Growing Carrots
Sweet, crisp, and a fraction of the effort once you’ve got the soil right.
How to Grow Carrots
Planting
Direct sow only, carrots hate being transplanted and fork or twist if they hit rocks or heavy clay. Work the soil deep and fine before sowing, and thin seedlings early, crowded carrots stay skinny.
Watering & feeding
Keep the soil consistently moist while seeds germinate, they’re slow and unforgiving about drying out early on. Once established, deep watering encourages roots to grow down rather than fork sideways.
Harvest
Pull once the shoulders show good color at the surface, usually 65–80 days depending on variety. A light frost actually sweetens the flavor if you leave a fall crop in a little longer.
Grows Well With
Plant carrots near onions or leeks, their scent is said to help confuse the carrot rust fly. See all our companion planting pairs →
When to Plant
Direct sow February through April for a summer crop, then again in July through August for a sweeter fall harvest. See the full planting calendar →
Buy the Seeds We Use
From the Seed Center
Shop Carrots Seeds
$1.25
