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

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10 Nov 21, (Australia - temperate climate)
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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09 Nov 21, Liz (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Multiple
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02 Jul 22, Kelly (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If you want to reduce forking of the roots - you must stop digging and tilling and hoeing. No dig beds are your answer and only do compost as your medium to grow. They are light and airy and nutrient dense.
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21 Oct 21, John (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Do you have a recipe for use of kerosene on carrots? Thank you
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10 Nov 21, Tony Baker (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
diesel or kerosene in a spray bottle will kill any broadleaf weeds and deter carrot fly. Don't go crazy with it though!
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17 Nov 21, Graham (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Years ago (it seems forever) living/working on the hydro dams along the Waitaki River in the South Is. we grew carrots... hoed between the rows to control weeds, and after the carrots had produced their first 2 feathery leaves it was just a light spray with kerosene... That did the job!
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05 Sep 21, max guthrie (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Hi I have had lots of trouble growing Carrots here near Arrowtown ( so do all our neighbours ) with Black Rot or Carrot fly I have tried Neim Prills and white sugar but we still get it quite badly do you have any tips. Cheers Max.
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22 Sep 21, Tony (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Carrot fly seems to be getting rampant, you can buy resistant seed. One way to prevent them is to spray with diesel/kerosene which not only deters flies but kills weeds! The only sure way is to buy some biomesh insect screen and put it over the carrots as soon as you sow them. Make sure there are no gaps at the bottom though as the fly operate at about ground level.
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11 Sep 21, Joss (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi Max, I have been growing carrots in large black plastic pots and have had no trouble with any bugs or nasty things. I sow the seed one by one in separate holes and in a circle around the pot, cover with some sacking and then lay a couple of largish stones to hold the sacking down till they sprout and then uncover them. I hope this helps. Joss Roberts
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27 Aug 21, Pete (Australia - temperate climate)
I have planted a row of carrots and they are too close togther. . Is it feasible to transplant the thinnings. Cheers Pete
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Showing 51 - 60 of 368 comments
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I did the same thing. Planted each cell and ended up with clumps of carrot spaghetti. I have now planted seed directly into the garden. I got enough odd shapes big enough to do a meal so that's ok. All a learning curve.

- Carole

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