Crops › Carrot
How to grow Carrot
in the US
Sow March to August, plant out September, harvest May to October. About 70 days from seed to plate.
Shown for zone 6. Zone table further down.
Carrots are a proper garden staple, aren't they? There's nothing quite like pulling up a crisp, sweet carrot you've grown yourself. They're dead easy to grow too, making them a cracking choice for new gardeners and experienced hands alike.
Sowing
Carrots are best sown direct into the soil once the ground warms up, usually after your last frost date. Check your USDA zone; for instance, folks in zone 3 might start in May, while those in zone 9 can get going as early as January. Sow seeds thinly about a quarter-inch (6mm) deep in drills, leaving about 12 inches (30cm) between rows. You can sow a small batch every few weeks from spring through late summer for a continuous harvest. Just remember, these timings are a guide, so adjust for your local climate.
Growing on
Once your carrot seedlings are up and showing a couple of true leaves, you'll need to thin them out. This is important, as overcrowded carrots won't develop well, you know what I mean. Aim for about 2-4 inches (5-10cm) between each plant, depending on the variety. We're not usually faffing about with plug plants for carrots; they much prefer to grow where they're sown.
Looking after it
Carrots like a steady supply of moisture, so water regularly, especially during dry spells. Mulching around them can help keep the soil moist and suppress weeds. They don't usually need a lot of feeding if your soil is decent, but a balanced liquid feed can give them a bit of a boost if they look a bit yellow.
What goes wrong
The main bother you might get with carrots are pests like carrot rust fly, wireworms, or aphids. To be honest, growing companion plants like onions or leeks nearby can help confuse the carrot rust fly. Keep your plot tidy and rotate your crops each year, it really does make a difference.
Harvest
Most carrots are ready to pull in about 70 days from sowing. You can start harvesting them when they're still small 'baby' carrots, or leave them to grow to full size. Just gently loosen the soil around the shoulders and pull them up. If you get a glut, they store well in a cool, dry place, or you can refrigerate them.
Like I say in my videos, I always try to add a bit of sand to my carrot beds; it makes the soil lighter and helps the roots grow nice and straight. It's a proper simple trick, but it works a treat.
Dates for your plot
Type your zone and the plant-out advice shifts to your frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Danvers 126 A cracking old-school maincrop, Danvers 126 is known for its strong, sturdy roots. It's a reliable performer that does well in heavier soils, making it good for beginners. | No club votes yet 1 growing it |
| Scarlet Nantes This maincrop variety, Scarlet Nantes, is famous for its sweet flavor and tender texture. It's a good choice for smaller plots or containers if you're sowing undercover first. | No club votes yet |
| Nantes Coreless Another fine maincrop, Nantes Coreless, produces straight, cylindrical roots with very little core. It's a popular choice for its superb eating quality and uniform shape. | No club votes yet |
| Imperator 58 Imperator 58 is a long, slender maincrop carrot, often seen in supermarkets, good for deep soils. This variety is brilliant for juicing or slicing, offering a great crunch. | No club votes yet |
| Chantenay Red Cored Chantenay Red Cored is a classic stubby, conical maincrop variety with a deep orange color. It's especially good for heavier soils and stores really well. | No club votes yet |
| Kuroda A maincrop type, Kuroda is known for its heat tolerance and resistance to some common carrot problems. This variety is a good bet for warmer climates or if you're looking for a robust grower. | No club votes yet |
| Nelson Nelson is a modern maincrop variety, prized for its excellent flavor and smooth, uniform roots. It's a fast grower and very reliable, perfect for a steady supply of sweet carrots. | No club votes yet |
| Mokum This maincrop, Mokum, is a quick-growing variety that produces lovely tender roots even when young. It's ideal for early harvests and succession planting, giving you sweet carrots all season. | No club votes yet |
| Bolero Bolero is a robust maincrop carrot known for its strong disease resistance and good keeping qualities. If you want a dependable, healthy crop that stores well, this is a cracking option. | No club votes yet |
| Napoli Napoli is a very sweet and tender maincrop variety, perfect for eating fresh or steaming. It's a quick maturer, so you won't have to wait long for a tasty harvest. | No club votes yet |
| Sugarsnax 54 As the name suggests, Sugarsnax 54 is a super sweet maincrop carrot with a fantastic crunch. It's a great choice for kids and anyone who loves a really tasty, healthy snack straight from the garden. | No club votes yet |
| Yellowstone Yellowstone is a striking yellow maincrop carrot, offering a mild, sweet flavor and a touch of novelty. It's a fun one to grow for something a bit different and adds color to your plate. | No club votes yet |
| Atomic Red Atomic Red is a vibrant, deep red maincrop carrot that gets even redder when cooked. It's packed with lycopene, making it a healthy and visually appealing choice for your plot. | No club votes yet |
| Purple Haze Purple Haze is a fantastic maincrop with a deep purple skin and an orange core, bringing a bit of fun to your harvest. It's sweet and crunchy, a real conversation starter on the dinner table. | No club votes yet |
| Romance Romance is a high-yielding maincrop carrot with a beautiful deep orange color and a lovely sweet flavor. It's a reliable all-rounder that performs well and gives you plenty of carrots for the kitchen. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Carrot seeds
Partner retailers. If you buy through these links we may earn a small commission. It never costs you more.
Sowing by USDA zone
| Zone | Sow / plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May to July | July to September |
| Zone 4 | April to July | June to September |
| Zone 5 | March to August | June to October |
| Zone 6 | March to August | May to October |
| Zone 7 | February to September | May to November |
| Zone 8 | February to September | April to November |
| Zone 9 | January to October | March to December |
| Zone 10 | January to December | March to December |
Cook the harvest
A moist, warmly spiced American carrot cake loaded with freshly grated carrots, crushed pineapple, and toasted walnuts, finished with a thick, tangy cream cheese frosting. This is the definitive American celebration cake — tender, fragrant, and utterly irresistible.
70 min · mediumA deeply moist, warmly spiced carrot cake with crushed pineapple, toasted walnuts, and a generous amount of freshly grated carrot, finished with a thick, tangy cream cheese frosting. This is the gold-standard carrot cake — soft, flavorful, and precisely the thing you want for a birthday or celebration bake.
70 min · mediumA vibrant North African-inspired carrot salad seasoned with cumin, paprika, cinnamon, and harissa, bright with lemon and fresh cilantro. The carrots can be served raw and grated, or lightly cooked for a more tender, jammy texture. Either way, this salad is alive with flavor.
25 min · easyA wonderfully warming and protein-packed soup where sweet carrots and quick-cooking red lentils are simmered with aromatic spices until thick, velvety, and deeply satisfying. Finished with a bright lemon-spiced oil drizzle, it is a perfect meal on its own.
50 min · easyWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: onions, leeks, rosemary, sage, tomatoes
Questions people ask
When do you sow Carrot in the US?
Sow Carrot from March to August in zone 6, earlier or later by zone. Plant out September, after the last frost.
How long does Carrot take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 70 days, with the harvest May to October.
Which Carrot varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Danvers 126, Scarlet Nantes, Nantes Coreless, Imperator 58 and more.
Track your Carrot from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.