How We Grew 150 Carrots in a GreenStalk Vertical Planter

When GreenStalk Lead Gardener Susie harvested over 150 carrots from her 7 Tier GreenStalk Leaf Vertical Planter, she demonstrated something remarkable. In the same 2-square-feet where traditional garden beds might yield 30-35 carrots, her GreenStalk produced nearly 5 times that amount!

That’s the magic of GreenStalk Gardening. Check out Susie's carrot harvest video to see the results for yourself. Here's how to replicate her success in your own vertical planter.

The key to Susie's impressive harvest started with understanding what makes carrots thrive in containers. Unlike ground gardens where soil conditions vary, GreenStalk planters give you complete control over the growing environment. Susie grew Scarlet Nantes (mentioned below), but there are multiple smaller varieties of carrots you can plant in your GreenStalk.

Choose the Right Varieties

Perfect Your Soil

Susie emphasizes light, fluffy potting mix without rocks or wood particles. These obstacles cause the forked, knobby roots that lead to wonky-shaped carrots.

No carrot-growing experience is perfect, and even Susie ended up with some crooked crops! The thing to remember is that when grown in great soil, your carrots will be sweet and fresh no matter their shape.

Planting Technique

• Direct sow at least 5-8 seeds per pocket, knowing you’ll thin later

• Depth: ¼ inch deep

• Timing: Cool weather - early spring or fall

• Germination: 10-21 days (keep soil consistently moist)

• Location: 6+ hours of sunlight daily

We wouldn’t recommend you transplant carrot seedlings. The taproot damage can cause poor development and misshapen carrots.

When Susie's seedlings reached 2-3 inches tall, she began thinning—and this directly contributed to her 150+ carrot harvest.

First Thinning

• When: Seedlings are 2-3 inches tall

• Method: Remove smallest seedlings first

• Spacing: Thin to 1-2 inches apart

• Technique: Cut with scissors at soil level (don't pull when they are next to each other)

By thinning, you’re avoiding a common carrot conundrum: crowding. Crowded carrots compete for nutrients and space. This results in thin, stunted roots instead of the plump, sweet carrots you want.

Second Thinning

• When: 3-4 weeks later

• Bonus: Harvest small "baby" carrots for fresh eating

• Final spacing: 2-3 inches apart depending on variety

You might be surprised to learn that this second thinning—edible carrots and all—isn’t included in that 150 carrot total! These are a fun bonus. 

Container carrots need consistent moisture but not waterlogged conditions. The controlled environment of your GreenStalk makes this easier to manage.

Watering Schedule

• Frequency: 1-2 times weekly (more in hot weather)

• Method: Deep watering to encourage downward root growth

• Check: Soil should be moist 2-3 inches down

Fertilizing for Better Roots

As Susie notes, phosphorus helps with root formation to get bigger carrots. Container plants need regular feeding since nutrients wash out faster than ground soil.

• At planting: Finely ground rock phosphate or bone meal mixed into soil

• Growing season: Balanced organic fertilizer every 3-4 weeks

• Avoid: High-nitrogen fertilizers (encourage leaves over roots)

Susie used Coast of Maine potting soil, which contains kelp, and may have contributed to her carrot’s success. 

You can stretch your fresh carrot harvest throughout the growing season with succession planting. Plant 2-3 pockets every 2-3 weeks from early spring through mid-summer.

This gives you continuous fresh carrots from garden to table without overwhelming harvests all at once. Since carrots store well when properly handled, you can enjoy homegrown carrots for months.

Susie's success demonstrates why vertical container growing works so well for carrots:

• Soil control - no rocks or hard obstacles

• Straighter, more uniform roots - consistent growing medium

• Space efficiency - 150+ carrots in just 2 square feet

• Easier harvest - elevated and accessible

• Extended season - move planter for weather protection

Some of Susie's carrots did reach the bottom of the Leaf planter pockets, showing that even 7 inches can still not be long enough for the largest carrots. For longer varieties, the Original planter's 10-inch depth provides extra room.

Ready to grow your own impressive carrot harvest? The combination of proper variety selection, quality potting mix, and Susie's proven techniques can turn your GreenStalk into a carrot production powerhouse!