Carrots

Use our zone-based planting guide to know when to plant carrots.

Plant name Zone Start seeds indoors Start seeds outdoors Plant seedlings/transplants outdoors Plant spacing # plants per person
Carrots 3a Not recommended April 1-15; On/around July 1 On/around April 15; On/around July 15 2-3 inches 2-3′ row
Carrots 3b Not recommended April 1-15; On/around July 1 On/around April 15; On/around July 15 2-3 inches 2-3′ row
Carrots 4a Not recommended April 1-15; On/around July 1 On/around April 15; On/around July 15 2-3 inches 2-3′ row
Carrots 4b Not recommended April 1-15; On/around July 1 On/around April 15; On/around July 15 2-3 inches 2-3′ row
Carrots 5a Not recommended March 1-15; On/around Aug. 1 On/around March 15; On/around August 15 2-3 inches 2-3′ row
Carrots 5b Not recommended March 1-15; On/around Aug. 1 On/around March 15; On/around August 15 2-3 inches 2-3′ row
Carrots 6a Not recommended March 1-15; On/around Aug. 1 On/around March 15; On/around August 15 2-3 inches 2-3′ row
Carrots 6b Not recommended March 1-15; On/around Aug. 1 On/around March 15; On/around August 15 2-3 inches 2-3′ row
Carrots 7a Not recommended March 1-15; On/around Aug. 1 On/around March 15; On/around August 15 2-3 inches 2-3′ row
Carrots 7b Not recommended March 1-15; On/around Aug. 1 On/around March 15; On/around August 15 2-3 inches 2-3′ row
Carrots 8a Not recommended Feb. 1-15; On/around Sept. 1 On/around Feb. 15; On/around Sept. 15 2-3 inches 2-3′ row
Carrots 8b Not recommended Feb. 1-15; On/around Sept. 1 On/around Feb. 15; On/around Sept. 15 2-3 inches 2-3′ row
Carrots 9a Not recommended Jan. 1-15; On/around Sept. 1 On/around Jan. 15; On/around Sept. 15 2-3 inches 2-3′ row
Carrots 9b Not recommended Jan. 1-15; On/around Sept. 1 On/around Jan. 15; On/around Sept. 15 2-3 inches 2-3′ row
Carrots 10a Not recommended Dec. 15-Jan. 1; On/around Sept. 1 On/around Jan. 15; On/around Sept. 15 2-3 inches 2-3′ row
Carrots 10b Not recommended Dec. 15-Jan. 1; On/around Sept. 1 On/around Jan. 15; On/around Sept. 15 2-3 inches 2-3′ row
Carrots 11a Not recommended February-March; October-November February-March; October-November 2-3 inches 2-3′ row
Carrots 11b Not recommended February-March; October-November February-March; October-November 2-3 inches 2-3′ row

* Direct sow 4-6 weeks before average last frost date, then again mid-summer for a fall harvest. Or, practice succession planting by planting new seeds as you harvest. Transplant store-bought seedlings when they are at least an inch long. You can attempt to start carrots indoors yourself, but they are very delicate and have a propensity to tangle.