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 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

02 Sep 09, Julia (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
We planted carrots around 4 months ago. It's been an unusually warm winter (warmest on record i think) and everyone I have pulled up is about an inch wide, but round! Any suggestions to prevent round carrots next time? thanks
02 Sep 09, Julia (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I just read that you can't grow carrots from seedlings, only seeds. Is this true? We planted some from seedlings we bought at a market and they all came out round and woody. Very disappointing!
08 Sep 09, Dee (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi all. Has anyone had any problems planting carrot seedlings with basil? I'm new to vege gardening and didnt think about companion planting too much (obviously :)). They were the round variety and ended up quite small and they were so DISGUSTING I wanted to scrub my tongue with a wire brush to get the taste out of my mouth. I used liquid Nitrosol to fertilise - do you think the basil or fertliser may have been the reason for the bad taste?
10 Sep 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Dee. "You are what you eat" same for vegies, I am guessing the bad taste came from the Liquid Nitrosol rather than the basil. Carrots don't need feeding whilst they are growing, just dig a little (very little) compost in before planting and keep well watered.
10 Sep 09, Dee (Australia - temperate climate)
Many thanks for the info David, most appreciated! I've planted another crop of them but will lay off the fertiliser this time.
18 Sep 09, Lisa (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
my carrots are VERY leafy but have tiny root growth. Good soil. Good drainage. Not too much fertiliser. What am I doing wrong???
08 Sep 19, Anna (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have the same problem it is now 8 September and I put them in about 5 months ago. Lots of green foliage. short subby carrots. The soils is deep and mostly made up of composted lawn clippings.
22 Sep 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Lisa. How long have the carrots been in? Are they getting plenty of sun & water?
25 Sep 09, Jodie (Australia - temperate climate)
Carrots do not like excess nitorgen. This will cause them to fork or grow stumpy. Don't fertilise with Dynamic lifter. We planted carrots and they grew very well but you do need to leave them for about 3 months to grow sufficiently. Carrots grow best from seed. If you buy seedlings and then transplant you are disturbing the roots which are the part that grows to form the carrot.
03 Oct 09, meeghan (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
have never planted anything before and would like to know how long it takes for carrotts and parsnips to come up?
Showing 31 - 40 of 362 comments

I just read that you can't grow carrots from seedlings, only seeds. Is this true? We planted some from seedlings we bought at a market and they all came out round and woody. Very disappointing!

- Julia

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.