Carrot in Zone 5a & 5b
Daucus carota
When to plant carrot in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. Carrot doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 19–Apr 26 |
| Estimated harvest | Jun 28–Jul 5 (~70 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 16 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 0.5-1 ft.
Carrots are almost never transplanted, their taproot resents disturbance and will fork or stunt if moved once it's started growing. Every carrot in a garden should go from seed packet directly into its final spot in the ground.
How carrot fits zone 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Carrot needs about 70 days from sowing to first harvest.
Good companions
- Onion: A real, peer-reviewed field study (Uvah & Coaker 1984) found intercropping onions with carrots reduced carrot rust fly damage, on the theory that mixed scents mask the host plant from pests hunting by smell.
- Tomato: Carrots aerate soil around tomato roots.
Where to buy carrot seeds
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing carrot" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 5b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Carrot in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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