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 P P P P P  

(Best months for growing Carrot in Australia - sub-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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10 Apr 17, Al Fry (Australia - temperate climate)
Some say cover carrot seed with old carpet etc to help germination. Is this correct.
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11 Apr 17, Jonno (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
This is correct. Carrot seed is very fine and can dry out easily. This is critical when the new plants are germinating as a hot or windy day can dehydrate the emerging seedlings causing them to die. The carpet will keep the soil damp. People also use old sacks and sometimes boards. Check them each day and remove when the seedlings have emerged. If you also have trouble with ants sprinkle pepper along the row after you have sown the seedlings to keep them away.
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15 Mar 17, Joel (Australia - temperate climate)
Tip: Carrots are best grown in sandy soil and work best in pots
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01 Nov 16, Danielle (Australia - temperate climate)
My daughter decorated and planted carrot seeds at Bunnings. The bunnings seeds were on cardboard like matches that you stick in the soil. There was multiple seeds on each piece so when do i split up the plants so they have room to grow? The green tops are still very thin and fine but are starting to get that carrot looking leaf.
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18 Nov 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
I wouldn't as carrots don't like root disturbance. wait till some are edible size and use them as baby carrots
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26 Sep 16, James McDowell (Australia - temperate climate)
when thinning out carrots cut the heads off the ones you would normally pull out ...that way you will not disturb the soil .happy gardenjng
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01 Sep 16, Inez (Australia - temperate climate)
hi i was just wondering in what season a purple carrot might grow or i s it just the same as any old carrot? and if it is the same as a "normal" carrot when do they grow(season)?
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29 Sep 16, Michael (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
you can grow purple carrots anytime of the year.
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03 May 16, Bruce Rickman (Canada - Zone 7b Mild Temperate climate)
We live in PittMeadows British Columbia and we've carrot rust fly that bore into the carrots and spoil them Any body have suggestions to prevent them organically
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29 Sep 16, Michael (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
plant carrots with onions. the fly is attracted to the carrot smell and powerful smell of onions confuses them.
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Showing 71 - 80 of 275 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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