Growing Carrot

Daucus carota : Apiaceae / the umbelliferae family

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

(Best months for growing Carrot in Australia - tropical 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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19 Apr 11, Ben (Australia - temperate climate)
Possibly because your soil is to hard I've heard that if they can't grow down they come out looking like short stubby midgets
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26 Feb 11, Joe (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
It sounds very much like too much fertiliser, also carrots prefer open type soils if you have heavy clay soils add about a good handful of gypsum or hydrated lime (same stuff) per square meter and hopefully you should see and grow better carrots
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06 Jan 11, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I'm interested in the answer to this, too. I get exactly the same problem!
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06 Jan 11, Liz (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Carrots prefer light, sandy soil, mulched to keep cool and moist. Light soils give them a chance to grow long roots. If your soil is heavy clay, it is best to grow stump-rooted or chantenay types. A raised bed might be the answer.
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27 Feb 14, Colleen (Australia - tropical climate)
Or dig a narrow trench by inserting the straight spade in and wriggling it. Then fill with sand leaving a 2cm gap to the ground level and then put a light layer of soil, place the seeds, cover with a light layer of soil then water, protect from birds, heat etc.
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09 Oct 10, Tony Morales (Australia - temperate climate)
I have fertilized my carrots with a bit of super-phosphate and had no more "forking" than usual (maybe 5 - 8%?)
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28 Jul 10, Corinne anderson (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Just woundering what fertiliser do you use when your growing carrots?
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30 Jun 10, Natalie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
As long as your ground doesn't freeze you will be right. Our carrots are growing really well at the moment. We have even planted more seedlings for a sept crop.
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30 Jun 10, joan jenks (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Is it okay to grow carrots in the winter? it says u can but its not the preferred weather.
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15 Mar 12, Anonymus (USA - Zone 10a climate)
Yeah, you can grow carrots during the winter. Just keep the ground mulched and make sure the grund doesn't freeze. For winter growing I would recomend Artist and Merida (nantes types) and Camberly and Scarlet Keeper (danvers types). However, the coloring on the carrots aren't as good in colder weather with less daylight hours.
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Showing 211 - 220 of 275 comments
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In addition to my prior reply: don't forget to check the weather OVER the ENTIRE duration of growth. That is, the average days to harvest for carrots is 60 to 80 days. The days to harvest are calculated based on ideal growing conditions (temperatures/sunshine/water). So if your planting seeds on December 01 -- then expect germination by around Dec 15 - and then add 80 days -- which yields March 04 -- so you need to verify that you have the correct growing temperatures in Dec, Jan, Feb and March (in case you carrots take a little longer). Best of LUCK -- and remember the 60 - 80 days is for the average carrots some varieties take longer -- like my favorite - the DRAGON CARROT takes 90 days. Dragon Carrots are sweet and full of color. The nine inch roots have a bright orange interior with an amazing reddish purple skin. Full of nutrients including lycopene, Dragon Carrots are good for the body and look fantastic in the kitchen. (info for dragon carrots take from a seed retail site).

- Celeste Archer

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