You really should be getting your fall carrots in the garden right now. Carrots are an excellent source of beta-carotene (converted to vitamin A in the body), Vitamins K with traces of C, B, and E. They’re a good source for potassium and manganese, as well. Who couldn’t use that nutrition for the winter?

I may have a virtue or two but patience isn’t one of them. Anyone who knows my gardening strategies knows that I’m always on the look-out for faster and simpler gardening techniques. It’s not because I begrudge Mother Nature’s gardening blueprints, but one of my prime goals is to fit as much gardening into my life as possible.

Take the carrot, for instance. Everyone knows that to get those long tapered beauties, you need some pretty stellar soil. Good tilth allows carrot roots to become the stuff of rabbits’ dreams. Sometimes we don’t have the deepest or fluffiest soil to offer our carrots. Yet want to grow our carrots none-the-less. Another drawback is that carrots take a considerable amount of time to mature. Carrot harvest day is decorated on the gardener’s calendar like its Christmas.

There’s a shortcut here. When purchasing carrot seeds, steer clear of the traditional seeds that promise carrots of considerable length. Go for the stubby ones. That’s right – there are carrot varieties that mature in the shape of Easter eggs. Just throw a layer of compost over the top of any kind of soil (I don’t care how clay-ish) and you can grow the short or ball-type root crop. 

Some brilliant veggie breeder with clay soil (that has a patience level similar to mine) bred some carrot varieties for the rest of us. You could practially grow ‘Thumbelina’ in the dust on the armoire. By the way, these are the carrots that are perfectly suited to containers and as a plus, they mature faster than their longer cousins for a quicker harvest.

Short or Ball-Type Carrots

Thumbelina – Great color and flavor.
Caroline – Japanese hybrid that stores well.
Nelson – Early variety that grows extremely uniform.
Little Finger – Little gourmet carrot that’s perfect for salads.
Oxheart – Excellent crisp and tender heirloom.
Parisienne – French heirloom variety.
Shin Kuroda – Baby Japanese heirloom variety
Parmex – Super sweet and does well in any soil.
Red Cored Chantenay – No need to peel this tasty little guy.

Want to plant some? Read How to Grow Carrots for all the details.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Ashman Garden Cultivator (1Pack)

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Solid Build—The Ashman Garden Cultivator/Tiller is strong in construction so that it can withstand heavy work in the garden. The blade and the shaft are coupled well for deep digging and uprooting the soil from the depths. It serves the purpose of cultivation very well. Create a blooming crop and watch it blossom and reap the benefits. Sharpened Fine piercing Blade—The blades are razor sharp and are made to pierce into any kind of soil and to serve digging, loosening soil, and weeding. The blades are rust-proof and have chip-resistant coating enhancing durability. Use it to control weeds, bury crop residue in the soil, and for preparing a proper seed bed. High-Quality Design—The thoughtful design incorporated to shape the blades in L shape helps dig deep into the soil and rip it from beneath for cultivation. This helps a lot when weeding. Dig well and plant well. The handle is made to fit in the hand well and can be held tightly to apply push and pull forces effectively. Practical Utility—The garden cultivator is made with “practical utility” as the core of its purpose. It serves all the necessary purposes when gardening. Helps mix soil, which will loosen it up, providing more nutrients for the crops.

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Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden, Revised and Updated Second Edition: A Natural Approach to Pest Control

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This revised and updated edition of Jessica Walliser’s award-winning Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden offers a valuable and science-backed plan for bringing balance back to the garden. With this indispensable gardening reference—now updated with new research, insights, and voices—learn how to create a healthy, balanced, and diverse garden capable of supporting a hard-working crew of beneficial pest-eating insects and eliminate the need for synthetic chemical pesticides.

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Burpee Organic Coconut Coir Concentrated Seed Starting Mix, 16 Quart

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ORGANIC COCONUT COIR: Made from recycled coconut husks, coir is a light, sustainable growing medium that holds the perfect amount of moisture for starting seeds. 100% biodegradable soil alternative. Environmentally friendly and a renewable alternative to peat moss. OMRI listed and certified organic. IDEAL GROWING MIX: Improve seed germination and root growth with this premium coconut fiber mix, which improves nutrients absorption! Great for flower, vegetable, herb, and more plant types. OMRI listed. Naturally disease and pathogen resistant, it will help you grow healthy live plants. EASY TO STORE & EXPAND: Each compact coconut coir brick expands into 8 quarts of seed starting mix, providing 16 quarts total. Just add water to expand! Dehydrated bricks save space until planting. Once expanded, coconut coir provides a quality growing medium for all types of plants—indoor plants, house plants, outdoor plants, and more! NATURALLY CONSERVES WATER: Renewable coco coir has excellent moisture retention and better air circulation than peat. This eco-friendly, premium seeds starting mix combines well with other potting soil and compost for container plants & raised beds. 100% GUARANTEED: Burpee is committed to the success of all gardeners. We treat each order with care to ensure healthy seeds, plants, soil mixes, and gardening supplies are sent in excellent condition. If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, we aim to make it right!

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