Kids Thinning carrots is a tedious chore. Singing helps pass the time, but it doesn't ease the back pain. Ask for help. Kids are fascinated by the little carrots they pull out, plus they get to eat them. Thin to one inch apart when the tops are about three inches high.
Crowded carrots become odd-shaped and dwarfed.
Thin again 10 to 14 days later to four inches apart. Keep them out of the carrot patch by covering your beds with a flat fence of wire fencing, chicken wire, or fish net. You can also use this technique to keep cats away from bird feeders. Just lay a sheet of fencing on the ground under your bird feeder. Like all root crops they like phosphate and potash.