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 Feb 14, Colleen (Australia - tropical climate)
Or dig a narrow trench by inserting the straight spade in and wriggling it. Then fill with sand leaving a 2cm gap to the ground level and then put a light layer of soil, place the seeds, cover with a light layer of soil then water, protect from birds, heat etc.
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05 Dec 10, Michael (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi there, I planted some dutch carrots about 4 months ago and whilst it is producing carrot the plant is now nearly 2 meters tall and flowering. Is this normal? The couple of carrots I pulled out were short and slightly disfigured so I figured I needed to let them develop more but it appears as though the only thing developing is the height of the plant and the flowering which has developed rapidly with the warmer weather. Should I let it go or pull them out?
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09 Oct 10, Tony Morales (Australia - temperate climate)
I have fertilized my carrots with a bit of super-phosphate and had no more "forking" than usual (maybe 5 - 8%?)
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10 Aug 10, Sirie (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi...am starting to read about crop rotation. Is it OK to have a long carrot growing period in the same spot as carrots in Perth can be planted from September to April? I was thinking of planting some in Sep, then some in late Mar...or is this naughty?
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28 Jul 10, Corinne anderson (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Just woundering what fertiliser do you use when your growing carrots?
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30 Jul 10, Daryl (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
no fertiliser, carrots are best planted in well dug patch after growing other hungry plants eg cabbages, too much nutrients results in all tops and no carrot root, well dug soil helps a single tap root
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30 Jun 10, Natalie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
As long as your ground doesn't freeze you will be right. Our carrots are growing really well at the moment. We have even planted more seedlings for a sept crop.
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30 Jun 10, joan jenks (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Is it okay to grow carrots in the winter? it says u can but its not the preferred weather.
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15 Mar 12, Anonymus (USA - Zone 10a climate)
Yeah, you can grow carrots during the winter. Just keep the ground mulched and make sure the grund doesn't freeze. For winter growing I would recomend Artist and Merida (nantes types) and Camberly and Scarlet Keeper (danvers types). However, the coloring on the carrots aren't as good in colder weather with less daylight hours.
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10 Aug 10, Adam (Australia - temperate climate)
No because the carrots will wilt. So its best to do it after Winter
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Showing 301 - 310 of 371 comments
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Cover with a board means: place a board on the ground flat over the seeds. Carrot seeds do not need light to germinate. Look under board a couple times a day if possible, until you see first leaves of carrots. When more than 10 % or so appear, remove the board so they can grow normally. PS it works well to plant not a single ROW of carrots, but a band of carrots, maybe 6 to 10 inches wide. Whatever width you can manage to work. To thin. If sown thicket enough, you can pull the little babies to thin and use them in salads.when you have carrots left about 2” apart, leave them to grow to size. As you need carrots, thin further. By the time they mature you should have enough room for them to grow full since. You might leave 2 or 3 in a back corner to continue on to next year, when they should eventually go to seed for you. To save seed, allow them to die and brown, save the tops and further dry seed indoors on an herb rack of mesh that should prevent seeds from coming through. When dry, collect on a piece of paper and allow to dry further. When dry, store in a paper envelope or seed pack.

- Pat

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