thinning carrots?

[beach chick]

i'm growing carrots in a pot as I did last year. unfortunately, I tend to sow too thickly and then when the tops come up all lovely and green, I dont have the heart to thin them.
last year the biggest ones I got were little finger sized... delish, but not exactly useful!
if I do thin them, how far apart and will they really then grow into proper carrots?

[TEB]

About 3", but it will depend on the variety so you could go to about 2" and get about 1" diameter carrot top (in theory)

[Cutecumber]

how about an experiment? Thin half the pot in one way, half another. Might be useful to know - and you can then tell us

I had the same problem this year - sowed way too many in a moment of madness (or the shakes). Had to pull out around fifty perfect seedlings. I had to tell myself off and promise not to do it again.

[moggssue]

How soon should you thin? My first sowing are about an inch tall,very crowded in their pot. I was hoping to be able to leave them until I can have a few baby carrots to eat but will this be too late to allow the others enough room?

[Cutecumber]

Thin as soon as you like. You won't even get baby carrots if they are really thickly sown, do better pull a few now and some more later. Make sure you settle the soil back afterwards with a light water.

Remember that thinning attracts carrot root-fly.

[beach chick]

thinned mine yesterday, but couldnt bear to go to 2" let alone 3"!!! so I will start another pot and be really mean with the seed... I just think the green tops are so pretty! gave the thinnings to the chickens, who turned their beaks up at them.

[moggssue]

I'm hoping that since I've never grown carrots before, and they're off the ground in a pot, I'll escape the pesky fly ... here's hoping! I'll have a thin this evening then water IF it's not raining!