As soon as the seedling carrots are large enough to get hold of, the carrots can be thinned so that there is one seedling every 2 inches. This will give the seedlings room to grow.

It is important to thin seedling carrots before they get too big, so that the roots of the remaining carrots are not disturbed.

Watering the row before thinning will also help the roots. Water gently from the side.

A measuring stick, with 2 inch spacings, will help decide which ones to pull out. Always leave a strong seedling behind to grow.

A walking board can be used to kneel on, so that the soil is not compacted.

Hold the seedlings to be pulled out between finger and thumb.

Later on, when the carrots are just large enough to eat, every other carrot can then be pulled out so that the remaining one develops to its full potential.

These Nairobi carrots are ready for their second thinning, but this time the carrots pulled out will go to the kitchen.

Thin carrots on a dry, still evening so that the smell does not attract the carrot fly. Another post discusses how to avoid carrot fly.

carrot thin