Cook on slow flame until the pudding starts to leave the sides of the pan.
• Now add the cardamom powder and take it off the heat.
• Your carrot pudding is ready to serve. Best enjoyed warm or at room temperature. Could also be served with ice-cream.