Planting guide · zone 5a
When to plant carrots in zone 5a
In zone 5a, the average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is Oct 1. Here is carrots's whole year, counted from those dates.
Apr 17Direct sowSpring
May 8Succession sowing 2Spring
Jul 9Direct sowFall
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Soil & site
Deep, loose, sandy loam free of rocks. Skip fresh compost or manure — rich clumps cause forked, hairy roots.
Seedling care
Germination is slow (1–3 weeks) and the bed must never dry out. A board or burlap over the row until sprouts appear keeps moisture in — check daily.
Growing notes
Thin ruthlessly to 2–3 in; crowded carrots stay skinny. Rows 12–18 in apart.
Harvest
Fall carrots kissed by frost are the sweetest of the year. Mulch deeply and harvest straight through winter.
Same crop, other zones
Carrots in zone 5b →Carrots in zone 6a →Carrots in zone 6b →Carrots in zone 7a →