Cool-season produce

Carrot

Daucus carota subsp. sativus

Also known as Carrots

Loose, stone-free soil prevents misshapen roots. Do not transplant; cool winter soil slows germination and sizing.

EdibleCool-season crop

Growing spaceVegetable bed

Climate fitUrban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b

Crop familyApiaceae (carrot)

Life cycleAnnual crop

Phoenix planting windowSeptember–March; best germination after the soil cools.

How to plantDirect sow only; keep the shallow seedbed moist until emergence.

Plant spacingThin to 2–3 in

FrostTolerates light frost once established; cover during a hard freeze.

Time to harvestAbout 60–100 days

SuccessionSow short rows every 2–3 weeks.

Special categoriesEDIBLE

Typical harvestPull roots from late fall through spring.

Right plant, right place

Will Carrot grow at your Arizona property?

Loose, stone-free soil prevents misshapen roots. Do not transplant; cool winter soil slows germination and sizing.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b.

Light

Full winter sun; give leafy crops afternoon protection during warm fall and spring weather.

Water

Keep the vegetable root zone evenly moist with regular irrigation; adjust to rain, soil, and temperature rather than using a fixed summer schedule.

Planting & stewardship

1
Prepare a fertile, well-drained bed and keep seed or transplants evenly moist through establishment.
2
Thin to the final spacing; crowding reduces harvest quality.
3
Watch for aphids and caterpillars and protect sensitive growth from a hard freeze.
4
Harvest before sustained spring heat causes bolting or poor quality.

Read the growing reference ↗ Planting dates can shift with cultivar, weather, and your yard’s microclimate.