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

05 Sep 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Germinating carrots - don't have too rich a soil - have a nice crumbly fine soil - even sandy loan. Rake it real flat. Dig a little furrow about 5-8 mm deep. Put some carrot seeds in your left hand and pick up a few with your right hand and spread them along the furrow thinly. Gently cover the seeds with some light soil or very fine seed raising mixture and then give a light patting down on the soil. Give the seeds a gentle watering. Build a little frame over them with things like tomato stakes on bricks etc.Then place some 30-50-70% shade cloth on the frame. Give the seeds a light watering morning and afternoon. A few days after germination take the shade cloth off. You can apply the shade cloth idea to germinating a lot of different seeds if the weather is warm to hot. If planting big seeds like corn beans peas - plant the seeds then give a good watering and then don't water for 3-4 days - then a light watering each second day. Too much water they will go rotten..
05 Sep 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Take the board (????) off a few days after germination. A good way to protect further is to use a shade cloth device - about 30-50% shade cloth.
20 Jul 19, (Australia - temperate climate)
What’s the best way to store carrots.
22 Jul 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
In the fridge. Don't plant so many next time. Try some succession planting next time.
07 Jul 19, Dianne (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Don't forget to make use of carrot leaves and stems as well as a tasty salad green, but be sure not to leave them on the plant too long as they get a bit stringy.
13 May 19, Willem Pretorius (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
I planted Carrots in a container with pretty deep soil but I get these very short carrots that is purple on the outside.
13 May 19, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Check which variety of carrot you planted. Some do have a purple skin and some are short. Check here https://www.grow-it-organically.com/carrot-varieties.html
14 Apr 19, Rob (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Do carrots need a lot of sun
09 May 19, (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Looks like NZ cool/mountain climate zone doesn't work for carrots. Try the aussie cool zone for carrots. Plants need sunlight 6-8 hours generally.
17 Apr 21, Michael (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I find that difficult to believe given that all of the commercial carrot growing in the North Island is done in the volcanic plateau around Ohakune and Rataehi.
Showing 81 - 90 of 368 comments

Will it be too late to sow these in early September?

- Fran

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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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