Vegetable · Root & Bulb
Carrot
Daucus carota subsp. sativus
A cool-season root crop grown for its sweet, crunchy taproot. Needs loose, stone-free soil to grow long and straight rather than forking.
At a glance
Water
Medium
20–32 fl oz/wk
Light
Full sun
6–10 hrs/day
Space
Small
3 in
To maturity
65–80 days
Edible parts: Root
Family: Carrot
Includes carrots, celery, parsley, and dill. Known for feathery foliage and umbrella-shaped flower clusters.
Harvest
Loosen soil gently before pulling; roots are ready once the shoulders are a finger's width across, usually visible at the soil surface.
Growing conditions
- Temperature
- 45–80 °F
- Soil pH
- 5.5–6.8
- Soil type
- Deep, loose, sandy loam free of rocks and clods
- Climate
- Cool-season, frost-tolerant; roots can be left in the ground and sweeten after a light frost.
- Growing season
- Direct-sow in early spring, and again in mid-to-late summer for a fall harvest.
- Nitrogen
- Low (≈20–40 ppm)
- Humidity
- Medium (≈40–70 %)
- Planting unit
- Seed
- Feeding schedule
- Too much nitrogen encourages leafy top growth at the expense of the root, and can cause forking.
- Pest resistance
- Moderate
- Pests
- Aphids: Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth and undersides of leaves, sucking sap and excreting sticky honeydew., Carrot rust fly
- Pruning
- Thin seedlings to about 2 inches apart so roots have room to size up.
Notes
Alliums (onion, leek, chives) planted alongside are reported to reduce carrot rust fly damage by masking scent - see Companions & antagonists.
Where it grows
- Container / PotIdeal— 12in+ pot depth so roots aren't obstructed.
- Raised BedIdeal— Loose, deep soil helps roots grow straight.
- In-Ground GardenPossible— Needs rock-free, loosened soil to avoid forked roots.
- HydroponicNot recommended— Root shape doesn't suit typical hydroponic channels.
- Vertical / TrellisNot recommended— No climbing or vining habit.
- WindowsillNot recommended— Needs more root depth and light than a windowsill offers.
Companions & antagonists
- Beneficial: Green Onion — Allium scent is believed to confuse carrot rust fly host-finding, while carrot foliage can mask onion fly attraction.
- Beneficial: Leek — Same allium/carrot pest-masking effect as onions - a widely repeated pairing in companion-planting guides.
- Beneficial: Chives — Chives are reported to help mask carrot scent from carrot rust fly, similar to other alliums.
- Antagonistic: Dill — Both are Apiaceae and share pollen; flowering dill near carrots risks cross-pollination and can produce bitter, fibrous roots the following season. Dill is also reported to be allelopathic toward carrots.
Sources
- Growing Carrots in a Home Garden — University of Maryland Extension
- Fundamentals of Bed Preparation, Spacing, Weeding & Watering — Johnny's Selected Seeds
- Carrot Rust Fly — UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM)
- Companion Vegetable Garden Plants — Ask Extension