How to grow crunchy carrots at home: 5 simple steps for your kitchen garden

There’s nothing quite like pulling a carrot out of the soil, brushing it off, and biting into something that’s sweet, crisp and tastes nothing like the ones from the shop. Carrots have a reputation for being fussy, and anyone who’s grown thin, twisted or forked ones will tell you that. But the truth is that they ask for very little, as long as you get a few basics right.

Loose soil, patient sowing and even watering are the real secrets, and you can do all of it in a deep pot on a sunny balcony. Here’s how, step by step.