Growing Carrot

Daucus carota : Apiaceae / the umbelliferae family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    P P P P P          

(Best months for growing Carrot in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 46°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 2 - 12 inches apart
  • Harvest in 12-18 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Onions, Leeks, Lettuce, Sage, Peas, Radishes, Tomatoes, Beans, Celery, Rosemary
  • Avoid growing close to: Parsnips, Beetroot, Dill, Brassicas, Fennel

Your comments and tips

26 Nov 23, Celeste Archer (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
I really can't answer your question, (Can you grow carrots in December in your area) but I can give you all the growing criteria and then you can check (via prior years climate data for your area) whether your area meets the conditions for carrot growth or not. .Carrots: -- minimum germination temperature is 2c : optimum germination is 10c to 25c (the temperatures must be sustained). Seeds germinate over a 2 week period -- if crust forms on the top of the soil, germination will be restricted. Carrots like well drained, well aerated loamy soil. They are SOMEWHAT drought resistant. -- optimum growing temps : 15C to 20C , with a minimum of 5C and a maximum of 24C Outside of the growing range (less than 5c or more than 24c) the carrot goes into "dormancy/holding pattern" with extreme temps killing the carrot. Carrots like well drained soil and they like aeration... so planting in hills (or hilling) is beneficial and allows carrots to grow longer. Carrots can tolerate shade but do best in full sun. I looked up the temperatures for germination and growing on the Atlantic Canada's Advisory board publications (since I don't have all my germination and growing temps memorized). Hope this helps you decide whether or not you can grow carrots in your area in December.
25 Nov 23, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
August to April.
04 Aug 23, CANDY (Canada - Zone 5b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
HELLO THERE CAN I SOW CARROT SEEDS DIRECTLY IN CONTAINER (HOMEDEPOT LARGE BUCKET) - AS I LIVE IN A CONDO AND PLANT IT ON BALCONY THANKYOU
14 Nov 23, Bernadette (Canada - Zone 3b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
i had great success growing carrots in a regular storage container (those blue ones you get from walmart) grew a rainbow variety that wasn't expected to grow as long as some varieties like nantes :) wont know unless you try! (just dont forget to drill holes for proper drainage)
11 Feb 23, Norman (USA - Zone 9b climate)
fastest growing carrots zone 9b florida
13 Feb 23, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Just a few common gardeners reply to comments here - we are not experts on all plants all over the world. Carrots are slow growing and you grow the kind you might like to eat. I live in Australia and reply to some of the questions here.
08 Feb 23, (Australia - temperate climate)
I've grown carrots and parsnips next to each other for years, and have never had any real issues. [Temperate - Geelong, Victoria.]
15 Jan 23, christina (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i have tried to grow carrots and beets unsuccessfully over the last year... i have built up soil in beds with bunnings veg mix, mushroom compost , manure bags and dynamic lifter... i also use worm castings and tea... from my worms.. i mulch with sugarcane .. and its so frustrating they wont grow... what am i doing wrong please....
23 Jan 23, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You are putting on too much nitrogen fertilise. This will produce a lot of leaf and no carrots. Carrots do not need a really rich soil. Put carrots and beetroot in after a leaf crop like lettuce. When the beetroot are about 200-250mm high you can give them some fertiliser - phosphate rich.
08 Feb 23, gregj (Australia - temperate climate)
I agree. He/she is trying to grow them with far too much fertiliser. I have grown carrots in the same raised bed for years, and have barely added anything to the soil in all that time. They grow fine. When I try to grow them in the garden beds, which have all been well fertilised with animal manure etc they don't grow well at all.
Showing 11 - 20 of 362 comments

Best to grow carrots in a sandy loam kind of soil. Don't need a lot of nitrogen. Also I wouldn't thin out too much. I don't grow them because they are cheap to buy and take so long to grow.

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