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When to Plant Carrots in Cache County, UT

Cache County, Utah Zone 6a May

This month in Cache County, Utah

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

Avg. last frost June 11
Avg. first frost September 2
Soil temp (4") 42°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.4 hrs
  1. Outdoor sowing time: carrots

    Succession planting is the secret here. Put in a row now, another in 2 weeks, a third in 4.

A few tasks this May that'll pay off in June
  • Fall sowing: 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.

Cache County, Utah is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is June 11 and the first fall frost is September 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 83 days.

At an elevation of 6,265 feet, Cache County receives approximately 15.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84°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.

Cache County, UT (Zone 6a) Very short season
83 days
Last Spring Frost June 11
83 growing days
First Fall Frost September 2

Cache County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-8.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (5 days to spare)
Transplant: May 15 🍅 Harvest: Jul 17 – Aug 21
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 11 🍅 Harvest: Aug 13 – Sep 17
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (19 days to spare)
Transplant: Jun 24 🍅 Harvest: Aug 26 – Sep 30

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 Cache County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–8.4) is more alkaline than Carrots prefers (6.0–6.8). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Carrots.

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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.8″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.0″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 14 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 10/10 — 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 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Jun 3.5" 1.1" 2.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 3.5" 1.3" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 3.5" 1.5" 2" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 3.5" 1.3" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Jun–Sep in Cache 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 ~910 GDD — county provides 1,079 GDD Good fit

Carrots Planting Timeline — Cache County, UT

Carrots Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow May 28 May 28 – Jun 18
Harvest July 30 Jul 30 – Sep 3
Fall Sowing June 24 Jun 24 – Jul 8

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April
May Direct Sow
June Direct Sow Fall Sowing
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
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: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

83 days in Cache County

Growing Tips for Carrots in Cache County

Direct sow Carrots outdoors after June 11 in Cache County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 83.0-day growing season in Cache County is tight for Carrots (60.0-80.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

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.

Recommended Carrots Varieties for Cache County

Fast-maturing varieties for your season

Adelaide (50d) Mokum (54d) Nelson (56d)

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 Cache County, UT?

Cache County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of June 11. Plan your Carrots planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Cache County, UT?

Cache County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is June 11 and first fall frost is September 2.

🌱

Your Cache County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Cache 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.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Cache County, UT. 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.