How to Grow Carrot

Intermediate

Daucus carota subsp. sativus

A cool-season root vegetable. Direct sow — carrots do not transplant well. Thin seedlings to avoid crowding.

Last updated: June 2026

Days to Maturity
70–80 days
typical
Per Square Foot
16
Plant Spacing
8 cm / 3"
Sun
6+ hours
Water
1.0" / 25 mm
Fertilization
light feeder

Growing Notes

Direct sow 2–4 weeks before last frost. Succession-sow every 3 weeks for continuous harvest.

Varieties & Cultivars

15 cultivars in our database. Click any card to see growing details.

Classic American heirloom

(1)
Danvers Half Long
70–80 days Open-Pollinated

tolerates heavy soil; good flavour; versatile cooking carrot

Height
4–8" (10–20 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
3.5 oz (100 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
3–10
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years

Commercial standard

(1)
Imperator 58
70–80 days Open-Pollinated

sweet crisp; most common supermarket carrot; reliable producer

Height
6–8" (15–20 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
3.0 oz (85 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
3–10
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years

Heirloom golden yellow

(1)
Yellow Looseleaf
70–80 days Open-Pollinated

looseleaf tops; distinctive colour; good for raw eating

Height
6–8" (15–20 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
2.6 oz (75 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
3–10
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years

Hybrid Nantes type

(1)
Tendersweet
70–80 days Hybrid

crisp tender; bright orange; reliable performer; good for fresh eating

Height
6–8" (15–20 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
2.8 oz (80 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
3–10
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years

Imperator

(2)
Atomic Red
70–80 days Open-Pollinated

colour intensifies when cooked; 20cm roots

Height
8–12" (20–30 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
2.5 oz (70 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
3–10
Seed saving
difficult
Seed viability
3 years
Imperator
70–80 days Open-Pollinated

needs deep loose soil

Height
8–12" (20–30 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
2.6 oz (75 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
3–10
Seed saving
difficult
Seed viability
3 years

Nantes

(5)
Bolero
65–75 days Hybrid

excellent storage variety keeping 6+ months; alternaria and cercospora leaf blight resistant; widely adapted; sweet crisp flavour

Height
8–12" (20–30 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
2.5 oz (70 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
3–10
Seed saving
difficult
Seed viability
3 years
Little Finger
55–65 days Open-Pollinated

very sweet; ideal for containers and shallow beds

Height
6–8" (15–20 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
0.9 oz (25 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
3–10
Seed saving
difficult
Seed viability
3 years
Nantes
65–75 days Open-Pollinated
Height
8–12" (20–30 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
1.9 oz (55 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
3–10
Seed saving
difficult
Seed viability
3 years
Napoli
52–58 days Hybrid

fast maturing; excellent for baby carrots and early harvest; sweet and tender even when small; good for succession planting

Height
6–10" (15–25 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
1.8 oz (50 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
3–10
Seed saving
difficult
Seed viability
3 years
Scarlet Nantes
65–75 days Open-Pollinated

crisp sweet; excellent fresh

Height
8–12" (20–30 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
2.3 oz (65 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
3–10
Seed saving
difficult
Seed viability
3 years

Purple exterior with orange interior

(1)
Cosmic Purple
65–75 days Open-Pollinated

colour fades when cooked

Height
8–12" (20–30 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
1.9 oz (55 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
3–10
Seed saving
difficult
Seed viability
3 years

Short stout 12-15cm roots

(1)
Chantenay
65–75 days Open-Pollinated

good in heavy or shallow soils; reliable

Height
8–12" (20–30 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
3.2 oz (90 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
3–10
Seed saving
difficult
Seed viability
3 years

Tiny round 3-5cm roots

(1)
Parisian
55–65 days Open-Pollinated

sweet mild flavour

Height
4–6" (10–15 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
0.9 oz (25 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
3–10
Seed saving
difficult
Seed viability
3 years

Other

(1)
Danvers
75–80 days Open-Pollinated
Height
10–14" (25–36 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
2.8 oz (80 g)
Support
none
Harvest
once
USDA Zones
3–10
Seed saving
difficult
Seed viability
3 years

Companion Planting

What to grow alongside carrot, and what to keep apart.

Plant With

Lettuce : Lettuce acts as a living mulch between carrot rows
Sage : Sage repels carrot rust fly
Tomato : Carrots loosen soil around tomato roots; tomatoes shade carrots in summer heat
Leek : Leeks repel carrot fly; carrots repel leek moth — classic companion pair
Radish : Radishes mark slow-germinating carrot rows and loosen soil
Chives : Chives deter carrot rust fly
Pepper : Carrots loosen soil; peppers provide afternoon shade
Onion : Onion scent deters carrot rust fly; carrot scent deters onion fly
Rosemary : Rosemary repels carrot rust fly
Peas : Peas fix nitrogen that carrots use; carrots loosen soil

Keep Apart

Celery : Same family (Apiaceae); shared pests including carrot rust fly
Dill : Dill can cross-pollinate carrots (same family Apiaceae); mature dill inhibits carrot growth

Square Foot Spacing

16 per sq ft

3" apart (4×4 grid)

View full spacing chart →

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