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When to plant carrots
Plant carrots from 3 weeks before the last spring frost up to the last spring frost in spring, or 10–12 weeks before the first fall frost for a fall crop. Wait until the soil is at least 45°F. That works out to zone 5b (mid April to early May), zone 7a (late March to mid April) and zone 9a (early February to early March).
Carrots planting dates by zone
| Zone | Spring | Fall | carrots ready from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4a | Apr 24 – May 15 | Jul 4 – Jul 18 | Jul 3 |
| 4b | Apr 22 – May 13 | Jul 7 – Jul 21 | Jul 1 |
| 5a | Apr 20 – May 11 | Jul 9 – Jul 23 | Jun 29 |
| 5b | Apr 14 – May 5 | Jul 16 – Jul 30 | Jun 23 |
| 6a | Apr 9 – Apr 30 | Jul 23 – Aug 6 | Jun 19 |
| 6b | Apr 3 – Apr 24 | Jul 27 – Aug 10 | Jun 13 |
| 7a | Mar 25 – Apr 15 | Aug 2 – Aug 16 | Jun 3 |
| 7b | Mar 16 – Apr 6 | Aug 9 – Aug 23 | May 26 |
| 8a | Mar 6 – Mar 27 | Aug 15 – Aug 29 | May 16 |
| 8b | Feb 23 – Mar 16 | Aug 23 – Sep 6 | May 4 |
| 9a | Feb 9 – Mar 2 | Sep 3 – Sep 17 | Apr 20 |
| 9b | Jan 14 – Feb 4 | Sep 17 – Oct 1 | Mar 25 |
How to plant carrots
| Plant as | seeds outdoors |
|---|---|
| Soil temperature | 45°F or warmer |
| Depth | 1/4 in |
| Spacing | 2–3 in |
| Light | Full sun |
| Time to harvest | 60–80 days |
Keep the seedbed moist for the 1–3 weeks carrots take to sprout.
Loose, stone-free soil grows straight roots.
Thin seedlings early or the roots will be crowded and twisted.
When to harvest carrots
Pull when the shoulders are about 3/4 inch across; carrots left in the ground through light frosts get sweeter.
Exact dates for your town: planting calendar · frost dates by state.
More vegetables to plant
Tomatoes · Bell peppers · Potatoes · Pumpkins · Cucumbers · Okra · Zucchini · Watermelon