How to Grow Carrots in Milk Cartons!

Organzia
by Organzia
5 Materials
$100
3 Hours
Easy

We live in a windy and cold city, so when planting vegetables we usually have to plant them inside and then attempt to move them out.. and fingers crossed! Hope they'll survive!


Our family loves carrots, but the first time I ever attempted growing carrots, it totally failed! To be honest we ended up with some seriously strange and odd-looking carrots.


The problem was that I planted them inside in small starter pots and then attempted to move them out ā€“ big mistake!

We ended up disturbing the roots too much--- > crazy looking carrots!

If your milk cartons have a plastic spout like mine, cut off the top end of the milk carton.


Then you need to use a hobby knife and cut out a small square in each bottom corner of your cartons. If you want pictures and details on how to do this, you'll find everything here.

Time to finally plant our carrot seeds! Fill your milk cartons with some soil just in the bottom part of the milk carton, press down and compress the soil. Doing this will help the soil not spill out when you, later on, have to remove the bottom part of the carton.


Fill up with more soil until youā€™re 1 cm (0.4 inches) left to the top edge of the milk carton - be sure to check the info on the back of your carrot seed pack (!)


Spread out the seeds evenly, and then cover with more soil.


Then youā€™ll just need to let them grow! Be sure they get enough sunlight and enough water!

I like to grow carrots in milk cartons and have them nearby, so I plant them out in a raised garden bed right on my terrace. For full instructions and detailed pictures, check out the full blog post here.

After planting the carrots out, they usually need some time to adjust to the climate outdoors. Just make sure to keep an extra eye on them the first couple of weeks.

And then before you know it, youā€™ll have plenty of super fresh and homegrown carrots right in your backyard!

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Organzia
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Frequently asked questions
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  3 questions
  • Toni Buccarelli Toni Buccarelli on Aug 31, 2019

    Iā€™m wondering if I can do this indoors year round if I plant them & left in a sunny spot ?

  • Granny Jan Granny Jan on Aug 31, 2019

    I want to plant my vegetables in 20 gallon plastic , cattle/salt, tubs. I plan to mix sand, good black dirt and compost to plant in. Should I cut holes near the bottom of the tubs to allow for drainage or should I place large rocks in the bottom?

  • Claudia Moore Claudia Moore on Sep 08, 2019

    What is covered for $100.00? Thank you

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5 of 6 comments
  • Lynne Lynne on Aug 31, 2019

    awesome idea!! i want to try this, and thanks

  • Janice Janice on Aug 31, 2019

    Going to try this, plus the tops are so pretty to look at while the carrots are forming below the surface. Thanks for sharing!

    • See 2 previous
    • Ada Barnes Ada Barnes on Sep 10, 2020

      Carrot tops are edible - salads/soups.

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