The carrot is a biennial plant in the umbellifer family, Apiaceae.
At first, it grows a rosette of leaves while building up the enlarged taproot.
Fast-growing cultivars mature within three months (90 days) of sowing the seed, while slower-maturing cultivars need a month longer .
The roots contain high quantities of alpha- and beta-carotene, and are a good source of vitamin K and vitamin B6.
Carrots are grown from seed and can take up to four months to mature, but most cultivars mature within 70 to 80 days under the right conditions.
They grow best in full sun but tolerate some shade.
The optimum temperature is 16 to 21 °C (61 to 70 °F).
The ideal soil is deep, loose and well-drained, sandy or loamy, with a pH of 6.3 to 6.8.
Fertilizer should be applied according to soil type because the crop requires low levels of nitrogen, moderate phosphate and high potash. Rich or rocky soils should be avoided, as these will cause the roots to become hairy and/or misshapen.
Irrigation is applied when needed to keep the soil moist.
After sprouting, the crop is eventually thinned to a spacing of 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) and weeded to prevent competition beneath the soil.
