Garden calendar for the kitchen garden - vegetables and herbs. See what to plant right now and for next month.

Growing Carrot

(Daucus carota)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
P	P							P	P	P	P

(Best months for planting Carrot in Australia - cool/mountain regions)

P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

January: water well

September: broadcast sow

Easy to grow.
Harvest in 12-18 weeks.
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: 10 - 12 inches apart

A root vegetable which grows well in deep cool soil. Hardy. Carrots take about 3 weeks to show themselves and the first leaves look like grass . If broadcast sowing, mix with radish seeds which will germinate quickly and indicate the sown area. In hot dry areas, water well before seeding then cover with boards to maintain the moisture and cool soil for more successful germination. Check every week or so.

Over fertilised ground will produce split roots. Protect against carrot fly. It is best to put carrots in a different area of the garden each year for four or five years.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Carrot

Steamed or raw carrots are tasty. Cook them in a small amount of water until nearly dry then add a pat of butter and teasp of brown sugar to glaze.
They can be added to most casserole-type dishes.
Grate raw carrots and add to salads

Your comments and tips

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 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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29 May 10, Eve (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Hi Jenny Both Eden Seeds and Green Harvest (both online) have purple carrot seed ('Dragon')
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27 May 10, jenny wood (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Hi there I’m trying to find purple carrot seed internal can you help.
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12 May 10, Liam (Australia - tropical climate): Any tips on growing carrots in Townsville?? I am doing it as a school project and it would be good to have some tips. Thx
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14 May 10, Chris@Gardenate (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Liam, take a look at the top of the page. Switch to tropical zone and all the planting information will apply to Townsville.
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01 May 10, Andre (Australia - temperate climate): Make sure the soil is firm and lay sand over or in the rows with seeds, then place a nice wet towel over the layer of sand and seed to keep the seeds moist. After about 5 days check if the seeds have germinated and if they have remove the towel and lightly water
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02 May 10, Duncan (Australia - temperate climate): Hi Andre, I tried with a wooden board to keep the soil moist but it dried out too fast as the board got hot!! Your idea sounds better - I'll give it a go.
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18 Apr 10, Jacki (Australia - tropical climate): I am in Darwin and planted carrots in the dry season when its around 15degrees at night and morning and up to 24 or 25 degrees in the day, when i had harvested my carrots they were all tops and no roots, the thickest i got was less than a centimeter wide, i left the rest in and they didnt get any larger. Is it too hot where i live? My nana told me she had the same problem with carrots growing too.
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Replying to:

Is it okay to grow carrots in the winter? it says u can but its not the preferred weather.

- joan jenks

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See planting calendar for these countries and climate zones

Australia - arid, Australia - cool/mountain, Australia - sub-tropical, Australia - temperate, Australia - tropical, New Zealand - cool/mountain, New Zealand - sub-tropical, New Zealand - temperate, United Kingdom - cool/temperate, United Kingdom - warm/temperate, USA - Central West Coast, USA - Maritime Northwest, USA - Mid-Atlantic, USA - North East, USA - South East and Gulf States, USA - South West, USA - Upper Midwest

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.

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