“Survival power” key to successful carrot stands

Obtaining good commercial carrot stands in the San Joaquin Valley has often proven to be unpredictable and sometimes difficult. Carrots are becoming a major crop in this area and growers are using many mulching, irrigation and planting techniques in an effort to improve stands. During the last three years an increasing number of growers have used only large-sized seed in an attempt to guarantee stands. These studies at the U.C. West Side Field Station, Five Points, indicate that under most conditions small seed may be as good or better than large seed.