How to Grow Carrots
On this page
Carrots go in the ground once soil has warmed to about 13°C, and are ready to harvest 65–112 days after planting.
The short answer
- Ready in
- 65–112 days
- Site
- 6+ hours of sun, soil pH 6–6.5
- Biggest risk
- Alternaria leaf blight
Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural sources — see References.
Carrot (Daucus carota)
13 sources cited · Verified
Quick Facts
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 6 - 6.5 |
| Sunlight | 6-6 hours direct sun |
| Germination temp | 13°C |
| Optimal growing temp | 15-24°C |
| Minimum survivable temp | -1°C |
| Time to harvest | 65-112 days |
| Soil texture | Clemson: "good-textured, loamy or sandy soil that is free of stones and clods". RHS: stony, shallow or heavy clay soil causes misshapen roots; long-rooted varieties suit deep sandy soil. |
| Drainage | Well-drained soil (RHS). |
| Lifecycle | Biennial (grown as an annual for its root). |
| Edible parts | roots |
| Documented problems | 2 diseases, 10 pests |
At a Glance
Diseases
Pests
Soil & Growing Conditions
Growth Stages
| Stage | BBCH | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sowing & germination | 0 | Sow direct where plants are to grow — carrots resent transplanting. Make a shallow drill about 1cm (½in) deep, water the base, and sow seed as thinly as possible, spacing rows 15–30cm (6–12in) apart. The main sowing window is April to early July, with early crops from February–March under cloches or fleece; sowing after mid-May helps dodge the first carrot fly generation. Germination is slow (often 2–3 weeks) and needs soil above about 7°C, ideally around 13°C — keep the drill moist until seedlings emerge. |
| Thinning & leaf growth | 3 | Once seedlings are large enough to handle, thin to 5–7.5cm (2–3in) apart — overcrowding produces small, distorted roots. Thin on a still, damp evening and remove the thinnings, as crushed foliage releases the scent that attracts carrot fly. Keep beds weed-free, since carrots are poor competitors, and water only in prolonged dry spells (a good soak every fortnight); young plants are otherwise fairly drought tolerant. |
| Root swelling | 7 | The taproot swells and colours up. Aim for steady, even soil moisture: irregular watering or heavy rain after drought makes roots split, while excess moisture near harvest can cause cracking. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds, which encourage forking and leafy tops at the expense of the root. Keep insect-proof mesh in place against carrot fly, whose larvae tunnel into the swelling roots. |
| Maturity & harvest | 8 | Lift carrots as soon as they are large enough to use — earlies from around 65 days, maincrop from about 10–16 weeks (65–112 days). Ease off watering as harvest approaches. Store lifted roots with the tops removed in boxes of moist sand, or leave maincrop in the ground under a straw or cardboard mulch, lifting before the soil becomes waterlogged. Cold storage near 0.6°C with high humidity keeps topped carrots for four to six months. |
Harvest & Storage
Companion Planting
Soil Preparation
Carrots need deep, loose, stone-free soil -- heavy clay or stony ground is the leading cause of forked, misshapen roots. On heavy soil, grow shorter varieties such as Paris Market or Chantenay, or use raised beds or large containers filled with a sandy compost mix. Don't add fresh manure before sowing, as it also causes forking; well-rotted compost worked in the previous autumn is a better choice.
Recommended Varieties
- Nantes 2 — cylindrical, sweet and reliable; a classic UK allotment carrot that suits most soils.
- Paris Market — round, stumpy roots ideal for shallow or stony soil; ready quickly from successional sowings.
- Flyaway — bred for carrot fly resistance, with good flavour and reliable yields; a sensible choice for exposed plots.
- Chantenay Red Cored — short, stout roots that perform well in heavier soils; sweet, tender and stores well.
Plan your Carrots planting
Timing for Carrots follows soil temperature and frost, not the calendar date. The Global vegetable planting calendar explains the method. To work out where it fits in your beds, sketch your plot in the free Garden Layout Planner.
Growing Carrot in another region
Sowing dates, frost timing and local advice differ by country. Use the guide for where you garden.
Sources
These 2 sources are specific to this region. The full list of 13 sources behind this guide (Clemson Cooperative Extension, FAO EcoCrop, Garden Organic and others) is in the references of our UK guide to carrots; they describe the plant itself, which is the same wherever it grows.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do carrots take to grow?
Typically 65–112 days, depending on cultivar and growing conditions.
What soil pH do carrots need?
A pH of about 6–6.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.
What problems affect carrots?
Our data links 2 diseases and 10 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.
Plan next season before the problems start
This page gives you the thresholds; the planner turns them into your own calendar. It works from what you can observe and measure in your garden rather than from dates written for somebody else’s latitude.
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How this guide is put together
The growing data on this page — sowing windows, pests, diseases, soil and site requirements — comes from named horticultural sources, listed in References below, checked against international horticultural research and extension sources. An automated pipeline assembles that verified data into the page you're reading: it selects which facts to lead with and builds the surrounding prose and layout. It does not invent a date, a source or a number — where a verified value for a field isn't available, the page leaves it out rather than guessing. A person reviews and publishes each page; nothing goes live unverified.
Related Problem Guides
Last verified 2026-09-02
Where To Go From Here
Take this crop from reading into a written plan for your own beds.
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Plan the next step
Use the printable SoilCommander planner for your region to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts and weekly garden tasks.