When to plant carrot by zone
Daucus carota is a cool-season crop that is hardy to frost. Rule of thumb: direct sow from 3 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last frost; for a fall crop, sow or plant 10–12 weeks before the first fall frost.
Carrot planting dates by zone
Each row uses the median 30%-risk frost dates of the major cities in that zone; rows marked * have no major city and use the median of NOAA stations in that zone instead. Frost dates vary a lot within a zone, so use your city page for local dates. In frost-free climates: Sep 1 – Feb 28.
| Zone | Median last frost | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1a* | May 29 | — | — | May 8 – Jun 12 | — |
| 1b* | May 29 | — | — | May 8 – Jun 12 | — |
| 2a | May 21 | — | — | Apr 30 – Jun 4 | — |
| 2b* | May 20 | — | — | Apr 29 – Jun 3 | — |
| 3a* | Jun 4 | — | — | May 14 – Jun 18 | — |
| 3b* | May 24 | — | — | May 3 – Jun 7 | Jun 26 – Jul 10 |
| 4a | May 12 | — | — | Apr 21 – May 26 | Jul 5 – Jul 19 |
| 4b | May 5 | — | — | Apr 14 – May 19 | Jul 12 – Jul 26 |
| 5a | May 4 | — | — | Apr 13 – May 18 | Jul 11 – Jul 25 |
| 5b | May 4 | — | — | Apr 13 – May 18 | Jul 17 – Jul 31 |
| 6a | May 4 | — | — | Apr 13 – May 18 | Jul 17 – Jul 31 |
| 6b | Apr 26 | — | — | Apr 5 – May 10 | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
| 7a | Apr 22 | — | — | Apr 1 – May 6 | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
| 7b | Apr 10 | — | — | Mar 20 – Apr 24 | Aug 4 – Aug 18 |
| 8a | Apr 1 | — | — | Mar 11 – Apr 15 | Aug 11 – Aug 25 |
| 8b | Mar 22 | — | — | Mar 1 – Apr 5 | Aug 18 – Sep 1 |
| 9a | Mar 11 | — | — | Feb 18 – Mar 25 | Aug 27 – Sep 10 |
| 9b | Feb 12 | — | — | Jan 22 – Feb 26 | Sep 10 – Sep 24 |
| 10a | Jan 26 | — | — | Jan 5 – Feb 9 | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
| 10b | Jan 27 | — | — | Jan 6 – Feb 10 | Sep 20 – Oct 4 |
| 11a | Rare | Sep 1 – Feb 28 | |||
| 11b* | Rare | Sep 1 – Feb 28 | |||
| 12a* | Rare | Sep 1 – Feb 28 | |||
| 12b | Rare | Sep 1 – Feb 28 | |||
| 13a* | Rare | Sep 1 – Feb 28 | |||
| 13b* | Rare | Sep 1 – Feb 28 | |||
Growing tips
- Keep the seedbed moist until sprouts appear — it can take 2–3 weeks.
- Loose, stone-free soil gives straight roots; try short varieties in heavy clay.
- Fall carrots sweeten after a few light frosts.
Exact dates for your city
Popular: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, Jacksonville, Fort Worth, San Jose — or browse all cities by state.
Other crops: Tomato, Pepper, Lettuce, Green Beans, Sweet Corn, Zucchini & Summer Squash, Cucumber, Onion, Potato, Basil, Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Peas, Eggplant, Cabbage, Radish, Strawberry, Beets