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When to Plant Carrots in Floyd County, IN

Floyd County, Indiana Zone 6b May

May in Floyd County, Indiana — your action list

May rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in Floyd County, Indiana.

Avg. last frost April 6
Avg. first frost October 28
Soil temp (4") 62°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Bring in the carrots

    Don't tug. Use scissors or pruners for clean cuts — torn stems invite disease.

Before June arrives, get these ready
  • 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.

Floyd County, Indiana is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 6 and the first fall frost is October 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 205 days.

At an elevation of 1,112 feet, Floyd County receives approximately 35.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Carrots during the growing season.

Floyd County, IN (Zone 6b) Long season
205 days
Last Spring Frost April 6
205 growing days
First Fall Frost October 28

Floyd County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (107 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 29 🍅 Harvest: May 31 – Jul 5
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (107 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 6 🍅 Harvest: Jun 8 – Jul 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (110 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 18 🍅 Harvest: Jun 20 – Jul 25

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 Floyd County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.8–7.1) overlaps with Carrots's range (6.0–6.8), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Carrots.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.7%) — 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

4
successive plantings in your 205-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 09 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 19.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.8″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 563 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 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.5" 3.3" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
May 3.5" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.5" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.5" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.5" 3.4" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3.5" 3.2" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3.5" 3.3" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Floyd 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 ~1,015 GDD — county provides 2,972 GDD Excellent fit

Carrots Planting Timeline — Floyd County, IN

Carrots Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow March 23 Mar 23 – Apr 13
Harvest May 25 May 25 – Jun 29
Fall Sowing August 19 Aug 19 – Sep 2

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
August Fall Sowing
September Fall Sowing
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.8"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

60–80 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–6.8 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

205 days in Floyd County

Growing Tips for Carrots in Floyd County

Direct sow Carrots outdoors after April 06 in Floyd 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 Floyd County, IN?

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

What planting zone is Floyd County, IN?

Floyd County, Indiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 6 and first fall frost is October 28.

🌱

Your Floyd County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Floyd County (Zone 6b). 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 Floyd County, IN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

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