Growing Carrot

Daucus carota : Apiaceae / the umbelliferae family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
  P P         P P      

(Best months for growing Carrot in USA - Zone 8b 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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07 Jul 22, CJ (Canada - Zone 5b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
HELLO CAN I GROW CARROTS NOW IN JULY FROM SEEDS AND CAN I ALSO GROW CHILLIES IN JULY THANKYOU
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12 Jul 22, Anonymous (Canada - Zone 5b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Is your climate 5b? You can work it out in the BLUE tab at the top of page. Then go to the vegetable you want to grow. The info is there at the top of the page.
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08 May 22, Pete (Australia - temperate climate)
My carrots are at about the half way mark. The colour of the carrots is light orange, What can I do to give them a deeper redish colour, or will it come naturally? Cheers Pete
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09 May 22, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Q. What causes my carrots to be pale yellow instead of the typical orange color? A. Although there are varietal differences in root color, this problem could be caused by environmental conditions. Carrots maturing under warm temperatures or high moisture conditions lack good root color. These carrots also have poor flavor and texture. Plant carrots so they mature under relatively cool temperatures that average less than 80 degrees F. Avoid excessive soil moisture. From https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/vegetables/carrot.html - 6th question down.
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14 Apr 22, Dennis (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Good Day. Please advise when is the best month to plant egg plant in KZN Richards Bay.and what fertilizer and nutrients can I feed the plants. Regards Dennis
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10 Dec 21, Helen Chon (USA - Zone 9a climate)
I use Neem oil to control pests for most of my plants. Will Neem Oil work for Carrot flies? I know you can’t use Neem oil in 90° weather but can you use it in 60° weather?
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30 May 24, Ali T (USA - Zone 8b climate)
Try Neem cake
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08 Dec 21, Helen Chon (USA - Zone 9a climate)
Cover with board? I don’t understand how a plant grows when it’s covered with a board? I must be missing something.
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14 Jun 23, Cecil D. (USA - Zone 5b climate)
Cover the planted SEEDS with a board until they germinate to maintain a moist soil. Uncovered soil dries quickly (which is why we use mulch to cover them as well). Seeds will not sprout when stressed by dry soil. You barely cover the carrot seeds with soil since they are so small. Good luck!
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05 Apr 23, Rachel (USA - Zone 8b climate)
It's mostly to help with moisture. Carrot seeds cannot be allowed to dry out. They come up from under just fine.
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Showing 31 - 40 of 364 comments
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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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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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