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

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21 Oct 17, Gary (Australia - temperate climate)
What fertilise would you use when growing carrots
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23 Oct 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
A fertiliser low in N. A lot of N produces a lot of leaf growth.Or you could grow a leaf vegetable and then follow with the carrots.
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24 Oct 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
By low I mean probably 8-10% N - not something like 14-20% N.
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04 Oct 17, Dale (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have just pulled up my first ever organic purple garlic, a little small but I'm happy.Can I put Carrots in the ground that the garlic grew in,if not what can I put in. Thanks
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05 Oct 17, Darren (Australia - temperate climate)
With plenty of compost and aged manure added, root veggies would be a good choice to follow garlic.
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25 Aug 17, Justin (Australia - temperate climate)
I got carrot seeds to grow in 1 week, that's right, I soaked the seeds in warm water for 24 hours then sowed them out & covered with a thin layer of sugar cane mulch.
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29 Aug 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
An old trick was to put a damp hessian bag on the seeds until they germinated. Or today you could use shade cloth - probably the 90% the best. Cost about $10/m 1800mm wide.
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28 Aug 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Bet you had fun trying to plant out small wet carrot seeds.
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02 May 18, Jennifer (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I can just imagine it, tiny wet seeds, it’s difficult enough to sow when they are dry. I planted my seeds in a large pot hope they are successful, I like your tips
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05 Oct 17, Ashmoore (Australia - temperate climate)
I just buy the ones on tape,so basically just lay the tape down and lightly cover and water
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Showing 111 - 120 of 371 comments
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Hi Brenda, without checking with mixture it’s very hard to diagnose the problem. However I can offer a few maybe’s in the absence of physically looking at everything. Firstly the problem definitely appears to be with the mixture or something you are doing rather than the plants themselves. They are all cool weather crops so temperature is not an issue. If the mixture was “young”, i.e. not fully composted then it could be a simple nutrient “tie up” of the 5 in 1 (presume that’s a fertiliser in this case) by the mixture which means that if you let it be for a while and turn it over a few times it will come good and be suitable for later use. Secondly if the mixture is not inherently well drained you could well be over watering (you said daily). Take a handful of the mixture an hour after watering and give it a good squeeze. If water drips out easily then you are over watering. However, if the mixture handful just falls apart easily when you open your hand then maybe you are not watering enough as you only say watering and not “good watering”. I hope this helps… John Bee, Master Gardener.

- John Bee

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