Carrot
What Plant Yet? knows about carrot, and where each number comes from. For today's answer, pick your town.
Planting numbers
- Frost category
- Semi-hardy Source: Colorado State University Extension
- Plant outdoors
- From 2 weeks before typical last frost up to the frost date Given for semi-hardy crops as a group. Source: Colorado State University Extension
- Cover at or below
- 32°F Source: Utah State University Extension
- Grows once daytime temperatures reach
- 40°F Given for semi-hardy crops as a group. Source: Colorado State University Extension
- Days to harvest
- 70–100 Source: Utah State University Extension
Left out because we found no university extension source for it: minimum night temperature. We don't estimate.
Growing tips
- Keep soil moisture consistent. (Colorado State University Extension)
- Use only well-aged compost; fresh organic matter gives hairy, rough roots. (Colorado State University Extension)
- Mulch with dry grass clippings to shade root tops and prevent green shoulders. (Colorado State University Extension)
- Poor emergence usually means crusted soil, seed sown too deep, or hot soil. (Colorado State University Extension)
- On the Front Range, replant in mid-summer for tender roots in fall. (Colorado State University Extension)
How the answer uses this
The planting window opens 2 weeks before typical last frost up to the frost date in your town and stays open while a planting still has 100 days to mature before the typical first fall frost. Inside the window the answer is Plant when the coldest of the next 7 nights stays above 32°F (no source gives a minimum night temperature, so the cold-damage temperature is used). Cover tonight shows when tonight's low is 32°F or colder while carrot is normally in the ground.
Sources
- Colorado State University Extension — checked Nov 11, 2026
- Utah State University Extension — checked Nov 11, 2026
- Colorado State University Extension — checked Nov 11, 2026
Guidance only. Extension advice is written for typical conditions; your soil, variety and microclimate matter.