Vegetable Grow Guides
How to Grow Organic Carrots from Seed
Daucus carota subsp. sativus
About Carrots
Carrots need loose, stone-free soil at least as deep as the root you want. Forked roots mean compacted soil or fresh manure. Seed is tiny and slow — never let the bed crust over.
When to Plant
Direct-sow 2–4 weeks before last frost, then every 3 weeks until midsummer for a fall crop. Carrots can take light frost; flavor sweetens in cold weather.
How to Plant
Sow thinly, ¼ inch deep. Because seed germinates slowly (14–21 days), keep the bed evenly moist until leaves emerge, then thin to 3 inches apart. Rows 12–18 inches. Mix with a little sand or radish seed to mark the row.
When to Harvest
Pull when roots reach the size for the variety (fingerling or full). Loosen soil with a fork. Fall carrots can stay in the ground under mulch until the ground freezes.