How to Grow Carrots: When to Plant Carrots in the US

Updated October 2026

Sandy Florida soil is actually great for carrots. The trick is keeping the seed moist while it slowly germinates.

What it looks like as it grows

🌱 Plant profile: Carrot, with sowing times for your region, companion plants and common pests.

When to Plant Carrots in Your Region

Carrots are a cool-season root. North Florida and the Gulf South sow them from August through March, the North sows in spring and again in midsummer for a fall crop, and Alaska sows from May to July. These are the planting months for each of our 18 regions, with each region's frost window. Each region links to its full vegetable planting calendar, and the Carrot plant page shows the calendar for any region you pick.

North Florida, the Gulf South and Northern California plant carrots between August and March. The Mid-Atlantic and the Southern Plains plant carrots in February to April and July to October. The Midwest and the Mountain West plant carrots in April and May, and July to September.

Position and soil

Carrots want full sun, at least six hours a day, and a deep, loose, stone-free bed. Dig or fork the soil to at least 10 inches and break up any clods. Florida sand is ideal as long as you add compost to hold moisture and feed the crop. Avoid fresh manure, which causes forking and hairy roots. A bed with too much nitrogen grows lush tops and stubby roots, so go easy on rich feed.

Sowing

Sow seed shallowly, about a quarter inch deep, directly in the bed. Carrots hate being moved, so do not start them in trays. Keep the surface constantly moist for the one to three weeks they take to germinate, this is the number one success factor. A light cover of burlap or a board can hold moisture until the first seedlings show, then remove it straight away.

Spacing and thinning

Sow more thickly than you need, then thin in stages. Thin first to about an inch apart once seedlings are a couple of inches tall, then thin again to between 1 and 2 inches so the roots have room to size up. Crowded carrots stay thin and twisted. Snip thinnings at soil level rather than pulling, to avoid disturbing the keepers.

Watering and feeding

Keep the bed evenly moist, never letting the surface dry out while seed germinates and never letting roots sit bone dry as they swell. Uneven watering causes split and cracked roots. A light feed of balanced fertilizer once the tops are established is plenty. Too much nitrogen grows leaves at the expense of root.

Pests and problems

Carrots have few serious pests in Florida. Root-knot nematodes can deform roots in infested sandy soil, so rotate beds, add plenty of compost, and consider a solarisation or cover-crop break in badly affected ground. Forking and splitting are almost always soil or watering problems rather than pests.

Harvest and storage

Start pulling from about 85 days, when the shoulders are roughly an inch across. Cool weather sweetens the roots, so they hold well in the ground through winter and you can harvest as needed. Twist off the tops after lifting and store roots in the fridge, where they keep for several weeks.

Varieties to grow

When to plant by region

This is a warm-US guide. The table below gives Florida sow windows. In other warm zones (USDA 8b to 11) grow carrots through the cool season. In cold-winter zones grow them as a spring and fall crop.

What to Plant with Carrots

Our companion data lists these plants as good neighbors for carrots, and these to keep apart. The lists read both ways, so a plant that names carrots as a companion appears here too. The full companion planting chart for vegetables has the same lists for 55 crops and prints on one sheet.

• Good companions for carrots: Arugula, Beans, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Chives, Green Onion, Leek, Lettuce, Onion, Parsley, Peas, Radish, Rosemary, Sage, Snow Peas, Tomato.
• Keep carrots apart from: Dill, Fennel, Parsnip.

Carrots at a glance

The planting figures for carrot from our plant data, converted to inches and Fahrenheit.

Sowing carrot seed

Sow carrot seed directly where it is to grow, because carrots hate being transplanted. Sow shallow, about 1/4 inch deep, and keep the surface moist until the seed comes up; our plant data allows about 18 days, at a soil temperature of 59 to 77°F. Thin the seedlings to about 2 inches apart, and grow carrots in deep, loose, stone-free soil with no fresh manure, which causes forked roots. See why carrots grow forked.

Growing carrots in containers

Carrots grow well in a deep container, at least 12 inches deep according to our plant data. See how to grow carrots in containers.

How long do carrots take to grow?

Our plant data allows about 85 days from sowing to harvest. Lift carrots when the shoulders are colored and finger thick or larger at the crown. Loosen the soil first, then pull from the base of the tops so the root does not snap.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant carrots in Florida?
Carrots are a cool-season root in Florida. Sow seed directly from fall into late winter. North Florida sows September to February, Central Florida October to February, and South Florida October to January.

Why are my carrots forked or twisted?
Forking is caused by stones, clods, or fresh manure in the bed. Work the soil loose and stone-free to at least 10 inches deep and use finished compost rather than raw manure.

Can I grow carrots in containers?
Yes. Short varieties such as Little Finger or Nantes types do well in deep pots and shallow raised beds. Keep the mix loose and the surface evenly moist while seed germinates.

How long do carrots take to grow?
Our plant data allows about 85 days from sowing, when the shoulders are roughly an inch across. Cool weather sweetens the roots and they hold well in the ground through winter.

Why won't my carrot seed germinate?
Carrot seed is slow and needs constant surface moisture for the one to three weeks it takes to sprout. If the top of the soil dries out the seed dies. Water lightly each day and consider a light board or burlap cover until seedlings appear.

How far apart should I thin carrots?
Thin seedlings to between 1 and 2 inches apart so the roots have room to size up. Crowded carrots stay thin and stunted.

Do I need to start carrots indoors?
No. Carrots resent transplanting and should be sown directly where they will grow. Direct sowing avoids root disturbance and gives straighter roots.

Can I grow carrots outside Florida?
Yes. In warm USDA zones 8b to 11 grow carrots as a cool-season crop in fall and winter. In cooler zones grow them as a spring and fall crop, sowing in early spring and again in late summer for a fall harvest.

Source: UF/IFAS Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP 103).

See also