How to grow carrots in a raised bed
Raised beds are perfect for carrots: loose soil, no stones. Keep seeds moist until they sprout.
Spacing16 plants per square foot
How to startSow seeds right in the bed
When to plantAbout 3 weeks before your last spring frost
Time to harvestAbout 70 days
Grows toAbout 10 in tall
When to plant carrots in your zone
Dates are based on the average frost dates for each zone. Don't know your zone? Enter your ZIP code in the planner.
| Zone | Start seeds indoors | Plant in the bed | Plant again for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | — | Apr 29 | — |
| Zone 3b | — | Apr 24 | — |
| Zone 4a | — | Apr 21 | — |
| Zone 4b | — | Apr 17 | Jul 6 |
| Zone 5a | — | Apr 13 | Jul 11 |
| Zone 5b | — | Apr 7 | Jul 18 |
| Zone 6a | — | Apr 1 | Jul 23 |
| Zone 6b | — | Mar 25 | Jul 28 |
| Zone 7a | — | Mar 18 | Aug 4 |
| Zone 7b | — | Mar 11 | Aug 11 |
| Zone 8a | — | Mar 4 | Aug 18 |
| Zone 8b | — | Feb 22 | Aug 26 |
| Zone 9a | — | Feb 8 | Sep 8 |
| Zone 9b | — | Jan 25 | Sep 17 |
| Zone 10a | — | Jan 10 | Sep 27 |
| Zone 10b | — | Dec 25 | Oct 8 |
Tips for raised beds
- In square-foot gardening, plant 16 plants in each 1 × 1 ft square.
- It stays fairly short, so it can go near the south (sunny) edge of the bed.
- Most vegetables and fruit need at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
Where to buy carrot seeds
Burpee · True Leaf Market · Botanical Interests
Plan where your carrots go. Pick your bed size and material, choose your plants, and get a printable plan with measurements, a shopping list and planting dates for your ZIP code. Free, no sign-up.
Open the free planner →