How to Grow Carrot (2026)
Loose, stone-free soil; thin seedlings for straight roots.
Quick answer: Carrot is a cool-season crop for zones 3–11 in full sun. Plant 2–4 weeks before the last frost or in fall, space 3″ apart, and expect harvest in about 65 days.
Build your Carrot planting card
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In Alabama (zone 7–9, last frost ≈ Mar 15, first frost ≈ Nov 15, 245-day season), your Carrot plan:
Loose, stone-free soil; thin seedlings for straight roots. Suits USDA zones 3–11. Dates are typical; confirm with your county extension and the 10-day forecast.
Growing tips
- Spacing: 3 inches between plants keeps air flowing and limits disease.
- Depth: sow seeds about 0.25″ deep (or set transplants at the same soil line).
- Sun: Full sun (6+ hours).
- Season: Tolerates light frost; best in cool weather, sow in spring and again in fall.
Spacing & planting FAQ
Common carrot problems
Symptoms, likely causes, fixes and prevention — each page is printable.
More cool-season crops
Spacing, depth, and days-to-harvest are typical values from university extension guides. Planting dates are computed from typical USDA/extension freeze dates (USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) + state cooperative extension typical freeze dates); confirm locally before acting.