A grocery store carrot can never compare to the taste of a fresh-picked carrot from the garden, but growing carrots can be frustrating. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to avoid the obstacles and have a successful carrot crop. If you want to grow carrots in your garden, here’s everything you need to know.
You can also download my How Do I Grow Carrots? one-sheet and keep the free resource handy for your reference.
Carrots are enjoyed for the sweet and earthy tap roots, which are such a delight to bite into when served fresh, either by themselves or dipped into ranch dressing. They are also wonderful when roasted or when added to soup. Carrots can also be steamed and served with butter or baked into a casserole. Carrot greens are edible too and can be served sauteed or used for making pesto or another sauce.
I love seeing the bright-green ferny foliage of the carrot tops every time I walk into the garden. No matter what the weather is like, or what else is growing in the garden, those frilly, upright carrot tops always lift my spirits — even in winter. That alone could be reason enough to try carrots in your own garden.
Generally, you’ll find orange carrots at the grocery store, but when you grow carrots yourself, you can raise varieties that are white, yellow, red and deep purple.
Carrots are one of the most popular root vegetables to grow in home gardens. Their sweet, crunchy taste makes them a favorite for eating fresh or cooked. Carrots are also packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are great for your health.
While it’s easy and inexpensive to grow carrots from seed, some gardeners prefer the convenience of buying starter carrot plants Purchased carrot plants allow you to skip the germination wait and get right to growing these nutritious veggies
So can you buy carrot plants? The short answer is yes! In this guide we’ll cover everything you need to know about purchasing carrot starts including
- Where to buy carrot plants
- When to plant purchased carrot plants
- How to plant and care for store-bought carrots
- The best varieties to look for
- Pros and cons of buying starter plants
Where Can You Buy Carrot Seedlings?
You can purchase carrot starter plants from a few different sources:
Local Garden Stores
Most independent garden centers and nurseries sell vegetable starts in the spring, including carrots. The selection is usually limited to a couple popular varieties like Scarlet Nantes and Danvers.
Farmers Markets
Farmer’s markets are another good spot to find locally-grown carrot seedlings in early spring, Ask the growers what varieties they recommend for your area
Online Retailers
There are many online stores that ship live carrot plants right to your door. Companies like Burpee, Jung Seed, and GrowJoy offer a wider choice of carrot varieties than local stores.
Big Box Stores
Large home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowes typically carry green onion plants and tomato seedlings but not carrot starts.
Direct from Growers
Some small market farms sell their vegetable transplants directly to consumers through their website or social media. Check for local growers offering carrot starts.
No matter where you buy them, look for stocky seedlings with lush green tops and no signs of pests, disease, or neglect. Reputable sellers ship at the proper planting time for your zone.
When Should You Plant Store-Bought Carrots?
Carrot plants can be planted as soon as the threat of heavy frost has passed in spring. They need soil temperatures of at least 45-50°F to thrive. Most gardeners can safely transplant carrots starts in March or April.
If you live in zones 8-10 with mild winters, you can plant carrots in late winter or early spring. In zones 3-5, hold off until May when the soil has sufficiently warmed.
Starter carrots should be planted out around the same time as lettuce, spinach, radish, and other cool weather crops. If you buy plants too early, keep them in a sunny spot and water regularly until it’s safe to transplant.
How to Plant Store-Bought Carrot Starts
Planting carrot starts is easy if you follow a few simple guidelines:
Choose a Sunny Spot
Carrots need at least 6-8 hours of full sun per day. Less light will result in stunted, misshapen roots.
Prepare the Soil
Work plenty of compost into your carrot bed to create loose, fertile soil. Remove any rocks or debris that could cause forked carrots.
Allow Proper Spacing
Thin seedlings to 2-3 inches apart in all directions. Overcrowding impedes growth and reduces yields.
Plant at Correct Depth
Settle plants into a shallow trench just 1⁄2-1 inch deep. Planting too deeply can inhibit germination.
Water Thoroughly
Water transplants daily for the first week until the roots establish. Then water 1-2 inches per week.
Use Row Covers
Row covers boost growth by protecting tender plants from cold snaps. Remove once the weather warms.
With proper planting and care, you can expect to start harvesting homegrown carrots from starter plants in around 70 days.
Caring for Store-Bought Carrot Plants
Caring for purchased carrot starts is very similar to growing them from seed:
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Water 1-2 inches per week. Carrots need consistent moisture for best growth.
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Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with a balanced organic fertilizer. Carrots are heavy feeders.
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Weed regularly to prevent competition for water and nutrients.
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Use row covers in early spring and late fall to extend the growing season.
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Side dress with compost or fertilizer when foliage starts to yellow.
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Rotate crops each year to prevent disease. Avoid planting carrots in the same spot.
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Watch for pests like carrot rust flies, aphids, and carrot weevils.
With attentive care throughout the season, you can achieve a bountiful harvest of beautiful carrots from your starter plants.
Best Carrot Varieties for Beginners
If you’re new to growing carrots, these varieties are good options for starter plants:
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Danvers – Sweet, tender, stores well. Versatile all-purpose heirloom.
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Scarlet Nantes – Crisp with bright orange roots. Does well in containers.
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Rainbow – Mix of red, yellow, orange, purple carrots. Great for kids.
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Little Finger – Thin cylindrical roots perfect for containers and raised beds.
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Atomic Red – Vibrant reddish-purple color. Mild, almost sweet flavor.
Talk to the grower to learn what carrot varieties perform best in your area. The right choice can make a big difference in your harvest.
The Pros and Cons of Buying Carrot Starts
Purchasing starter plants offers some benefits over growing from seed:
Pros:
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Get a head start on the season
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Skip germination period
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Higher success rate
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More variety options
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Less work at the start
Cons:
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More expensive upfront
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Limited selection locally
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Must be planted at right time
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Less control over health & care
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Can’t choose specific harvest dates
There are good reasons to start carrots from seed or transplants. Decide what works best for your gardening style and needs.
Enjoy Delicious Homegrown Carrots
When cared for properly, store-bought carrot seedlings can grow into a bountiful crop of sweet, crunchy carrots. Buying starter plants makes it quick and easy to add this nutritious vegetable to your garden.
With the right variety, timing, planting location, and attentive care, you can grow a beautiful harvest of carrots from purchased starts. Just be sure to give them plenty of sun, fertile soil, consistent moisture, and protection from pests.
In 70-80 days, you’ll be rewarded with farm-fresh carrots that your whole family can enjoy. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as growing your own healthy vegetables from start to finish.
Where, When & How to Plant Carrots
Carrots may be planted in spring for an early summer harvest, before the heat causes the plants to bolt, at which point the taproots become woody and unpalatable. Sow seeds two to three weeks before the last frost date of spring, and follow up with a succession planting three weeks later. Alternatively or additionally, carrots may be planted 10 weeks before the first frost date for a fall harvest. I prefer carrots that mature in fall because they become sweeter when they experience a frost.
Carrots seeds’ optimal soil temperature for germination is between 45 and 85° Fahrenheit, though the soil should be 70° or cooler as the carrots grow. Seeds will remain viable for up to 3 years if stored properly.
Because they have taproots, carrots abhor being transplanted. For that reason, carrot seeds should be direct sown in the garden. In full sun to light shade, sow the seeds in loose, fertile, evenly moist soil. Carrots do best in soil with a pH in the range of 6.0 to 6.8.
To avoid stunted and deformed carrots, prepare the soil well in advance of planting. This is the most important step to setting up carrots for success. I start weeks ahead of time, working the soil deep with well-rotted shredded leaves and plenty of compost. Screen out stones, pebbles and any other objects that will obstruct a clear path for straight roots. Raised beds and deep grow bags are superb options for growing carrots as the soil can be more easily managed.
Sow seeds a quarter-inch deep and an inch apart, in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. However, this is easier said than done because the seeds are so small — the size of a poppy seed. I’ve found that using pelletized seed makes the job much easier.
The biggest challenge to starting carrots seeds is making sure they stay moist enough to germinate. This can be tricky because they take quite a while to sprout — from five to 21 days — and can be difficult to monitor. One trick I like is to cover the seeds with burlap fabric. I use old coffee bean sacks. These are great because the fabric is permeable, allowing you to water from above and keeping the baking sun from drying out the soil surface, which must remain moist in order for the seeds to germinate. It’s easy to pull back the fabric to check on the seeds’ germination, and once that happens, the fabric can easily be removed completely.
Once carrot greens are growing, take proactive steps to protect your crop from pests and the diseases that they spread. Floating row covers can be installed from the moment of germination to prevent pest access to plants.
You’ll have to pull back the row cover occasionally to remove weeds that will compete with the carrots for water and nutrients and to thin out excess, overcrowded carrot seedlings. It is difficult and tedious, but do your best to leave only one carrot plant every 2 to 4 inches.
When we talk about carrots in the garden, we’re talking about domesticated varieties of wild carrots. Also known as Queen Anne’s lace, wild carrots belong to the species Daucus carota. Garden carrots are of the subspecies Daucus carota sativus.
Atlas is a small, rounded variety that matures more quickly than the average carrot variety and is better suited for subpar soil than longer varieties. The orange roots are 1 ½ to 2 inches in diameter and just as long. This variety is ready to harvest in 70 days.
Bolero is a sweet variety with improved resistance to common diseases and leaf pests. The slightly tapered orange roots are 7 to 8 inches long and take 75 days to mature.
Danvers is an orange heirloom variety that tolerates heavier soil. The roots grow 6 to 8 inches long. They take between 65 and 75 days to mature, or longer when grown in fall.
Dragon is a purple-skinned carrot with orange flesh that contains as much lycopene as a tomato. The seven-inch roots perform well in heavy soil and have a sweet but spicy flavor. This variety matures in 70 to 90 days.
Imperator is an heirloom carrot variety that is an All-America Selections winner. The orange roots grow 7 to 8 inches long with a broad shoulder, gradually tapering to a fine taproot. They are ready to harvest in 70 days.
Yellow Moon is a lighter-toned yellow carrot with 6-to-7-inch-long roots. They are ready to harvest in 80 days.
YaYa is a fast-maturing orange variety that produces 6-inch blunt barrel-shaped roots. It has the looks and shape of a classic carrot and is great for warmer regions where the crop must mature quickly before heat sets in. YaYa takes just 60 days to mature.
As mentioned above, it is important to ensure carrots seeds and newly germinated seedlings are kept consistently moist. Once the seedlings are established, continue to apply an inch of water a week, if Mother Nature hasn’t done the job for you. As the taproots grow longer and reach deeper, they will require even more moisture to prevent stress and bolting. When carrots are halfway to maturity, up the water schedule to 2 inches per week.
Avoid applying too much nitrogen fertilizer, which can cause excessive top growth at the expense of root growth. At the same time, also avoid excess phosphorus, which can cause roots to form side shoots or split roots.
Once the carrot greens are 4 inches tall, side dress by applying fertilizer between the rows. Use an organic fertilizer that will supply a moderate dose of nitrogen and little to no phosphorus.
Watch This BEFORE You Plant Carrots
FAQ
Can you purchase carrot plants?
At GrowJoy, we take pride in growing our carrot starter plants using all-natural methods, ensuring they are free from harmful chemicals and pesticides. Each plant is carefully nurtured to promote strong, healthy growth, allowing them to thrive in your garden.
What month should I plant carrots?
Plant carrots late April through the end of May. An early May planting will provide baby carrots for salads in early July and full-sized carrots by the end of the month. The tiny seeds of carrots produce fine, wispy sprouts which don’t like breaking through dry, crusty soil. I was reluctant to plant during our&hel.
Does Lowes sell carrot plants?
Bonnie Plants Carrots Pot Plant in the Vegetable Plants department at Lowes.com.
Can I grow carrots from a store-bought carrot?
you can cut the tops off and stick them in water or the dirt and they will grow. They wont grow an actual carrot but apparently they will flower and grow seeds.