Growing Guide

How to Grow Carrots

A complete, definitive, simple, and free guide to growing tasty (not woody) carrots in your own yard.

Selecting the Type of Carrot You Want to Grow

Fastest Growing Carrots: Little Fingers

Most Heat Resistant: Shin Kuroda and Romance

Best for Snacking: Imperator Varieties

Best for Juicing: Nantes Varieties

Best for Roasting: Ball Varieties

Best for Canning and Freezing: Chantenay Varieties

Click Here for a Complete List of My Favorite 5 Carrot Profiles

Carrot Germination Temperatures

Minimum SoilTemperature: 40° F

Ideal Soil Temperature: 80° F

Maximum Soil Temperature: 90° F

Average Days to Emerge in Soil 80-85°F: 4-6 days

Average Days to Emerge in Soil 70-78°F: 7-8 days

Average Days to Emerge in Soil 55-60°F: 12-20 days

Click here to find out how long it takes carrot seeds to germinate and how to identify sprouts.

When to Plant Carrots

Plant carrot seeds directly in the garden when the soil is over 40°F, ideally over 55°F, and when you still have 60 to 90 days with soil temperatures ranging between 45°F and 80°F.

Carrots have the highest sugar when growing in temperatures between 45°F and 80°F.

Temperatures over 80°F can cause carrots to taste woody. Carrots are cold hardy down to 15°F, but seedlings can die at temperatures below 20°F.

Click here to find which month most gardeners in your state and region plant carrots.

Carrots Growing Profile

Sunlight

Minimum of 6 Hours of Direct Sun Per Day is Ideal

Will Grow in Partial Sunlight (some shade)

Soil

Soil Type: Carrots do best in sandy loam soil. Heavy soil and rocks can cause them to fork.

Soil pH: 6 to 6.8 is best

Learn more about soil here and the top 3 potting mixes I’ve grown carrots in.

Water

Seedlings: Water less, but more often

Mature Carrots: Water more, but less frequently

Maintain moist soil, do not let it dry out or get waterlogged.

Learn more about how much and how often to water carrots.

Soil Temperature

Ideal: 40°F to 80°F

Cold Tolerance: 28°F

Heat Tolerance: 90°F

How to Plant Carrots

Seed Depth: 1/4 inch

Row Spacing: 6 inches apart

Square Foot Gardening: Broadcast sow seeds and thin to 9-16 sprouts per square foot

Before planting, loosen any hard soil and add compost or fertilizer.

Make a trough 1/4” deep and sprinkle carrots as evenly as possible throughout the trough. Mixing carrots with sand can help distribute them more evenly.

Water immediately after planting seeds and keep the top 2” of soil consistently wet for germination. Covering the seeds with a shade net, or piece of wood can help keep moisture intact.

Mark your rows with plant labels or by planting a radish at the front of each one. Carrots can take a long time to germinate in cooler weather and this helps to remember where they are.