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 P

(Best months for growing Carrot in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Sow seed

January: water well

September: broadcast sow

  • 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

21 Dec 20, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
It really comes down to what kind of carrots you would like to grow and eat. Long, thin, short, fat, orange, purple etc. Depending on your weather maybe better to wait until cools a bit. From the notes it likes cool soil - like 40 degree days in summer will nearly fry them.
22 Dec 20, Bill Howe (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm interested in which ones grow best in Bendigo in summer, a hot temperate region.
01 Dec 20, Reba Cummings (USA - Zone 8b climate)
If covered with agribon frost cover or pv now (Dec. 1), could I sow carrots ? We have had 2 frosts?
03 Dec 20, Anonymous (USA - Zone 8b climate)
I suggest you go by the planting guide for your climate zone.
17 Aug 20, Fran (USA - Zone 6b climate)
Will it be too late to sow these in early September?
31 Jul 20, Richard Allan (Australia - temperate climate)
If sowing when it is hot, cover with hession or a couple of layers of old shadecloth. The idea is to keep the soil moist and not let it dry out at all
03 Aug 20, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
A good idea to do this anytime. And to do it when transplanting seedlings especially when the seedlings are bare rooted (no soil around them). I have a 2m x 2m x .4m high frame with 30% shade cloth.
03 Jun 20, Teresa Killeen (Australia - temperate climate)
What kind of ferttiliser do carrots like, if any? Is organic fertiliser okay for them? I sprinkled some around & watered in, but am I damaging the veg doing this?
04 Jun 20, Melinda Schwab (USA - Zone 8a climate)
You need lower Nitrogen to make good root crops so something like this is your go to for carrots, beets, turnips etc. Happy Gardening! https://www.americanseedco.com/shop/5-10-10/
05 Jun 20, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
We don't have fert mixes like that in Aussie generally. In the USA you seem to be able to buy a lot of 5-5-5, 8-8-8, 10-10-10 or similar. In Aussie we have organic of generally about 4-2-2. Synthetics of around 10-15N, 3-5P, 4-8K. Or if you are a farmer a customised mix.
Showing 61 - 70 of 364 comments

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. GardenGrow 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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