The only part of that I can answer for you is that carrots don't like heat! I planted some earlier this year and they didn't even germinate so I've been reading all I can to figure out where I went wrong and give it another try. Here in GA, we can grow them in the fall but have to wait a while yet because they like it cool. Good luck! I'll definitely be watching the other answers you get!

The carrot is a hardy, cool season crop that can be planted in the garden as soon as the soil can be prepared in the spring. Carrots require relatively large amounts of moisture and are not tolerant of drought. Prolonged hot weather in the later stages of development may not only retard growth but result in an undesirable strong flavor and coarseness in the roots. At the other extreme, prolonged temperatures below 55 degrees F tend to make the roots longer, more slender and paler in color than expected. The best temperature for highest quality roots is between 60 and 70 degrees F

Here is a link that might be useful: More on carrots

I used to live on the coast where carrots are a commercial crop. They like cool weather much like lettuce that is grown in the same foggy summer weather. Carrots they grow in the winter, where the winter is mild, and lettuce in the summer. Both are grown on berms in double rows and furrow watered. They both do well on the river bottom soil, not particularly a light soil. I think the carrots grow in a long shape due to water being applied from the bottom up, as we all know roots grow where the moisture is. Al