What are some reasons why carrots grow crooked?

Question

I am trying to come up with a hypothesis for my science class as to why carrots may grow crooked, besides there being rocks in the soil.

Answer 1

a possible reason i could think of is carrots need to be thinned out as soon as they come up out of the ground.  if they have to fight for space they won't be strait. you need to take the rocks out before you plant next time

Answer 2

Density of the soil, moisture content of the soil.

Answer 3

Carrot root shape changes can be caused by disease (Pythium infection), crowding, soil compaction & temperature. (At temperatures below 16 C the roots become long, tapered and are paler.)

Carrots fork in contact even with fresh nutrient clumps like uncomposted manure clots.

http://www.peracto.com.au/resources/carr...

http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/cultivatio...