Carrot
Daucus carota subsp. sativus
Carrot is a compact, cool-season root crop normally sown directly where it will mature. It tolerates part sun, needs modest surface space, and depends on undisturbed soil depth for straight root development.
Plant family Apiaceae · Also called garden carrot
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Sow directly into workable soil.
Carrots are direct-sown because the edible root develops from the young seedling and is easily disturbed by transplanting. Sow about 1.3 cm deep in the final bed or container.
The outdoor window begins about four weeks before the last spring frost and can extend to two weeks after it. Germination may take 10–21 days, so the seedbed needs steady surface moisture during a longer emergence period.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Give roots a deep, open path.
The plants need only 5–8 cm between roots, making carrots useful where surface space is limited. Rows spaced around 30 cm apart leave room for access, although intensive beds may use a different arrangement.
A container needs at least 30 cm of soil depth and roughly 10 litres of volume. Depth is especially important because shallow or obstructed soil limits the space available for the root.
Core measurements
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Allow for the mature form of the selected variety.
Install support early when it is required or useful.
Keep the seedbed evenly moist.
Carrots tolerate part sun, with the profile using four hours of direct light as a minimum. More light can support growth, but the crop remains better suited to cool conditions than sustained summer heat.
The 20–30 mm weekly water range should be applied as even moisture rather than occasional saturation. Irregular drying is more disruptive to a developing root than a simple count of watering events suggests.
Sunlight
Part sun tolerant (4+ direct-sun hours/day)
Soil pH
A suitable acidity range for general growth.
Weekly water
Moderate water need.
Aim for even moisture and water deeply when the upper 2-3 cm of soil begins to dry.
Read maturity from sowing.
Emergence can be slow compared with fast-germinating salad crops. The 60–80 day harvest range begins at sowing, so germination is already included within that overall planning window.
Carrots can be succession-sown about every 21 days where the season is long enough. Repeated small sowings spread the harvest and reduce the need to lift a large planting at once.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Direct-sow into loose soil and keep the shallow seedbed evenly moist until emergence.
Carrot growing questions
Should carrots be transplanted?
Carrots are normally direct-sown. Moving seedlings can disturb the developing taproot, so sow seed in the bed or container where the crop will mature.
How deep should a carrot container be?
Use at least 30 cm of soil depth. The profile also lists a minimum volume of approximately 10 litres.
How long do carrot seeds take to germinate?
The general germination range is 10–21 days. Maintain even moisture near the soil surface while waiting for emergence.
Can carrots grow with part sun?
Yes. The dataset uses a minimum of four hours of direct sun per day, although growth speed can vary with light and temperature.
Profile values are crop-level planning ranges compiled from sources S1,S2,S3,S4. Local climate and variety can change actual results.
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