We havent bought any carrots at all in the past few years. All of the carrots we need (and thats quite a lot with four children in the house) come straight from my kitchen garden.
But how do you get a steady supply of carrots all year round then? Well, the trick is to sow many times throughout the year. You would for example not succeed if you sow your carrots only once or twice in spring. Some of the carrots will go bad if they stay too long in the ground. Instead, I have decided to sow my carrot seeds on seven different occasions.
I also try to sow some carrot seeds in my hotbed, if I have the space. I sow these seeds in February and start harvesting my carrots in May. The seeds will of course grow in the order they were sown. The seeds in the polytunnel might get a bit of a head start though, depending on how sheltered they have been.
It might seem like I have an almost unlimited number of beds available to keep growing carrots all year round. Thats of course not the case though. Remember that you dont need to sow an entire large bed at once. We have a system where we sow for example two rows of summer carrots first, and then use the rest of the bed 2-3 weeks later. This means that we dont have to harvest all of the carrots at once.
The same goes for pallet collar beds too. You can sow seeds in half the bed one week, and do the rest a few weeks later.
Winter may seem like an unlikely time to grow vegetables, but some hardy crops like carrots can thrive when planted at the right time With proper care and protection, you can enjoy sweet, tender carrots fresh from the garden even during the coldest months.
Why Grow Carrots in Winter?
Fresh winter carrots offer some great benefits:
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Enhanced sweetness The cold causes carrots to convert their starches into sugars, resulting in super sweet roots Winter carrots are noticeably sweeter than their warmer weather counterparts.
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Fewer pests: Carrot pests like carrot rust flies are largely inactive when temperatures drop. You’ll deal with less bug damage.
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No bolting: Carrots go to seed rapidly in summer heat. Growing them in winter avoids this issue.
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Unique seasonal crop: Homegrown carrots in winter make an unusual edible gift or conversation piece at holiday meals.
Choosing the Right Carrot Varieties
You’ll need to select cold-hardy carrot cultivars that can mature before your winter hard freeze date. Good options include:
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‘Danvers 126’ – Heirloom variety that matures in around 70 days. Long tapered roots with bright orange color.
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‘Scarlet Nantes’ – Sweet variety ready in 68 days. Bright red-orange roots.
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‘Napoli’ – Buttery yellow carrots that mature quickly in just 58 days.
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‘Yaya’ – Round carrots that grow well in clay soil. Matures in 60 days.
Check the days to maturity for the variety you choose and make sure to plant accordingly.
When to Plant Winter Carrots
To figure out your winter carrot planting date, take your average first hard frost date and count backwards from there based on the days to maturity for your chosen variety.
For example, if your first frost date is October 15th, and you’re growing ‘Danvers 126’ carrots that take 70 days to mature, you would plant them around August 5th so they reach full size before the cold hits.
Ideally plant winter carrots 4-6 weeks before your first expected frost. This gives them time to establish before growth slows.
Preparing the Soil
Carrots need loose, crumbly, and rock-free soil to develop properly shaped roots. Work 2-3 inches of compost into your planting beds to create ideal conditions.
Raised beds are great for winter carrots, as they warm up faster in spring and drain well. You can insulate them further for winter by banking bales of straw around the sides.
Watering and Protecting Winter Carrots
Consistent moisture is key, especially right after planting. Use a light mulch to retain soil moisture. overhead watering is better than drip irrigation which can lead to uneven growth.
Once cool weather arrives, cover crops with row cover or low tunnels to protect them from hard freezes. Ventilate on sunny days. Further insulate with straw or blankets as needed during sub-freezing periods.
When and How to Harvest
Begin harvesting carrots once they’ve sized up, usually after light frosts sweeten the roots. Flavor continues improving the longer you leave them in the ground.
Use a digging fork to loosen soil and lift carrots gently by the shoulders. Store any extras you can’t use right away in damp sand in a root cellar or cool basement.
Time your final winter harvest so that all carrots are pulled by early spring before new growth occurs. With proper care you can enjoy fresh carrots from the garden up to 4-5 months after planting!
Troubleshooting Common Winter Carrot Problems
Cracking roots – This happens when carrots experience temperature swings from very cold nights to warmer days. To prevent it, maintain consistent insulation over the crop.
Pale roots – Lack of sunlight causes reduced color. Next year plant in a sunnier spot.
Woody taste – This occurs if you harvest too late in spring after warmth initiates new growth. Pull them earlier.
Rodent damage – Use hardware cloth when building raised beds to prevent tunneling pests.
Enjoying the Rewards of Winter Carrots
With proper timing, soil prep, and protection, you can overcome cold weather challenges to grow some of the sweetest, crispiest carrots you’ve ever tasted. The extra effort required pays off in full when you get to taste their garden-fresh flavor at times when produce straight from the soil is rare.
Why sow summer and winter varieties?
I enjoy growing several different types of carrots. I like getting carrots in many different colors, but its just as important to have different varieties for practical reasons.
Summer carrots (also called early carrots) grow quickly and are ready to harvest after only three months (if sown in spring.) They might go bad if you leave them in the ground for too long, and its difficult to store them for long periods of time. You can read more about when its time to harvest your carrots here
The winter carrots take a long time to grow, but they can on the other hand stay outside for longer and you can store them all winter if you want to.
Sowing both kinds means that I get plenty of carrots at different times. Which of course makes my goal of growing carrots all year round a lot easier to accomplish! I grow the tender, fast-growing summer carrots to eat fresh, straight from the garden. We usually store the winter carrots and eat them when we dont have any summer carrots left. You can see the two types next to each other in the top picture. The small, tender summer carrots were harvested in late fall.
When to Plant Carrots for Great Fall or Winter Harvests
FAQ
Can carrots grow in the winter?
Choosing the Right Carrot Varieties
They’re ideal for winter growing due to their adaptability and flavor. Chantenay: Known for their short, stubby shape, Chantenay carrots perform well in heavy or clay-like soils. They have a distinct, sweet taste and stay tender, even as they mature.
Will carrots still grow after a frost?
Carrots can remain in the garden after a frost and still be removed in good condition.Sep 20, 2016
What is the coldest temperature to grow carrots?
… too late in the season to plant carrots, even in a pot unless you are able to move the pot into a heated garage when temperatures dip below 32 degreesOct 29, 2017