Garden-grown carrots are full of flavor and texture! They are a popular, long-lasting root vegetable that can be grown in many climates. Learn all about planting, growing, and harvesting carrots.
Carrots are easy to grow as long as they are planted in loose, sandy soil during the cooler periods of the growing season—spring and fall. Depending on the variety and local growing conditions, carrots may take anywhere from 2 to 4 months to mature.
Something general about carrot
Carrots are part of the Apiaceae or Umbelliferae family, along with dill, fennel, and even the wildflower Queen Anne’s lace. You will see the resemblance in the leaves and flowers. Carrots are best known for long, orange roots, but they actually come in several colors and shapes.
Carrot foliage is finely dissected, with fern-like compound leaves. The leaves are edible, but they contain furocoumarins and may cause allergic skin reactions. Carrot flowers have five petals and sepals and are born in compound umbels. Most roots are about one inch in diameter and anywhere from one inch to more than 12 inches long.
Even though the roots are growing underground, carrot tops need full sun to light shade for the carrots to grow quickly and develop their sugars.
Carrots need loose, well-draining soil. Rocks and clumps will cause the carrot roots to split and deform. Growing carrots in raised-beds with fluffy soil are the ideal situation.
Carrots do not grow well in highly acidic soil. A soil pH in the range of 6.0–6.8 is recommended.
Nutrition Stats
Serving size: 1 large carrot (about 8″ long)
- 30 calories
- 7g carbohydrates
- .68g protein
- <1g total fat
- 0g saturated fat
- 2g fiber (8% DV)
- 3.41g sugar
- 50 mg sodium
- 230mg potassium (7% DV)
- 9mg Magnesium (2% DV)
- 4.2mg vitamin C (7% DV)
- 14 ug folate
- 12028 IU vitamin A (241% DV)
- .48 mg vitamin E (2% DV)
- 9.5 ug vitamin K (12% DV)
How to Grow Your Own Carrot
Sow seeds directly in the garden or containers. Do not transplant. Try to distribute seed in an even fashion so seeds don’t grow together, use a seed-sower, or thin vigorously to the right space.
- Carrots need a location that receives full sunlight, though they can tolerate partial shade, too.
- As discussed above, the soil must be loose, sandy, and airy so that carrot roots can easily push down through the soil.
- Sow seeds outdoors 3 to 5 weeks before the last spring frost date.
- Sow ¼ inch deep, 3 to 4 inches apart in rows 1 foot apart.
- Cover with a layer of vermiculite or fine compost to prevent a crust from forming (which would hamper germination).
- For multiple harvests, sow seeds about every 3 weeks.
- Keep the soil moist with frequent shallow waterings. For small carrot seeds to germinate, the soil mustn’t form a hard crust on top. (If you put your finger in the ground, it should be moist, but not wet, to the middle knuckle.)
- Carrots are sometimes slow to germinate. They may take 2 to 3 weeks to show leaf, so don’t panic if your carrots don’t appear right away!
How to Harvest Carrot
Carrots become tastier as they grow. You can start harvesting as soon as the carrots are big enough to eat, or leave them all to mature for a single harvest. Dig your winter storage crop before the first frost on a day when the soil is moist but the air is dry. Since spading forks tend to bruise roots, hand-pull them, loosening the soil with a trowel before you pull. Watering the bed before harvesting softens the soil and makes pulling easier.
How to Storage Carrot
To save harvested carrots for winter use, prepare them by twisting off the tops and removing excess soil, but don’t wash them. Layer undamaged roots (so they’re not touching) with damp sand or peat in boxes topped with straw. Or store your fall carrot crop right in the garden by mulching the bed with several inches of dry leaves or straw.