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When to Plant Carrots in Miami County, KS

Miami County, Kansas Zone 6b May

Your May planting checklist for Miami County, Kansas

A quick May briefing for Miami County, Kansas gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost April 12
Avg. first frost October 25
Soil temp (4") 64°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Start harvesting carrots

    This is the payoff month. Bring a basket, bring a friend, and get into the beds.

To set up a strong June, finish these tasks
  • 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.

Miami County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost is October 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 196 days.

At an elevation of 689 feet, Miami County receives approximately 21.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Carrots during the growing season.

Miami County, KS (Zone 6b) Moderate season
196 days
Last Spring Frost April 12
196 growing days
First Fall Frost October 25

Miami County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.7

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 (98 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 12 🍅 Harvest: Jun 14 – Jul 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (94 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 27 🍅 Harvest: Jun 29 – Aug 3

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 Miami County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.7) is more alkaline than Carrots prefers (6.0–6.8). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.1%) — 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 196-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 06 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 16.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.8″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 584 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 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.5" 2.1" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
May 3.5" 3.2" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3.5" 3.2" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Jul 3.5" 3" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Aug 3.5" 2.8" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3.5" 2.2" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3.5" 1.5" 2" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Miami 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 3,136 GDD Excellent fit

Carrots Planting Timeline — Miami County, KS

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 16 Aug 16 – Aug 30

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 · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

60–80 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–6.8 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

196 days in Miami County

Growing Tips for Carrots in Miami County

Direct sow Carrots outdoors after April 12 in Miami 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 Miami County, KS?

Miami County is in Zone 6b 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 Miami County, KS?

Miami County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 12 and first fall frost is October 25.

🌱

Your Miami County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Miami 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 Miami County, KS. 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.