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

20 Jul 14, Kerry (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Xan. I've had great success planting carrots in the adelaide hills. Yes, direct seeding is best. Hills soils can be too rich or too heavy. I've always planted carrots after another crop and also rotary hoed the soil prior. Have always planted in full sun as well. Good luck with your crop this year !
12 Aug 13, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
on another reputable website it is suggested to plant root crops together, yet you suggest here not to plant carrots with parsnips or beetroot. Is there a specific reason for this? Response : We used information from various reputable sources but acknowledge that in gardening there are often different approaches.Liz
02 Jul 13, Germaine (Australia - arid climate)
I have just pulled up a carrot that has been planted for about 4 months and they are short stumpy and pale, why is this and what can I do? There are no bugs and the leaves are healthy.
18 Jul 13, (Australia - arid climate)
Im replying to my own post as I thought the answer may be helpful for someone else, seems you should dig right down to the desired lenght of a good carrot, place some sugar cane mulch and dynamic lifter then top with soil and hopefully the carrots strive to get the dynamic lifter and will grow long and healthy. So Ive tried it and I will see how I go.
15 Jun 13, Susie (Australia - temperate climate)
How do I know my carrots are ready to harvest
26 Jun 13, (Australia - temperate climate)
Just dig down gentle around one and have a look :-) you will work it out
13 Jun 13, craig (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can carrots be planted in bags? What form of soil should be used? Can carrots be plamted now if in a warm protected area? Thanks
11 May 13, Neville (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi could you advise me on preferred ph for carrots
06 Jun 13, mike how (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
6.0--------6.5 lime or dolomite will gat your ph up
28 Mar 13, northy (Australia - tropical climate)
could you recommend a variety of carrot that grow best in far north queensland.
Showing 221 - 230 of 371 comments

I thought I might mention: after you harvest your first crop of carrots you probably have enough time to grow a crop of the smaller varieties of radish. Radishes: ******** Germination temperatures: ideal 15c - 25c acceptable 10c - 30c ************ Germination time: 5 -10 days *************** Growing temperatures: ideal 10c -18c intermediate to short day lengths -Growth must be continuous and rapid for good quality. Acceptable grow temps 4c – 24c. Roots of globe varieties tend to elongate and develop poor shape in hot weather when the tops also grow taller and larger than in cool weather. Long days induce flowering or seed stalks (bolting) and with warm weather the seed stalk may develop so rapidly that no edible root is formed *************** Days to harvest: Regular radish reach market size in 21 to 28 days. Chinese radish take 50 to 90 days (or more) to mature. ** A regular radish seed can produce a radish from planting to harvest in about 33 days. This crop also likes short day lengths and cooler temps making it an ideal crop to “squeeze” in late in the season, before the first frost. With a first potential frost date of October 15 – you could direct sow radish seeds like Cherry Belle, or French Breakfast (both with about 21 days to harvest from seedlings) on September 7th and reasonably expect to harvest your radishes before the first frost. You could also sow in trays and then plant them out… if real-estate is an issue, or if you need to get the radishes started before your harvest your carrots (timing) ************* Storage and Conditioning the recommended storage temperature is 0 C with a relative humidity of 95% to 100%. Topped radishes packaged in perforated plastic bags will keep for 3 to 4 weeks. Bunched radishes will keep 1 to 2 weeks. ********** Temperature information was gleaned from: ATLANTIC PROVINCES AGRICULTURE SERVICES and amalgamated with information from individual radish varieties such as Cherry Belle. ****** if you don't harvest your radishes on time they will be pithy/mealy

- Celeste Archer

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