How Much Water Do Carrots Need
I always got so frustrated whenever I looked up water for any plant and it always said 1” per week. Like what does that look like?
Well, I’m here to tell you that’s terrible advice and it’s flat-out wrong because no two locations will have the same temperature, climate, and soil conditions.
So rather than give you some magic number that’s supposed to work for everyone, I’ll share with you how I figure out my water needs.
How Much Water Do Carrots Need
Garden blogs and university extensions will tell you 1 to 2 inches per week. Yet, I also see many commercial carrot farmers using flood irrigation and you and I both know those carrots have more than 1 inch per week.
Carrots contain 85%+ water in them. It’s essential for the flavor and crisp texture that we love. It also can make them sweeter and more tender.
Carrots prefer damp soil that never completely dries out. If the top two inches of soil are moist, then they have all the water they need. And this is the best way to tell how much water YOUR carrots need each week. Keep the top two inches of soil damp, but not soggy.
It’s important that they get the right amount of water based on your climate and soil conditions.
Overwatering can lead to fungal diseases and even cause forking or hairy roots. Underwatering can cause carrots to taste bitter.
How to Know if Your Carrots Need Water
The best way is to use a soil moisture meter. This is what I use and I’ll talk more about how I use it throughout this article. I’ve used several, and the digital one that I’ve linked to above is the one I’ve found that works the best, plus it’s so easy to use.
If you don’t have a meter yet, you can also stick your fingers in the soil to test it. When your carrots are in the early growth stages, stick your finger into the top inch of the soil, being careful not to disturb the roots. If it’s moist, you don’t need to water. If it’s dry, you should water - your carrots are thirsty.
As your carrots mature, you’ll want to stick your fingers at least 2 inches into the soil and check to see if it’s moist. If it’s not, it’s time to water.
Another sign that they may need water is if the foliage starts to wilt. That’s a good sign that you may be underwatering.
How Often to Water Carrots
When it comes to watering carrots, it’s best to create a watering schedule. Different soils retain water differently, so anyone who tells you to water one or two times per week doesn’t know what they’re talking about IMO.
If you plant carrots in clay soil, you won’t need to water as often because clay retains water well. But if you plant in a raised bed with sandy loam soil, you’ll end up watering more frequently.
Here’s how you can tell how often to water both carrot seedlings and mature carrots.
How often to water carrot seeds
When you first plant, keeping the soil consistently wet is so important. I water my seeds every day until they sprout. Depending on the time of year and when you plant carrots, this can take a few days or it can take several weeks. So be patient.
One trick I’ve learned is to place a board over the row where you sow your carrot seeds. This will help the soil retain moisture where it is most important. Once the seeds start to germinate you can remove the board.
You don’t have to deep water your carrot seedlings because they’re only in the top inch of soil, but you should water them frequently. If it’s really hot out, I’ll even water mine two times per day.
How often to water carrot plants
Once the carrots have sprouted and formed true leaves, I start tracking how often they need water so I can create a watering schedule.
I prefer to use a soil moisture meter, but you can also check with your fingers - just be sure not to damage any roots in the process.
Place your meter (or fingers) two inches into the soil. If the soil is moist, you don’t need to water. If it is dry, it’s time to water your carrots.
I track this in a water chart for two weeks so I know how often to water my carrots. After a week or two, I always have a good sense of how many days can go by before I need to water them again.
If you do this, don’t forget to be aware of heat waves and temperature fluctuations that can dry out your soil faster. But this is a good way to not have to check your soil moisture every day or stress about your carrot’s watering needs.
Consistent watering is the key to growing sweet, crisp carrots and this is how I ensure that the soil never becomes too dry or gets too wet.
How to Water Carrots
If you’re watering seeds, I use a hose with a gentle shower setting. Too much water and you’ll move those seeds all over the place or they’ll get washed away. They’re only 1/4” in the ground after all.
For seeds and seedlings, I do a light watering so the top couple of inches gets wet. There’s no point in deep soaking and wasting water at this point. There’s nothing down there.
Once the carrots sprout and start developing leaves, it’s important to give them a healthy soak. The water should penetrate the soil at least 6 to 8 inches in depth to encourage those roots to grow. If you’re unsure about how much water that is, get that soil moisture meter back out, stick it 6 inches in the ground before you water, and run your hose until it says to stop.
I like to use my watch to time it and then I know how long to water each time to get the deep soak that I want.
Be careful that you don’t water with too much pressure. A slow steady soak is best.
Also, make sure that any excess water can drain away so the carrots don’t become waterlogged. Wet soil is an incubator for many carrot diseases. In a raised bed with good garden soil, this won’t be a problem because it drains well. But if you’re growing in a clay medium or anything else, be cognisant of this.
Automatic Watering Systems
I’ve moved away from automatic watering systems in my carrot garden, but that’s because I don’t have enough irrigation valves installed to custom-tailor each bed’s irrigation based on each plant’s needs. And I can’t have my carrots getting the same amount of water as my squash.
If you have the luxury of extra irrigation valves, then setting up any type of drip line, low-to-the-ground vortex sprayer, or soaker hose can be a great option.
While I’ve never found splashing water to be much of a problem where I live, it can lead to a couple of fungi diseases. So best to be safe and not water from overhead too much.
Similar to before, I would put my soil moisture meter 6 inches into the ground and then turn on my irrigation valve and see how long it takes to soak the soil at least 6 inches deep. Now you know how long to run your irrigation for in your carrot bed.
Your water chart I discussed earlier will tell you how many days to wait in between running your irrigation.
Using Ollas With Carrots
If you’ve read any of my articles before, you know I love using ollas. Unfortunately, ollas do not work well with carrots or most of their vegetable companion plants such as onions or beets.
Ollas tend to keep the soil consistently wet and carrots don’t like that in my experience. Not to mention it can lead to some nasty molds and fungi that you want to avoid.
What Types of Irrigation Can I Use For Carrots
Just about anything except ollas.
You can water them by hand with a hose (gently shower setting) or watering can. If you live somewhere with wet, humid conditions, I don’t recommend this because the water can vector diseases.
You can set up a drip system or use a soaker hose.
Another great option is furrow irrigation. Many commercial farmers use this technique but you can do it too in a raised bed.
It involves planting your carrots in tiny mounds and then letting water run in between the mounds. Just don’t let it run over the top of your bed - that’s too much water.
I’ve experimented with all of them and they all work great with carrots. Keep in mind that I live in a dry climate so overhead watering isn’t as much of a problem (knock on wood).
How Do I Reduce the Amount of Water I’m Using For Carrots
Companion plant, companion plant, companion plant. Say that ten times fast.
By companion planting lettuce, spinach, radishes, and other vegetables with your carrots you can help your soil retain moisture and control soil temperatures.
Alternatively, you can mulch your carrot garden, but why do that when you can grow more food and have the same effect?
What Is The Best Time to Water Carrots
I’ve found that the best time to water carrots is in the evening when the sun starts to go down. The heat of the day has subsided and I lose less water to evaporation.
Given the cost of water in Southern California, every drop counts!
My second most preferred time to water is in the morning right around or before sunrise. If I was lazy the night before, I’ll often go out in the morning and give my carrots a good soak when they need it.
How to Water Carrots in Containers
If you’re an urban or suburban gardener like me, you probably grow a lot of things in containers - including carrots.
Containers dry out faster than raised beds, and much faster than planting in the ground. Depending on what your pot is made out of, things can really heat up fast.
If you plant carrots in containers, make sure they have a drainage hole. I’ve even put pea gravel and broken shards of terracotta pots at the bottom of my containers to help them drain better. Just be sure you have enough depth so the carrots don’t grow into the pea gravel.
In case I’m not being clear, drainage is really important when growing in containers.
Also, be sure to select breathable materials such as terracotta. This will help regulate moisture levels in your pots. The best carrot soil is a sandy loam when you’re growing in containers.
If you have chosen the right pot and have good drainage, the best practice is to water your carrots until you see water start to drain out of the bottom. This indicates that you’ve deep-soaked the soil all the way through.
You can then use a soil moisture meter just as I described earlier to come up with a watering schedule for your carrots grown in containers. I water my carrots in containers much more often than my raised beds because it dries out faster. So be sure to set up the right schedule based on your containers and climate.
Should You Water Carrots Every Day?
With the exception of seeds and carrot sprouts, no you should not. Carrots do not need that much water; I don’t care what type of soil you’re growing in. Even in the heat of summer, I’ve never had my soil dry out enough that I need to water it every day.
Instead of watering daily and risking overwatering which leads to diseases and splitting, create a watering schedule and check your soil moisture every now and again to make sure your schedule still works.
Can Carrots Be Overwatered?
They sure can. Yes. Carrots don’t like soil that is completely dried out, but they also don’t like to live in a swamp.
Overwatering can lead to diseases, forking, and hairy roots. None of which you want to experience, trust me. Been there, done that.
How Do I Make My Carrots Grow Bigger?
Water consistently when the top two inches of soil is no longer moist.
Apply two applications of carrot fertilizer during the growing season.
Try not to shade your carrots unless you absolutely need to in order to protect them from the heat. Rather than shading, try companion planting so there is no minimal bare soil around your carrots. This will help regulate the ground temperature and keep it cool.
Are There Specific Times I Should Water Carrots?
Besides setting up a regular watering schedule and watering carrot plants when the soil is no longer moist, there are two other times I always water my carrots.
I water carrots immediately after thinning and after fertilizing.
Ok, I lied, there’s one more. While I don’t recommend transplanting carrots, if you do, watering immediately after transplanting is a good idea.
How Much Water Do Carrots Need Recommended Reading
How Much Sunlight Do Carrots Need (coming soon)
21 Companion Plants You Should Plant With Your Carrots This Year
