Harvest guide
When to Plant Carrots (Spring and Fall Timing by Zone)
Sow carrot seeds 2 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost, once the soil warms past 40 to 45 F. For a fall crop, sow 10 to 12 weeks before the first fall frost. Carrots tolerate light frost.
Days to maturity
50–80days
Ready when
Shoulder 0.5-1in across at soil line
The short answer
Sow carrot seeds 2 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost, once the soil can be worked and has warmed past 40 to 45 F. Germination is fastest from 55 to 75 F. For a fall crop, sow 10 to 12 weeks before the first fall frost. Carrots tolerate light frost.
So what month do you actually plant carrots? It depends on your frost dates and your soil thermometer, not the calendar page. Carrots are a cool-season root crop, so they go in early, often before your tomatoes are anywhere near ready. Get the soil temperature and the frost window right and the rest of the crop mostly takes care of itself.
This guide covers spring and fall timing by climate, the soil temperature to wait for, and the mistake that wrecks more carrot rows than any pest.
When to plant carrots by zone
The target is the same everywhere: sow once the soil can be worked and has warmed past 40 to 45 F, a couple of weeks before your last frost. Washington State University Extension times spring sowing to 2 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost. University of Illinois Extension puts it more simply: sow as soon as the soil can be worked in spring.
Colder zones thaw later, so they sow later. The windows below are starting points. Watch your own last-frost date and soil temperature, not the dates on a packet.
| Region / zone | Spring sowing window | Cue |
|---|---|---|
| Cold (zones 3–5) | April – May | As soon as soil can be worked, past 40 F |
| Temperate (zones 6–7) | March – April | 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost |
| Mild (zones 8–9) | February – March | Once soil clears 45 F, before summer heat |
University of Maryland Extension lists a spring window of roughly mid-April through May for its zone-7 area, then a second window for fall. Shift earlier as you go south, later as you go north.
The planting window at a glance
Carrots get two real shots a year in much of the country: an early-spring sowing and a late-summer one for fall. The table ties each to a frost reference and a soil temperature so you are not guessing.
| Season | When to sow | Target soil temp | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2–4 weeks before last frost | 40–45 F to start, 55–75 F ideal | Direct seed, 1/4–1/2 in deep |
| Fall | 10–12 weeks before first frost | Below 85 F | Direct seed, 1/4–1/2 in deep |
Carrots are almost always direct seeded where they will grow. They have a long taproot that resents being moved, so transplanting usually leaves you with forked, stunted roots. Sow the seed shallow, 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, and keep the surface damp until it sprouts.
How to tell it is time to sow
Soil temperature is the real signal, and a cheap soil thermometer settles it. Push it a couple of inches down in the morning and read it for a few days running.
- The soil can be worked, not frozen or soggy mud.
- Morning soil temperature has reached at least 40 F.
- You are within 2 to 4 weeks of your average last spring frost.
- The bed is loose and stone-free 8 to 10 inches down so roots grow straight.
University of Minnesota Extension notes carrot seed germinates slowly in cold soil. Below about 40 F you get patchy, delayed sprouting. The seed itself takes 7 to 21 days to emerge even in good conditions, so do not write off a row too soon.
Pro tip
Carrot seed is tiny and the seedlings are weak, so a crusted soil surface can stop them cold. Sow shallow, then cover with a thin layer of fine compost or vermiculite instead of heavy soil. Keep the top inch consistently damp for two to three weeks. A board or row cover laid over the row holds moisture until you see green, then comes off.
Spring vs fall, and how to keep the harvest going
Spring is the default sowing for most gardeners, but fall carrots are often sweeter. Cool weather and a touch of frost push the roots to store more sugar, so a fall crop that matures in cooling soil tends to taste better than a summer one.
For a fall harvest, count back 10 to 12 weeks from your first fall frost and sow then, per University of Maryland Extension. In zones 7 and warmer, that can mean sowing in late summer for a fall and early-winter pull, since carrots hold in the ground through light freezes.
To eat carrots over a long stretch rather than all at once, succession sow a short new row every 2 to 3 weeks through spring, then pause through the hottest part of summer, and pick the fall window back up. The same staggered rhythm works for other quick roots like radishes.
Common mistake
The most common carrot mistake is sowing too early into cold, wet soil. Seed dropped into ground below 40 F germinates poorly and often rots before it sprouts, which is why so many first rows come up thin and gappy. The fix is patience: wait for the soil to clear 40 to 45 F and the bed to drain. The second mistake is sowing into hot midsummer soil above 85 F, where germination stalls again, so bridge that gap with the fall window instead.
Get the spacing right before you sow
Timing gets the seed up. Spacing gets you full-size roots instead of a tangle of pencils. Carrots sown too thick crowd each other and stay small, so the row has to be thinned.
Sow seed thinly, then thin seedlings to 2 to 3 inches apart once they are a couple of inches tall. Our guide to how far apart to plant carrots walks the in-row and row spacing, and the plant spacing calculator counts how many carrots fit your exact bed.
Try it — Plant Spacing Calculator
Full calculatorExtra to cover losses (10% is typical).
You can plant
32plants
- Per row
- 8
- Rows
- 4
- Buy (incl. spare)
- 36 plants
Carrots also share a rhythm with the other cool-season crops. The fall-sow, cold-sweetened pattern that works for them is the same logic behind when to plant garlic, and the payoff for getting this timing right is covered in when to harvest carrots.
Your next step
Plant carrots in cool soil, 2 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost, once the ground has warmed past 40 to 45 F, then sow a second round in mid to late summer for a sweeter fall crop. Keep the seedbed damp until you see green, and thin to 2 to 3 inches once the tops are up.
Ready to lay out the row? Open the plant spacing calculator and set carrots at 3 inches so every root has room to size up.
Common questions
What month do you plant carrots in?
It depends on your frost dates, not the calendar. In most US zones the first spring sowing lands February to April, 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost, once soil passes 40 to 45 F. Cold zones plant April to May. For a fall crop, sow in mid to late summer, 10 to 12 weeks before the first fall frost.
Can I plant carrots in September?
In warm zones (7 and up), yes. Carrots tolerate light frost and sweeten in cool weather, so a September sowing can mature for a fall or early-winter harvest. Count back 10 to 12 weeks from your first hard freeze. In cold zones, September is usually too late for roots to size up.
What soil temperature do carrots need to germinate?
Carrot seed germinates from about 40 F at the low end, but it is slow and patchy until the soil reaches 55 to 75 F, per university extension guidance. The University of Maryland Extension lists a germination range of 45 to 85 F. Above about 85 F, germination drops off, so avoid sowing into hot midsummer soil.
How long do carrots take to grow?
Most carrots reach harvest in 50 to 80 days from sowing, depending on the variety, with many common types landing near 65 to 75 days. Seeds themselves take 7 to 21 days just to sprout, so be patient before deciding a row failed.
Can you plant carrots too early?
You can. Carrot seed sown into cold, wet soil below 40 F germinates poorly and may rot before it sprouts. Wait until the soil can be worked and has warmed past 40 to 45 F. In cold zones that is usually a few weeks before to around the last frost, not the dead of winter.
Sources
Agronomic claims in this guide are checked against these primary sources.
- Carrots | Home Vegetable Gardening — University of Illinois Extension
- Growing carrots in home gardens — University of Minnesota Extension
- Carrots — University of Maryland Extension
- Carrots — Washington State University Extension
Keep reading
When to Harvest Carrots (Signs They're Ready)
Carrots are ready about 50 to 80 days after sowing, when the shoulder is roughly 1/2 to 3/4 inch across at the soil line. Here are the cues, the lift-don't-yank method, and how to store them.
Read →When to Plant Garlic (Fall Timing by Zone)
Plant garlic in fall, about 3 to 6 weeks before the ground freezes, so roots set before winter. That lands mid-September to November across most US zones. Plant cloves 2 inches deep, pointy end up, 4 to 6 inches apart.
Read →When to Harvest Radishes (Signs They're Ready)
Salad radishes are ready fast, about 22 to 35 days after sowing, when the root is roughly 1 inch across at the soil line. Pull promptly, check the shoulder, and learn how daikon and winter types differ.
Read →When to Plant Zucchini (Frost + Soil Temp Timing)
Plant zucchini after your last spring frost, once the soil hits at least 60 F (ideally 65 to 70 F). Direct-sow seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep, or set out transplants started 2 to 4 weeks earlier. Warm zones get a second fall crop.
Read →When to Plant Tomatoes (Frost + Soil Temp by Zone)
Set tomato transplants out 1 to 2 weeks after your last spring frost, once soil hits at least 60 F. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before that frost date. Cold soil stalls them, so wait for warmth.
Read →When to Plant Swiss Chard (Spring and Fall Timing)
Plant swiss chard 2 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost, once the soil hits 40°F. Sow again 3 to 4 weeks before the first fall frost. Seeds go half an inch to an inch deep.
Read →