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When to Plant Carrots in Prince of Wales-Hyder, AK

Prince of Wales-Hyder, Alaska Zone 8a April

Your April planting checklist for Prince of Wales-Hyder, Alaska

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this April, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost April 13
Avg. first frost November 1
Soil temp (4") 54°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.9 hrs

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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.

Prince of Wales-Hyder, Alaska is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is April 13 and the first fall frost is November 1, giving you a growing season of approximately 202 days.

At an elevation of 257 feet, Prince of Wales-Hyder receives approximately 14.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 70°F, so choose short-season varieties of Carrots to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Carrots successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Prince of Wales-Hyder, AK (Zone 8a) Long season
202 days
Last Spring Frost April 13
202 growing days
First Fall Frost November 1
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Prince of Wales-Hyder Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.2-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (102 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: Jun 12 – Jul 17
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (104 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Jul 20
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (114 days to spare)
Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jul 3 – Aug 7

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Prince of Wales-Hyder

How your county's soil matches Carrots's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.2–6.8) overlaps with Carrots's range (6.0–6.8), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Prince of Wales-Hyder is excellent for Carrots — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Carrots.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (6.0%) — Carrots will thrive.

How to Plant Carrots

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Carrots

3
successive plantings in your 202-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 13 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 23.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.8″/week
Rainfall provides
0.3″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 468 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Carrots

Carrots needs approximately 0.8 inches of water per week (3.5" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Carrots Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.5" 0.4" 3.1" 🚿 Regular watering
May 3.5" 0.7" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 3.5" 1" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 3.5" 1.6" 1.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 3.5" 1.9" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3.5" 2.8" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3.5" 1.7" 1.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 3.5" 1.1" 2.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Nov in Prince of Wales-Hyder). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Carrots Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Carrots needs ~175 GDD — county provides 505 GDD Excellent fit

Carrots Planting Timeline — Prince of Wales-Hyder, AK

Carrots Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow March 30 Mar 30 – Apr 20
Harvest June 1 Jun 1 – Jul 6
Fall Sowing August 23 Aug 23 – Sep 6

Plant 0.5" deep · 6" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Direct Sow
April Direct Sow
May
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing
September Fall Sowing
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.8"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

60–80 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–6.8 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

202 days in Prince of Wales-Hyder

Growing Tips for Carrots in Prince of Wales-Hyder

Direct sow Carrots outdoors after April 13 in Prince of Wales-Hyder when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Carrots in this region include carrot rust fly and parsleyworm. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General 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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Dill
  • Parsnip

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌾 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Carrots in Prince of Wales-Hyder, AK?

Prince of Wales-Hyder is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of April 13. Plan your Carrots planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Prince of Wales-Hyder, AK?

Prince of Wales-Hyder, Alaska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is April 13 and first fall frost is November 1.

🌱

Your Prince of Wales-Hyder Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Prince of Wales-Hyder (Zone 8a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Prince of Wales-Hyder, AK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.