How long does it take carrots to germinate?

Gardening is such a fun and satisfying hobby! There's nothing like the feeling of nurturing a seed and watching it grow into a beautiful plant. One of my favorite things to grow in my garden is carrots. It wasn't always this way, growing carrots used to feel rather tedious, but I've learned some things that have helped immensely.

Carrots are one of the staples in our garden, and they are so fun to harvest, not knowing how big they'll be before you pull them up!

Now, let's be honest, carrot seeds can take forever to germinate and can be a little finicky. One of the questions I hear often is, "How long does it take carrots to germinate?" Carrot seeds tend to take between one and three weeks to germinate. They often do not all germinate at the same time but sporadically over a 10-21 day span, as many factors can affect the growth rate of a carrot crop, and knowing those can help to feel less frustrated by growing them.

What is a carrot?

Let's chat about carrots before we get into the factors that affect the growth of the carrot seed into the carrot itself. Fresh carrots tend to have a sweet flavour and come in many colours, including orange, yellow, and purple. My youngest insists we plant rainbow carrots every year.
Carrot seeds are tiny seeds that will grow into a beautiful, tasty root vegetable in the correct growing environment.

You might be wondering what a root vegetable is and what growing conditions carrots need. Well, a root vegetable is exactly as it sounds: a vegetable that is the root of the plant. Some other root vegetables are radishes, parsnips, and beets. The optimal growing conditions for carrots will change throughout the carrot's growing cycle.

Factors of carrot germination

The germination rate of carrot seeds depends on many variables, including soil temperature, moisture, and depth. Let's examine the ideal soil conditions for carrot seed germination.

• Soil temperature - Carrots are a cool-season crop, meaning they prefer cool temperatures. The ideal temperature is 55 - 65 degrees Fahrenheit ( 12-24 degrees Celsius). If the soil temperature is too warm, the germination rate of carrots can decrease or become more sporadic. 
• Soil Moisture - Carrot seeds sprout best in moist soil. It can not be too damp because that will lead to fungal issues and hinder germination. There are many ways to ensure your soil temperature stays low and the soil stays moist with good drainage. One of the more common ways is by sowing your seeds, watering them, and then placing a board over them. This board will shade the area where the seeds were planted, which will cool the soil temperature and moisten the soil. 
• Soil Depth - Carrot seeds do not need to be planted deep into the soil. They should only be covered with 1/8-1/4 inch of soil. If they are planted too deep, the germination rate will decrease because the seedlings will not be able to emerge. 

How to plant carrot seeds

1. How to prepare the soil - Carrots require loose soil. You will want to prepare your carrot bed with well-drained soils, such as organic matter and sandy soil. Heavy soils will make it challenging for your carrot root to grow, causing it to be stunted or oddly shaped. Your carrots can be planted in a raised garden bed or your inground vegetable garden. Either way, you will want to prepare the garden soil by raking it to confirm that there are no big rocks or dirt chunks and that the soil is loose instead of compacted. 
2. When to sow carrot seed - You will want to sow your carrot seeds in early spring or late summer. To do this, make a shallow trench in the prepared soil. Place a pile of carrot seeds from the seed packet in the palm of your hand. With your other hand, pinch some of the carrot seeds with your index finger and thumb. The best way to space the carrot seeds out is by rolling your thumb and index finger together over the top of the trench and letting them fall out. Try to plant each seed 1-2"apart. Don't stress too much about the spacing, though, as you will have to thin the seedlings once they germinate. If thinning your carrot plants seems overwhelming, you can sow a carrot seed tape instead of the loose seeds. A carrot seed tape is a biodegradable tape with carrot seeds spaced perfectly. So, all you have to do is place the seed tapes in the trench and cover it with soil. You will not have to thin the carrots once they germinate. After your seeds are sown and covered with just enough soil under the soil surface, you must water the carrot seed rows. My preferred method is using pelleted seeds. These are seeds that are coated with an organic material, making them larger and easier to space. I have had excellent results with them.
3. Watering the carrot seeds - Once your seeds are sown and covered with soil, water your carrots with adequate water. Be sure not to overwater, which can cause your soil to run and your seeds to move. Use a fine mist sprayer if you have one. Once the seeds are watered, you can cover them with a row cover or monitor the soil more frequently to make sure it stays evenly moistened. 

What to do once the carrot seeds sprout

Once your carrot seeds sprout, immediately remove the row cover if one was used. The sprouted carrot seeds are called carrot seedlings. They are a very young plant at this point. When the carrot tops are around 1" tall, you must thin your carrots. If you use seed tape or pelleted seeds, you can skip this step. The general rule of thumb is to allow 1-2" of space between your carrot plants. If there is inadequate spacing between your carrot plants, it can result in the carrot roots twisting around each other or even stunting the growth of some of the carrots; after the carrots are thinned, be sure to weed the area around them throughout the rest of the growing season. 

When to plant carrot seeds

Carrot seeds can be planted in early spring, with the last sowing in late summer. This means you will grow a new row of carrots every 1 - 2 weeks. It will result in a harvest of fresh carrots for most of the year in zones where the ground doesn't freeze too hard. As long as the carrots get full sun and the ground is not frozen, they will grow because they are cold- hardy plants. Now, if you live in a USDA hardiness zone that gets snow, you may need to use a cover to provide for a longer growing season. You can find your USDA Hardiness Zone here if you're unfamiliar with it.

When to harvest your carrots

​There are many carrot varieties to choose from when picking your carrot seeds. Most varieties take between 70 and 80 days to grow. To be sure, check our seed package to see the estimated growth time. The general rule of thumb is to harvest your carrots when they are 1 to 1 1/2" in diameter.
To harvest your carrots and avoid breaking them, I recommend loosening the soil around them with a shovel. Once the soil is loose, you should be able to pull the plant, and the carrot will come out. Carrots are one of the root crops, so they are going to be very dirty when they are harvested, but they wash easily. When washing the carrots, use cold water.

How to store carrots

You can store your harvested carrots in many different ways. 

1. As a whole fresh carrot - To do this, you will take a crate or box and place some slightly damp sawdust in it, then a single layer of carrots, more sawdust, repeating these layers as needed. Place your carrots in a cool, dark, and dry place. I store mine in a root cellar, in old milk crates.
2. Canned carrots - The Ball Canning Book has a great recipe for canning carrots. Once you have canned your carrots, you can remove the rings from the jars and store them in a cool, dark place. 
3. Freeze carrots - The book Freeze Fresh: The Ultimate Guide to Preserving 55 Fruits and Vegetables for Maximum Flavor and Versatility provides a great guide for freezing carrots.

Now it is your turn to try to grow some carrots! Share your experiences, tips, and questions in the comments below! Remember to subscribe to our blog for more homesteading tips and gardening advice. 

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