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When to Plant Carrots in Dubois County, IN

Dubois County, Indiana Zone 6a April

April in Dubois County, Indiana — your action list

Your garden in Dubois County, Indiana is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this April.

Avg. last frost April 12
Avg. first frost October 21
Soil temp (4") 54°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 13 hrs
Get ahead of May
  • First harvests: carrots

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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.

Dubois County, Indiana is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost is October 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 192 days.

At an elevation of 589 feet, Dubois County receives approximately 33.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Carrots during the growing season.

Dubois County, IN (Zone 6a) Moderate season
192 days
Last Spring Frost April 12
192 growing days
First Fall Frost October 21

Dubois County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.1-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (96 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 6 🍅 Harvest: Jun 8 – Jul 13
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (94 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 12 🍅 Harvest: Jun 14 – Jul 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (93 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 28 🍅 Harvest: Jun 30 – Aug 4

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 Dubois County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.1–7.3) overlaps with Carrots's range (6.0–6.8), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Dubois County is excellent for Carrots — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.9%) — 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 192-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 02 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 12.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.8″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 133 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

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 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.5" 3.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 3.5" 3.3" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3.5" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.5" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.5" 3.2" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3.5" 2.9" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3.5" 2.8" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Dubois County). 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 ~1,120 GDD — county provides 3,072 GDD Excellent fit

Carrots Planting Timeline — Dubois County, IN

Carrots Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow March 29 Mar 29 – Apr 19
Harvest May 31 May 31 – Jul 5
Fall Sowing August 12 Aug 12 – Aug 26

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

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 6a

📆 Growing Season

192 days in Dubois County

Growing Tips for Carrots in Dubois County

Direct sow Carrots outdoors after April 12 in Dubois County 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 Dubois County, IN?

Dubois County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 12. Plan your Carrots planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Dubois County, IN?

Dubois County, Indiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 12 and first fall frost is October 21.

🌱

Your Dubois County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Dubois County (Zone 6a). 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 Dubois County, IN. 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.