Add well-rotted manure to improve soil texture and increase nutrients. Fresh manure, or even recently applied rotted manure, can cause carrots to fork and send out little side roots. Don't use it before you plant your seeds. Thin overcrowded seedlings by snipping them with scissors, instead of pulling them out, to prevent damage to the roots of remaining plants. If you simply put fresh carrots in the refrigerator, they'll go limp in a few hours.
Carrots taste much better after a couple of frosts.
Following the first hard frost in the fall, cover carrot rows with an 18-inch layer of shredded leaves to preserve them for harvesting after frost. Yankee Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.