Jeff Favelle November 17th, 2023
As far as root crops go, carrots are at or near the top of the list in terms of popularity. And with good reason. Amazingly sweet raw or cooked, these edible taproots form the basis of so many salads, sides, mains, and even desserts it is staggering.
One thing growers (and eaters) don’t like however, are the hairy ones.
Although still perfectly edible with no taste discrepancy, hairy carrots are frowned upon and usually avoided. Growers for both personal use and especially market gardeners much prefer a smooth, brightly colored taproot to either eat or sell.
Thankfully, hairy carrots are not the norm and usually occur for one of three reasons:
- By far the most common cause of hairy carrots, is too much nitrogen (N) in the soil. Excess nitrogen and other macronutrients will cause an explosion of hair roots all along the main taproot (the carrot) almost every time. If the crop is growing good, all parameters look perfect, and still you are getting hairy carrots, quite likely, you need to dial back the nutrients.
- The second most common cause of hairy carrot roots is the opposite in that it’s a lack of something. Water. Uneven moisture and times of drought will cause the main taproot to send out more side roots in search of water. It’s a defense mechanism for the plant. It wants to cast a wider net to increase its ability to capture more moisture. Carrots don’t like soggy soils, but they need constant, even moisture to grow properly.
- Finally, the third reason you could be getting hairy carrots is simply because the plants are old. Carrots love the cold, and as many of us grow ours on the fringes of spring and fall, the crops last a surprisingly long time. Leaving them in the ground to continue to grow is one of the best ways to store carrots if you aren’t ready to eat them all. As such, even though they stay a reasonable size in this cold stasis, the taproots start to show their age by going hairy. Harvest earlier if you want to avoid this.
Hairy carrots are not the end of the world. The fine white roots rub off easily under running water and they are still perfectly edible. But, if you ever wondered why your carrots sometimes get an excessive amount of roots on them, now you know likely the cause.
For a complete video demonstration of hairy carrots, check out the Garden Quickie below!