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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27 Oct 15, Rick Priestley (Australia - temperate climate)
What effect would very heavy rainfall,very dry conditions,strong winds,frost and hail have on my carrot and asparagus crops? How do i minimise the effect? I would appreciate ideas as i am establishing horticultural crops and need to cover all bases for the future climate changes!! Kind regards. Rick Priestley Central coast/NSW.
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21 Oct 15, Edward Hague (Australia - temperate climate)
I have carrots with tops as large as trees but little or no root what has gone wrong
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26 Oct 15, Retz (Australia - arid climate)
Too much nitrogen will cause big leaves and little root. Plant carrot after and heavy nitrogen feeding crop.
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24 Oct 15, Jo Christensen (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
With carrots you need very deep loose soil. If your soil becomes hard packed at any stage the carrots can't grow deep, hence the short fat carrots. My father grew amazing and huge carrots, he would break up the soil at least 30 - 40 cms and work in heaps and heaps of cow manure
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23 Oct 15, eric (Australia - tropical climate)
mine was the same and then I read do not plant carrots in cow manure and what had I do yep so my carrots were small and curly and the tops lush and green so I figured it musted of been the cow pooh that did it.
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03 Jun 15, dadpad (Australia - temperate climate)
Branching of carrot is usually associated with excess nitrogen. Don't feed/fertilise the soil prior to planting carrots or during growth. If you havn't fertiised, the soil may naturally have too much nitrogen. Plant carrots last as part of a rotation such as leafy greens followed by fruiting plants followed by root vegetables then fallow to give the soil a break. Fallowing will give the soil time to regenerate available nitrogen and you can start your rotation over again.
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02 Jun 15, Jackie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have the most deformed carrots the colour is good they taste good but my my they have several branches [arms] poking out, some twisted, I could always enter them in the most bazzare looking things I just would like to be able to have straight ones .Hoping someone will be able to help straighten my problem out Thanking You Jackie
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06 Jun 15, Noel (Australia - temperate climate)
over fertilized soil is probably the cause
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04 Jun 15, sharon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have notice in the past if I don't dig the soil deep enough to make it less impacted for the carrots to grow they will twist and grow side way. So I now always make sure I dig a little deeper so the soil is less impacted and the carrots grow deeper in the ground and I have straight ones. I hope this helps you.
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04 Jun 15, Michelle (Australia - arid climate)
Hi jackie it sounds like your soil might have some lumps and bumps in it. As soon as carrot reaches even a tiny "barrier" that is a little hard for it to grow through it will change direction and sprout off to the side. Try sifting your soil or really working through it to a good depth to break up even the tiniest lumps before you plant next time. They often even go tangly like that in just potting mix with the barky bits from my experience!. Sandier soil better I think. Glad to hear yours taste good... Mine are straight but never flavoursome
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Showing 181 - 190 of 371 comments
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Carrots: -- Germination minimum temp is 2c: optimum germination temp is 10c to 25c (the temperatures must be sustained). Seeds germinate over a 2-week period -- if crust forms on the top of the soil, germination will be restricted. *********** Optimum growing temps : 15C to 20C , with a minimum of 5C and a maximum of 24C Outside of the growing range (less than 5c or more than 24c) the carrot goes into "dormancy/holding pattern" with extreme temps killing the carrot. ********* 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). *************** Having lived in your area MANY years ago – I can recall – and checked with environment Canada – Based on last year’s temp – June was a good month to start planting carrots – and September had decent carrot growing temps – as did the first week of October. I would plant carrots in semi-shade as Stoney Creek can get VERY HOT in mid-summer – and this is a problem for carrots that don’t like temps over 24c. ********* So, what I see is a total of 129 days of good carrot growing weather (June 01 – to the first week in October). You need 2 weeks for germination and depending on the type of carrot about 80 days to harvest: total of 94 days. If you plant starting June 01 – you can plant carrots every couple of weeks until around July 5th (07/05 plus 95 days yields a date in the first week in October). If you want to do only 2 plantings – then I would plant on June 01, and again the last week of June. This is based on 80 days to harvest – if you have carrots with a higher number of days to germination and/or days to harvest (like dragon carrots that take 90 days) – adjust accordingly. You need your last harvest in by the first week in October so count backward to find your last planting date. Bolero Nantes have the following stats: Germination 10 - 20 days and days to harvest 70. The site indicates that your last planting should be 3 months before your first expected frost date -- and it looks like your first expected frost date is October 15 -- which yields a last planting date of: July 15th which is a couple of weeks later than what I have calculated .... remember that Nobody can guarantee what your weather will be ..... when it comes to your last planting, I would error to the side of planting a little early -- and I would feel a little bit short on time with a July 15th planting...but I have heard of people planting later and doing just fine.

- Celeste Archer

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