Generally speaking, hydroponics is not suited for growing root crops.
But I will show you how to grow carrots in hydroponics using coco coir which is a hydroponic growing medium when used correctly.
Hydroponics typically is used for growing crops with a fibrous root system and you can’t really grow root crops like carrots, beets, or potatoes in most hydroponic grow mediums.
How To Grow Carrots In Hydroponics In Coco Coir
The good news is that you can grow root crops if you use coco coir. Many people think of coco coir as a soil substitute.
But coco coir is an inert medium that is a true hydroponic medium when used correctly. If you treat it like soil it will give soil results.
But if you treat it as a hydroponic medium it can give you spectacular results that are much better than soil.
I have been growing carrots, potatoes, and even sweet potatoes in coco coir with very good results.
The trick is to keep the coco moist and not allow it to dry out. You can do this by hand watering or you can use a timer and drip irrigation to automate the process.
You will always want to water until you get some runoff. This helps keep salts from building up in the pot.
It is important to remember that coco coir by itself has few nutrients and is an inert grow medium. So you need to feed it every time it is watered.
Feeding Carrots In Coco Coir
I recommend using hydroponic nutrients that are designed for coco coir. Fertilizing coco is a bit different than other mediums.
Coconut palms grow by the seashore and as a result, they naturally absorb a lot of salt.
This needs to be leeched out before it can be used to grow crops. Unfortunately, not all processors do this so make sure you get a horticultural grade like Canna Coco.
Because of the way it grows coco likes to hold on to potassium at the expense of calcium and magnesium so it needs to be balanced.
Coco nutrients generally have less potassium and more calcium and magnesium so your coco stays balanced.
Many growers add additional nutrients in the form of a calmag solution.
This helps keep things balanced and plants under LED lights naturally use more of these nutrients.
Don’t ever water your coco with plain water as this will unbalance the nutrient profile.
Coco should be fed at every watering. It is not like soil where you feed, water, feed, and wait for the soil to dry out before watering.
Once you get the hang of growing vegetables in coco coir you will never want to use soil again.
How Long Do Carrots Take To Grow
Carrots are a versatile and popular root vegetable that can be used in a wide variety of dishes. They are relatively easy to grow and provide a good source of vitamins and minerals.
However, carrots do take some time to mature, requiring approximately two to four months from seed to harvest.
But you can start to harvest baby carrots a month after germination.
The key to growing healthy carrots is to start with quality seeds and provide them with optimal growing conditions.
Carrot seeds can be slow to germinate and they can take 14-21 days and it is important they are kept moist during this time.
Once the seeds have germinated, they should be thinned so that the plants have enough space to develop properly.
If you wait a month to thin them you can harvest some as baby carrots. You can thin them out to be about 2 inches apart.
Carrots need full sun and well-drained soil in order to grow well. With proper care, you can enjoy fresh carrots straight from your garden in just a few months.
Starting Carrot Seeds For Hydroponics
Carrots are one of the few vegetables that should not be transplanted. It usually will result in forked roots.
You will need to directly seed it into your pot and lightly cover it. Carrot seeds are pretty small and hard to plant individually.
They can take up to 2 weeks to germinate and germination will never be 100%.
So you will want to plant them in groups or just scatter the seeds. Once they have sprouted you can thin them out.
I have another article on how to grow carrots and I also have a video showing me harvesting beets and a few carrots.
Most were not ready at the time of the video but I pulled a few and they were very tasty.
Beets are another root crop you can grow in coco coir and they do very well.
The greens are very tasty. Swiss chard is a beet that only grows leaves.
How To Grow Carrots In Hydroponics
Coco coir is really a great hydroponic growing medium and it will allow you to grow many root crops that cant be grown in hydroton or Rockwool.
Don’t limit yourself to just growing carrots. I am growing beets too. And that’s not all. I am also potatoes and sweet potatoes too.
They are in 5-gallon buckets. I start them on the bottom and fill in around them as they grow so the buried nodes produce the crop.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with coco coir. It actually is one of the easiest hydroponic mediums to use. Happy Gardening!
