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Carrots Planting Guide

Carrots are a popular root vegetable available in orange, purple, white, and yellow varieties. They are rich in beta-carotene and have a sweet, earthy flavor.

Daucus carota subsp. sativus · Vegetable · Apiaceae family · 60–80 days to maturity

Where Can You Grow Carrots?

Carrots Growing Regions

Click any state to see the Carrots planting schedule for that location.

AL — Zone 7b AL AR — Zone 7b AR AZ — Zone 8a AZ CA — Zone 9a CA CO — Zone 5a CO CT — Zone 6b CT DE — Zone 7a DE FL — Zone 9a FL GA — Zone 7b GA IA — Zone 5a IA ID — Zone 5b ID IL — Zone 5b IL IN — Zone 6a IN KS — Zone 6a KS KY — Zone 6b KY LA — Zone 8b LA MA — Zone 6a MA MD — Zone 7a MD ME — Zone 4b ME MI — Zone 5b MI MN — Zone 4a MN MO — Zone 6a MO MS — Zone 8a MS MT — Zone 4b MT NC — Zone 7a NC ND — Zone 3b ND NE — Zone 5a NE NH — Zone 5a NH NJ — Zone 7a NJ NM — Zone 6b NM NV — Zone 6b NV NY — Zone 5b NY OH — Zone 6a OH OK — Zone 7a OK OR — Zone 7a OR PA — Zone 6a PA RI — Zone 6b RI SC — Zone 8a SC SD — Zone 4a SD TN — Zone 7a TN TX — Zone 8a TX UT — Zone 5b UT VA — Zone 7a VA VT — Zone 4b VT WA — Zone 7a WA WI — Zone 4b WI WV — Zone 6a WV WY — Zone 4a WY AK — Zone 2a AK HI — Zone 11a HI
Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone Start Indoors Direct Sow Transplant Harvest
Zone 3a — May 8 — Jul 10 – Aug 14
Zone 3b — May 3 — Jul 5 – Aug 9
Zone 4a — Apr 29 — Jul 1 – Aug 5
Zone 4b — Apr 24 — Jun 26 – Jul 31
Zone 5a — Apr 11 — Jun 13 – Jul 18
Zone 5b — Apr 4 — Jun 6 – Jul 11
Zone 6a — Mar 27 — May 29 – Jul 3
Zone 6b — Mar 20 — May 22 – Jun 26
Zone 7a — Mar 11 — May 13 – Jun 17
Zone 7b — Mar 4 — May 6 – Jun 10
Zone 8a — Feb 22 — Apr 26 – May 31
Zone 8b — Feb 11 — Apr 15 – May 20
Zone 9a — Jan 20 — Mar 24 – Apr 28
Zone 9b — Jan 4 — Mar 8 – Apr 12
Zone 10a — Dec 11 — Feb 12 – Mar 19
Zone 10b — Dec 11 — Feb 12 – Mar 19

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate — regular watering

Soil pH

6 – 6.8

Hardiness Zones

Zone 3a – 10b

Growing Tips

Sow seeds directly in loose, stone-free soil for straight roots. Keep soil moist until germination which can take 2-3 weeks. Thin seedlings to 2 inches apart.

Saving Carrots Seeds

🌾 Save Your Own Carrots Seeds
Life Cycle Biennial
Pollination Cross-Pollinated (insects)
How to Collect Replant roots for 2nd year flowers. Harvest umbels when brown.
Storage Store airtight; viable 3 years at 35°F, under 50% humidity.

Isolate 1/2 mile from Queen Anne's Lace (wild carrot). Biennial — requires two seasons.

Get our full Seed Saving Guide for 200 plants →

Recommended for Your Garden

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Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

Essential for starting seeds indoors before transplanting.

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Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

Know your soil before you plant for best results.

🏷️
Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Helpful for your garden setup.

Level Up Your Garden

Seed Saving & Storage Guide
Seed Saving & Storage Guide

Learn when to harvest, how to dry, and how to store seeds from 200 plants. Never buy seeds again.

Learn More →

Carrots by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Carrots?

Carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) takes 60 to 80 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Carrots grow in?

Carrots can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 10b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Carrots need?

Growing Carrots requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6 to 6.8.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals, University Cooperative Extension planting guides. Last updated: April 2026.

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