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

03 May 12, lesley (Australia - tropical climate)
if you place white egg shells around your plants in your garden it will keep away white cabbage moths/butterflies
07 Mar 12, Merilyn Beveridge (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have grown carrots well in Victoria but now in the subtropics so not sure about how to get cool soil. Would it be best to have the garden in semi shade or what?
26 Feb 12, Corinne (Australia - temperate climate)
I had a lovely crop of carrots coming along and had been picking them from finger length stage. One morning I noticed the tops were wilted, pulled one to see what was going on and there was no carrot. All of my remaining carrot crop had disappeared but for the wilted tops. One of life's mysteries, I guess. Anyone have any idea what might have demolished my crop so efficiently?
29 Aug 24, Suz (Canada - zone 4a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
I had this exact thing happen many years ago. It was moles. They live underground and eat the carrot taproots. If you don’t want to kill whatever it is living underground, then I’ll suggest laying a barrier made of something they can’t chew through but will let water through like a metal trough deep enough to allow the carrots to grow o maturity. Maybe a type of carrot variety that’s a thicker taproot and not as deep as say a Scarlet Nantes? There’s probably lots of other suggestions on how to protect your carrot crop once you identify what the underground critter is. Good luck!
08 Aug 12, Ian (Australia - temperate climate)
Corinne I had a similar problem and discovered that my wife kept pulling them out to see if they were ready. However she did not have the forsight to put the tops back in the ground. I would be asking questions!!
25 May 12, James (Australia - temperate climate)
In Melbourne we call them gremlins.
24 Feb 12, Jo (Australia - temperate climate)
I grow carrots in large pots. So long as its deep - your pots sound fine. And then keep them mulched and fed.
21 Feb 12, Dave (Australia - temperate climate)
Can you grow carrots in pots? I've got some concrete pots about 20cm deep x 20 cm wide x 60cm long with drainage holes
27 Feb 12, Tracey (Australia - temperate climate)
Sure you can. Obviously a pot does limit the length a bit vs growing them in the ground, so choose a variety with a shorter root and pick them as baby carrots.
22 Dec 11, Michael (Australia - temperate climate)
I have tried growing carrots which have germinated however within days they have all disappeared any ideas?
Showing 251 - 260 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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