How to Grow Carrots USA
On this page
In the US, carrots go in the ground late February to early March, and are ready to harvest 65–112 days after planting.
Timing is the decision that matters most in the USA: there are 7 separate regional sowing windows, ranging from mid January in Deep South & Gulf Coast to late April in Intermountain West.
The short answer
- Plant
- Late February to early March
- 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
Regional Planting Calendar
| Region | Sow |
|---|---|
| Pacific Northwest derived | late February to early March |
| Northeast & New England derived | late March |
| Lower Midwest & Ohio Valley derived | early April |
| Intermountain West derived | late April |
| N. Plains & Upper Midwest derived | mid April |
| Mid-Atlantic & Upper South derived | late March |
| Deep South & Gulf Coast derived | mid January to late January |
Rows marked derived are interpolated between regions our sources do state, because no source we consulted gives a figure for that region specifically. They are deliberately wider to reflect that uncertainty.
Pacific Northwest - detail & sources
DERIVED from this region's own frost normal, not quoted for the region. Sow 1-2 weeks before the last expected spring frost date. Germination needs consistent surface moisture across the whole 7-17 day window. Applied to a mean last frost of 8 March (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 for the USA; Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Canada), that gives 22 February to 1 March. Your own local frost date is what matters — a region spans a range, and this figure comes from one representative station within it.
Northeast & New England - detail & sources
DERIVED from this region's own frost normal, not quoted for the region. Sow 1-2 weeks before the last expected spring frost date. Germination needs consistent surface moisture across the whole 7-17 day window. Applied to a mean last frost of 6 April (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 for the USA; Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Canada), that gives 23 March to 30 March. Your own local frost date is what matters — a region spans a range, and this figure comes from one representative station within it.
Lower Midwest & Ohio Valley - detail & sources
DERIVED from this region's own frost normal, not quoted for the region. Sow 1-2 weeks before the last expected spring frost date. Germination needs consistent surface moisture across the whole 7-17 day window. Applied to a mean last frost of 16 April (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 for the USA; Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Canada), that gives 2 April to 9 April. Your own local frost date is what matters — a region spans a range, and this figure comes from one representative station within it.
Intermountain West - detail & sources
DERIVED from this region's own frost normal, not quoted for the region. Sow 1-2 weeks before the last expected spring frost date. Germination needs consistent surface moisture across the whole 7-17 day window. Applied to a mean last frost of 6 May (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 for the USA; Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Canada), that gives 22 April to 29 April. Your own local frost date is what matters — a region spans a range, and this figure comes from one representative station within it.
N. Plains & Upper Midwest - detail & sources
DERIVED from this region's own frost normal, not quoted for the region. Sow 1-2 weeks before the last expected spring frost date. Germination needs consistent surface moisture across the whole 7-17 day window. Applied to a mean last frost of 25 April (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 for the USA; Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Canada), that gives 11 April to 18 April. Your own local frost date is what matters — a region spans a range, and this figure comes from one representative station within it.
Mid-Atlantic & Upper South - detail & sources
DERIVED from this region's own frost normal, not quoted for the region. Sow 1-2 weeks before the last expected spring frost date. Germination needs consistent surface moisture across the whole 7-17 day window. Applied to a mean last frost of 4 April (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 for the USA; Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Canada), that gives 21 March to 28 March. Your own local frost date is what matters — a region spans a range, and this figure comes from one representative station within it.
Deep South & Gulf Coast - detail & sources
DERIVED from this region's own frost normal, not quoted for the region. Sow 1-2 weeks before the last expected spring frost date. Germination needs consistent surface moisture across the whole 7-17 day window. Applied to a mean last frost of 2 February (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 for the USA; Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Canada), that gives 19 January to 26 January. Your own local frost date is what matters — a region spans a range, and this figure comes from one representative station within it.
Quick Facts
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 6 - 6.5 |
| Sunlight | 6-6 hours direct sun |
| Germination temp | 55°F (13°C) |
| Optimal growing temp | 59-75°F (15-24°C) |
| Minimum survivable temp | 30°F (-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 |
At a Glance
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 45°F (7°C), ideally around 55°F (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 33°F (0.6°C) with high humidity keeps topped carrots for four to six months. |
Harvest & Storage
Diseases
Pests
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
When to sow and plant Carrots depends on your own frost dates. Check the USA vegetable planting calendar, or the month-by-month guides that cover Carrots: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November. 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
-
Plant once soil reaches 40°F; seed germinates best at 55-65°F over 14-21 days, sown 1/4in deep and covered with compost or fine sand to stop crusting. Thin at 3-4 true leaves to 2-3in between plants, rows 12-18in apart. Wants fertile, well-drained, deep sandy soil rich in organic matter; heavy soils need compost and double digging. AVOID ROCKY OR STONY SOIL, which causes forking, and DO NOT USE FRESH MANURE, which causes the same root splitting. Water regularly, ideally by drip; overwatering promotes hairy roots and forking, and mulch prevents cracking from wet-dry cycles. Roots mature in 70-100 days. Store washed roots at 32°F and 95% humidity for 2-4 weeks, or overwinter under heavy mulch. Pests: carrot fly larvae burrow into roots -- use row covers; fungal blights and root rots follow wet foliage, managed by rotation.
These 6 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
When should I sow carrots in the USA?
In Deep South & Gulf Coast, from mid January. In Intermountain West, wait until late April. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to sow only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.
When do I sow carrots?
Sow mid January to late April, at around 55°F (13°C) for germination.
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
Almost everything on this page resolves to your own frost dates rather than the calendar — the last spring frost moves by roughly two months between zone 3 and zone 10. The USA Garden Planner works from your zone so the timing is already decided before the season starts.
Get the USA Garden Planner →Instant PDF download · Written for US growing conditions
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 USDA hardiness-zone and frost-date data, with Cooperative Extension sources cited directly where one exists for a crop. 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.