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 7a 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 8°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 5 - 30 cm 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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04 Jan 09, Gene (Australia - temperate climate)
Do not put kerosene on carrots! The roots take it up and the kerosene can be tasted. It can also cause reactions in sensitive people who eat them. I believe that kerosene is banned for agricultural carrots in Victoria.
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25 Sep 10, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
For all those gardener out there having little success with ther carrots and other root veges you should consider trying them in round tubes I cut them about 350 long and you can fill them up with your own special mix dont forget the sand when you do especially for your carrots.This method saves you having to diginto heavy soils and also you can grow them at any height from the ground as you like.good luck
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15 May 12, Glen (Australia - temperate climate)
I have planted carrots [seeds] they have come through in good quantity. Is it necessary to thin them out, At this stage they are quite tiny 2cm - I cant imagine them muturing when so crowded.
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07 Jun 13, Ben (Australia - temperate climate)
Use the gypsum, hydrated lime is absolutely not the same.
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16 Apr 16, Helen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Not replying to Gene. I live at alt 750m, 100kms northwest of Melbourne, Good rich volcanic soil. Is it too late to attempt to plant carrots now to grow over winter? We have vicious frosts when they come - down to -6 somenights but not constanlyt. First frost could be anytime now. Brassicas and garlic planted 3-4 weeks ago all growing well.
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27 Apr 20, Stephen Parkinson (Australia - temperate climate)
Whats the best type of sand to mix in with our raised vege bed soil to make it softer for growing carrots ?
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05 Jan 09, Kelli (Australia - temperate climate)
i recently found some carrot seeds that have an expiry date of four years ago? Are they likely to germinate? I also found a mixture of other veggie seeds with different expiry dates, are any of them likely to grow? Thanks for any help... im new to the idea of veggie patches but since i have a young daughter i would really like her to eat the good stuff :)
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05 Feb 11, Kt (Australia - arid climate)
Kelli some seeds will germinate years after the expiry date and some wont. The only way to tell is plant them and give them a try! Make sure you find the best time of year to plant them for your area though! I have had success planting cabbage seeds 2 yrs past their use by date. Almost all of them came up. Some cold weather vegies will germinate in the fridge during hotter periods and they can be transplanted when the weather gets cooler. I haven't tried the fridge with carrots yet though. Maybe I will try that next ;-)
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21 Jan 09, Adrian (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
My preference is to grow carrots after I have harvested my first crop of potatoes, usually in January. The reason for this is that the crop matures in around late May and can be eaten all winter. I have found that the carrots sweeten up with a touch of frost. I grow then quite close in rows 20 cm wide so that I get a strip of carrots of about 2-3 metres long. My favourite is Manchester Table, but I hear that Tip Top is the best tasting carrot - I haven't found the seed anywhere as yet. Anyhow, there's nothing like a solid plot of carrots over winter, They are the most versatile and tasty vegetable around.
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19 Feb 09, Alice (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
well when planting carrots to make sure theyre planted evenly you can mix the seeds with a handful of sand and then plant them to make sure they're evenly planted! :-)
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Showing 11 - 20 of 363 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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