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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17 Nov 19, Jenny (Australia - temperate climate)
I often plant carrot seeds in Adelaide and they are always successful. I need to plant more but wondered if it was advisable to plant just before a heatwave? Tomorrow is forecast 31, tuesday 34 and wed is 40. Thanks jenny
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18 Nov 19, Another gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Anything planted in hot to extremely hot needs protection from the sun/heat. Very small seeds are planted very shallow. With hot temps the top few mm of soil dries out very quickly. Very hard to germinate when the soil is very hot/dry some of the day then wet from watering. Try to keep the soil temp as constant as possible and moist. I use a 1.8mx1.8mx.5m high wood frame with shade cloth on it. I have 30%, 70% and 90% shade cloth.
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04 Sep 19, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)
How long should you leave the board on? Most of my seeds have germinated but are becoming leggy to search for light. Thanks.
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07 Sep 19, Kelly (Australia - temperate climate)
If they have germinated then they will be ready for the board to come off. The board is used simply to keep the heat and moisture in the ground to help them germinate.
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05 Sep 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Germinating carrots - don't have too rich a soil - have a nice crumbly fine soil - even sandy loan. Rake it real flat. Dig a little furrow about 5-8 mm deep. Put some carrot seeds in your left hand and pick up a few with your right hand and spread them along the furrow thinly. Gently cover the seeds with some light soil or very fine seed raising mixture and then give a light patting down on the soil. Give the seeds a gentle watering. Build a little frame over them with things like tomato stakes on bricks etc.Then place some 30-50-70% shade cloth on the frame. Give the seeds a light watering morning and afternoon. A few days after germination take the shade cloth off. You can apply the shade cloth idea to germinating a lot of different seeds if the weather is warm to hot. If planting big seeds like corn beans peas - plant the seeds then give a good watering and then don't water for 3-4 days - then a light watering each second day. Too much water they will go rotten..
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05 Sep 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Take the board (????) off a few days after germination. A good way to protect further is to use a shade cloth device - about 30-50% shade cloth.
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20 Jul 19, (Australia - temperate climate)
What’s the best way to store carrots.
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22 Jul 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
In the fridge. Don't plant so many next time. Try some succession planting next time.
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07 Jul 19, Dianne (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Don't forget to make use of carrot leaves and stems as well as a tasty salad green, but be sure not to leave them on the plant too long as they get a bit stringy.
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13 May 19, Willem Pretorius (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
I planted Carrots in a container with pretty deep soil but I get these very short carrots that is purple on the outside.
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Showing 31 - 40 of 274 comments
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Hi Brenda, without checking with mixture it’s very hard to diagnose the problem. However I can offer a few maybe’s in the absence of physically looking at everything. Firstly the problem definitely appears to be with the mixture or something you are doing rather than the plants themselves. They are all cool weather crops so temperature is not an issue. If the mixture was “young”, i.e. not fully composted then it could be a simple nutrient “tie up” of the 5 in 1 (presume that’s a fertiliser in this case) by the mixture which means that if you let it be for a while and turn it over a few times it will come good and be suitable for later use. Secondly if the mixture is not inherently well drained you could well be over watering (you said daily). Take a handful of the mixture an hour after watering and give it a good squeeze. If water drips out easily then you are over watering. However, if the mixture handful just falls apart easily when you open your hand then maybe you are not watering enough as you only say watering and not “good watering”. I hope this helps… John Bee, Master Gardener.

- John Bee

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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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