Homegrown carrots are sweeter and crunchier than anything from a store, and they come in orange, purple, yellow, red and white. They are cool-season roots that need loose, stone-free soil and patience at the start: the tiny seeds are slow to sprout and must stay moist. This page covers when to sow, how to get good germination, how to thin and water, and how to harvest.
Carrot at a glance
| Type | Vegetable |
|---|---|
| Season | Cool-season |
| Sun | Full sun |
| Plant spacing | 2 in |
| Row spacing | 12 in |
| Per square foot | 16 |
| Seed depth | ¼ in |
| Days to maturity | 60–80 from seed |
| How to start | Direct sow 2–4 weeks before last frost |
| Water | 1 in per week |
These are the same numbers our plant spacing, square foot and harvest date calculators use. See every crop in the plant database.
When to plant carrots
Sow carrots directly outdoors 2 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost, once the soil can be worked. Carrots do not transplant well, so always sow them where they will grow. Keep sowing every 2 to 3 weeks until early summer for a steady supply, then sow again about 10 to 12 weeks before your first fall frost; fall carrots that mature in cold weather are the sweetest.
Find your dates with the frost dates by ZIP code tool, and use the succession planting planner for repeat sowings.
How to plant carrots
- Prepare loose soil. Dig or loosen the soil 10 to 12 inches deep and remove stones. Heavy clay and fresh manure cause forked, hairy roots. In heavy soil, grow short varieties or use a raised bed.
- Sow shallow. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in rows or bands, a few seeds per inch. Mixing seed with dry sand helps spread it evenly.
- Keep the surface moist. Seeds take 1 to 3 weeks to sprout and fail if the soil crusts or dries. Water lightly every day, or cover the row with a board or burlap until the first seedlings appear, then remove it.
- Thin early. When seedlings are 2 inches tall, thin to the spacing in the table above. Snip extras with scissors rather than pulling, which disturbs neighbors. The square foot gardening calculator shows how many fit.
Caring for carrots
Once seedlings are up, give about an inch of water a week and keep it even. Dry spells followed by heavy watering cause cracked roots, and drought makes carrots tough and bitter. Mulch lightly between rows once plants are a few inches tall. The garden watering calculator turns this into gallons.
Carrots need little feeding. Too much nitrogen gives lush tops and hairy, forked roots. Weed carefully while seedlings are small, because they compete poorly. If the tops of roots push above the soil, cover them with soil or mulch to stop them turning green.
Companion plants
| Grow nearby | Onions, leeks, chives, lettuce, radishes, tomatoes |
|---|---|
| Keep apart | Dill and parsnips nearby (dill can stunt carrots, and parsnips share the carrot rust fly) |
Onions, leeks and chives are said to help mask carrots from carrot rust fly. Radishes sown in the same row mark the slow carrot seeds and loosen the soil. Check other pairings with the companion plant finder.
Common problems
| Problem | What you see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Poor germination | Few or no seedlings after 3 weeks | The surface dried out or crusted. Keep the soil constantly moist with daily watering or a cover until seedlings emerge. |
| Forked or twisted roots | Roots split into several legs or bend | Stones, heavy soil, fresh manure or crowding. Loosen the soil deeply and thin on time. |
| Carrot rust fly | Rusty brown tunnels in the roots | Cover sowings with fine row cover, and rotate. See the pest identifier. |
| Cracked roots | Roots split lengthwise | Uneven watering. Keep moisture steady and harvest on time. |
| Green shoulders | Tops of roots turn green and bitter | Sunlight on exposed roots. Hill soil or mulch over the shoulders. |
Not sure what you are looking at? The plant problem identifier ranks likely causes from the symptoms you see, and our guide to growing carrots goes into more detail.
When and how to harvest
Carrots are ready when the tops of the roots are about 3/4 to 1 inch across, usually 60 to 80 days after sowing. Brush away a little soil to check before pulling. Water the bed the day before, then loosen the soil with a fork and pull gently by the base of the leaves.
Carrots can stay in the ground after maturity, and fall carrots get sweeter after a few frosts. Before the ground freezes, harvest the rest or cover the bed with a thick layer of mulch. Twist off the tops before storing, and keep roots in the fridge or in damp sand in a cool place for several months. Use the harvest date calculator to plan your harvest.
Plan your carrots
- Plant spacing calculator: how many plants fit your bed
- Planting calendar: sowing and transplant dates for your frost dates
- Frost dates by ZIP code: your last spring and first fall frost
- Harvest date calculator: when your crop will be ready
Frequently asked questions
How far apart should I plant carrots?
Space carrots 2 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart. In a square foot garden, plant 16 per square foot.
How deep do I plant carrot seeds?
Sow seeds ¼ inch deep. Keep the surface constantly moist until seedlings appear, which can take 1 to 3 weeks.
How long do carrots take to grow?
Most varieties are ready 60–80 days from seed. Check the seed packet, because early and late varieties differ.
How much water do carrots need?
About 1 inch of water a week, from rain and watering combined. Keep watering even to avoid cracked roots.
Why are my carrot seeds not germinating?
Carrot seeds take 1 to 3 weeks to sprout and fail if the soil surface dries or crusts. Water lightly every day, or cover the row with a board or burlap until seedlings emerge.
Why are my carrots forked?
Stones, compacted soil, fresh manure and crowding all cause forked roots. Loosen the soil deeply, remove stones and thin seedlings on time.