[Beginners Guide] How To Grow Carrots In Kenya

How To Grow Carrots In Kenya- Kenyan prospective carrot farmers will benefit from our discussion of how to get started with growing carrots in Kenya. There is an increase in agricultural practice in Kenya, and one of the most profitable agricultural enterprises is carrot farming.

To put it another way, it’s because it’s widely used throughout the country, whether in food or beauty products.

So, what are the next steps to get started with carrots farming in Kenya? Planning and budgeting, farmland acquisition, farmland cultivation, purchase of a variety of carrot seeds, planting, irrigation and or mulching, weeding and pest/disease control, and finally harvesting are all steps in the process.

Carrot farming is thought to thrive only in a specific area of Kenya. While this used to be the case, recent technological advancements and inventions have made carrot farming possible throughout Kenya.
Let’s get started with our discussion on how to start carrot farming in Kenya without further ado!

How To Start Growing Carrot In Kenya Step By Step

In Kenya, people eat carrots in large quantities for a variety of reasons, including their taste and nutritional value. A completely germinated and ready-to-pick carrot may be grown in about 70-80 days, making it one of the quickest crops to grow.

Onion farming in Kenya can be started with the following steps;

Step 1: Setting a budget and figuring out how much money you’ll need

In Kenya, the saying goes, “If you don’t plan, you’re planning to fail.” Agriculture relies heavily on foresight and financial management. To get the information you need, you need to put in the time and effort necessary.

Read Also: How To Grow Pepper In Kenya [Beginners Guide]

During this time, you can read articles like this one to learn more about the subject matter. Instead, you can meet with experts in the field to learn from their firsthand knowledge and practical experiences.

Budgeting is the process of deciding how to allocate your financial resources in order to achieve your farming goals.

Step2: Acquire farmland

You’ll need farmland for the next step. In spite of the myth that carrots can only be grown in certain regions of the country, this is not the case. In any part of the country, if you follow the guidelines and principles involved, you can grow carrots successfully.

To obtain farmland, simply follow the steps outlined below. They are

Budgeting

The first step in acquiring farmland is to assess your financial situation. Your budget dictates the size and quality of farmland that you can purchase or lease.

Compile a Report and make your findings

The next step is to go out and look for farmland within your price range. The farmland can either be purchased or rented. You need to complete your research before purchasing acreage that is right for you and your agricultural style.

Read Also: How To Grow Onions In Kenya [ Beginners Guide Pdf]

Procure the farmland.

Go ahead and buy or rent the farmland that best fits your needs after you’ve done your research and found the one that’s right for you.

Step 3: Farmland Cultivation

Following the purchase of farmland, the next step is to prepare the area for planting. Soil testing, improvement, tilling, and correct fencing are all part of this procedure.

Cultivating the farmland includes:

Land should be plowed up

You’ll need to remove bushes, undesired plants, dirt, and other waste from the farmland. Depending on the size of your field, you can utilize simple farm tools like cutlass and rake, or you can go for complex farm machines.

The farmland should be leveled

The farmland must be leveled to eliminate any discernible slopes. Aim for as little unevenness as possible with this method.

Water the Farmland

It is crucial that you uniformly apply water all over the field to maintain the land as wet as possible, but don’t flood the land and prevent any running water to avoid nutrient leaching.

Make The Ridges/Farm Beds.

Farm beds or ridges are created after the ground has been cleared of undesired plants and rubbish. Making agricultural beds and ridges is easy using common farm instruments like a hoe.

While plows and harrows can be used to dig up, mix, and overturn the soil, if you have a lot of farmland, you can use harrows to break up the soil into smaller particles.

Carrots should be planted in narrow, shallow ditches, either horizontally or vertically, in the beds. The field should also be kept constantly moist.

Read Also: How to Start Farming In Kenya [Beginners Guide]

Step 4: Go to Agro-Shops and Buy a Variety of Carrot Seeds

You should buy your carrot seeds from a recognized agricultural shop. Buying from roadside vendors is a bad idea. Touchon Mega carrot seed is a top-notch selection.

Step 5: Planting.

Avoid utilizing soil that is waterlogged, rocky, or clayey while planting carrots. Make certain that the farm beds are moist when you’re ready to put the carrot seeds in them.

In order to ensure that the field is ready for planting, you need to water it for at least 24 hours.

Carrot seeds should be sown in the evening or early in the morning for best results. Late at night or early in the morning is the optimum time to plant your carrot seed.

Planting at the time we specify is because, the soil will be moist at this time, and the temperature is mild which is best for crops.

Pant the carrot seed In the Furrow (Hole)

To plant the seeds, dig a hole in the farm bed or ridge. Carrot seeds (at least two, at most three) should be snipped and poured into the farm bed’s holes. At the maximum, the furrow depth should be no deeper than 5cm.

Seeds of carrots should be covered in the furrow (Hole)

In order to prevent the seed from being blown away by the wind, washed away by water force, or eaten by birds and rats after you’ve planted it, you should cover the seed with soil once you’ve finished planting it.

Watering your plant

After you’ve planted your seeds, make sure to give them some water. The seedlings should be watered as soon as you finish planting them and cover the seeds.

As a result, soil moisture will be preserved, and the seed will have access to water to begin the germination process.

The plant needs to be watered every morning and night for the first 12 to 14 days until it germinates.

The Carrots farm should be thinned out.

The carrot must be thinned after germination or when it reaches a diameter of 2 cm, which can take anywhere from two to four weeks. Thinned carrots are more uniform in size and shape, which is the primary goal of carrot thinning.

Step 6: Irrigation

Planting in every season is now possible thanks to irrigation systems. Farming carrots require a lot of water. So, you’ll need to irrigate your carrot farm; the first irrigation should be light and done immediately after you sow your seeds.

However, more irrigation should be carried out as necessary. If there is too much moisture in the soil, it can result in short carrots that are light in color and have a wider diameter.

Step 7: Weeding and pest/disease control

To keep your carrot plants from suffering from unhealthy competition for resources such as space, water, and nutrients, get rid of the weeds in your garden. Watch out for undesirable plants by keeping a tight check on the plant.

2 weeks after planting is the ideal time to begin weeding. After that, wait 4 to 5 weeks before doing another round of weeding.

You must, however, use caution when removing the weeds so as not to damage the carrots.

Plant diseases and pests can also harm carrots. That is why it is imperative that you keep pests and illnesses at bay so that your carrots can thrive.

Therefore, it is essential that your farm be fumigated with the best pest and weedicides recommended by an expert.

Step 8: Harvesting

Premature carrots can be harvested in order to fulfill market demand. In order to avoid the hardening of carrots, it is best to keep them in the soil until they are fully mature.

In order to get the most out of your carrots, you should pick them when they are around 1.8 cm in diameter at the top. To remove the plant from the ground, you’ll need an ordinary or special plow.

Washing carrots is easier if they’re stored in crates or sacks. After that, wash the carrots thoroughly and separate them according to size before putting them in a container for distribution or eating.

Carrot Production in Kenya Video Guide:

Common Disease of Carrot

Most time, nematodes affect the root of the carrot. To prevent disease and pest infestation, use fungicides, plant resistant types, and don’t overcrowd seeds. The purchase of disease-resistant seeds is also a great idea.

Problems of Farming Carrots in Kenya.

Carrot growing in Kenya is plagued by the following:

Disease-carrying insects and pathogens

As a result, carrots are a popular target for pests and illnesses. Indeed, bugs are drawn to them just by virtue of their smell. Because of this, you must be exceedingly vigilant and careful during irrigation so as not to overflood the farmland.

Getting quality carrot Seeds

It’s difficult to find high-quality carrot seeds. Consider purchasing hybrid seeds or other quality seeds, such as nates variety.

Overcrowding

Carrots that are planted too closely compete for nutrients and space, resulting in stunted growth and disease problems for both the carrots and the grower.

Types of Carrot Seeds In Kenya

Carrots come in a variety of varieties. Farmers commonly plant the following species in Kenya:

Danvers

This type of carrot is a common one, and it’s a dark orange color. 6-7 inches in length, with rounded shoulders and sharp tips. Because of this, it is able to grow in a variety of soils, including heavy and shallow ones.

Chantanay

All other carrot varieties can’t penetrate clay or rocky soils like Chantenay’s small, conical roots can. An unusual feature of this style is that instead of being long and lean, it becomes thick and tapered in the shoulders and hips.

Nantes

Rather than being pointy, the ends of Nantes carrots are blunt, giving them their cylindrical shape. Both the Scarlet Nantes and the Little Finger carrots are common varieties of this type, which can grow up to 3 or 4 inches in length.

Imperators

Beautiful to look at and delicious to eat, these carrot varietals are a great choice. For fresh eating, they have exceptionally long roots, up to 10 inches long, with high sugar content.

When Is The Best Time To Plant Carrot In Kenya?

Ideally, you can start planting carrots in Kenya anytime from October downward because there isn’t a lot of rain. Typically, this occurs between August and December.

Where To Buy Quality Carrot Seed In Kenya?

Carrot seeds are easy to come by in Kenya. You may be able to find a local farm business based on your location. Carrot seeds can also be purchased on the internet from an agro-eCommerce website.

How long do carrots take to mature in Kenya?

Usually, carrots are matured and ready for harvest after 120 days which is approximately 4 months.

What kind of fertilizer do carrots need?

Usually, it is best practice to add fertilizers that have high potassium but low nitrate in them.

Price of Carrots In Kenya

To buy a kilo of carrot in Kenya, it will cost you about Ksh 30.

Conclusion

Commercial Carrot farming in Kenya is one lucrative any serious farmer will want to look into, owing to the fact that carrots are used in many delicacies and many forms. So, we have taken out time to give you step by step guide on carrot production in Kenya using the seed and all you need to know. So, if there is information you need to know about how to grow carrots in Kenya, you may drop your comment in the comment section below.

For further reading, here is a pdf guide to further your learning