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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14 Oct 11, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
We planted carrots 6weeks ago and we have not seen anything. Why could this be?
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21 Sep 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
I have lots of carrots growing but they are small when pulled I was wondering if anyone knows if I was cutting some of the greenery of the top would that make them grow better underground
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23 Sep 11, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I've been told not to feed carrots too much as the fertilizer produces a lot of leaf but not much carrot.
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24 Sep 11, Al (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Carrots are best grown in quite poor soil, If you fertilize they will grow beautiful foliage and disappointing carrots! I plant the seed mixed with radish seed and sand together as the sand helps disperse the seed and radish grows so quickly it acts to thin out the carrots. Plus baby radish u can eat the leaves too. I have a chef mate who rubs jis hands together when he knows I'm bringing in baby radish!
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16 Sep 11, Carrot fly (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, it sounds like carrot fly.if you have small burrowing holes then this may be them. Planting spring onions close by throws there senses of due to the tangy smell of any type of onion.
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27 Aug 11, Kate (Australia - temperate climate)
How deep to containers need to be to grow carrots?
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20 May 11, John Bee (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
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.
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04 May 11, Brenda (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted carrot seedlings 3 mmonths ago in new organic soil mixed with a little 5 in 1 and they havnt grown look healthy just no growth same with my broccoli, cauli, leeks and baby beets. What have I done wrong they are in full sun and water daily.
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30 May 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Brenda, The first problem is seedlings. Carrots (and parsnips) are one of very few plants that do not grow well from seedlings and any processional grower would agree. If they were in the seed trays for more than a couple of weeks then they will struggle as the tap root wants to grow downwards and can't in a tray. Buy some seed and try again. I promise you will have better luck. Make sure your soil is friable and stone free before sowing the seed in a row and then thinning the seedlings out (once they are 10cm tall) to about 2" or 5cm. Daniel
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26 Oct 14, J. de Viana (Australia - temperate climate)
You spray the Carrots with kerosene when they are 50mm tall . All the weeds die and the carrots grow. Kerosene is volatile and disappears. It is ridiculous to suggest that there will be kerosene in the carrots after several months. The original amount of kerosene was minuscule!
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Showing 271 - 280 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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