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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09 Jan 14, Xan (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Yvonne, I'm in the Adelaide Hills. This year will be my 3rd attempt with carrots after having the same result as you the other 2 times. I've done some research and am optimistic this year will be better. Apparently carrots like to be sewn direct into the bed and like poor nutrients as this encourages them to grow big and straight in search of soil goodness. I'm going to give it a go... fingers crossed :) Goodluck, hope it works for you. Xan
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20 Jul 14, Kerry (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Xan. I've had great success planting carrots in the adelaide hills. Yes, direct seeding is best. Hills soils can be too rich or too heavy. I've always planted carrots after another crop and also rotary hoed the soil prior. Have always planted in full sun as well. Good luck with your crop this year !
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12 Aug 13, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
on another reputable website it is suggested to plant root crops together, yet you suggest here not to plant carrots with parsnips or beetroot. Is there a specific reason for this? Response : We used information from various reputable sources but acknowledge that in gardening there are often different approaches.Liz
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02 Jul 13, Germaine (Australia - arid climate)
I have just pulled up a carrot that has been planted for about 4 months and they are short stumpy and pale, why is this and what can I do? There are no bugs and the leaves are healthy.
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18 Jul 13, (Australia - arid climate)
Im replying to my own post as I thought the answer may be helpful for someone else, seems you should dig right down to the desired lenght of a good carrot, place some sugar cane mulch and dynamic lifter then top with soil and hopefully the carrots strive to get the dynamic lifter and will grow long and healthy. So Ive tried it and I will see how I go.
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15 Jun 13, Susie (Australia - temperate climate)
How do I know my carrots are ready to harvest
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26 Jun 13, (Australia - temperate climate)
Just dig down gentle around one and have a look :-) you will work it out
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13 Jun 13, craig (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can carrots be planted in bags? What form of soil should be used? Can carrots be plamted now if in a warm protected area? Thanks
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11 May 13, Neville (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi could you advise me on preferred ph for carrots
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06 Jun 13, mike how (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
6.0--------6.5 lime or dolomite will gat your ph up
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Showing 221 - 230 of 372 comments
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I really can't answer your question, (Can you grow carrots in December in your area) but I can give you all the growing criteria and then you can check (via prior years climate data for your area) whether your area meets the conditions for carrot growth or not. .Carrots: -- minimum germination temperature is 2c : optimum germination 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. Carrots like well drained, well aerated loamy soil. They are SOMEWHAT drought resistant. -- 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. Carrots like well drained soil and they like aeration... so planting in hills (or hilling) is beneficial and allows carrots to grow longer. Carrots can tolerate shade but do best in full sun. I looked up the temperatures for germination and growing on the Atlantic Canada's Advisory board publications (since I don't have all my germination and growing temps memorized). Hope this helps you decide whether or not you can grow carrots in your area in December.

- Celeste Archer

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