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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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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01 Sep 21, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If you transplant them - cover them with shade cloth or something similar for the first week.
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20 Aug 21, Eden (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Great tips. This is really a piece of helpful information.
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19 Dec 20, Bill Howe (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, Advice please for the best carrot varieties to sow in Bendigo over summer?
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21 Dec 20, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
It really comes down to what kind of carrots you would like to grow and eat. Long, thin, short, fat, orange, purple etc. Depending on your weather maybe better to wait until cools a bit. From the notes it likes cool soil - like 40 degree days in summer will nearly fry them.
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22 Dec 20, Bill Howe (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm interested in which ones grow best in Bendigo in summer, a hot temperate region.
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01 Dec 20, Reba Cummings (USA - Zone 8b climate)
If covered with agribon frost cover or pv now (Dec. 1), could I sow carrots ? We have had 2 frosts?
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03 Dec 20, Anonymous (USA - Zone 8b climate)
I suggest you go by the planting guide for your climate zone.
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Showing 61 - 70 of 371 comments
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My carrots grow best in a bed where something else has grown the previous year. I DON'T fertilize carrots, because as soon as they find a little bit of nitrogen, they fork, and they're really hard to clean. I sprinkle the seed and press it into the wet soil. I then put some old palings on top, and don't check them for a few days.After four days or so, I check to see if they're popping up. As soon as a few of them have popped up. I lift the boards, and put them on little blocks of something, to be about 1-2 inches off the ground. This protects the small carrot plants from the sun, and helps to keep the moisture in a bit. After a week or so, they are big enough to take the boards away, and voila, they should grow pretty well. Just thin them out after a couple of months, so you have some baby carrots for salads/steaming/whatever, and the others will grow to beautiful fat vegies. Chantenay are my faves, they just seem to have a sweeter more robust taste. Don't forget to water during summer.

- adam synnott

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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