When to plant carrots in zone 5a
In zone 5a, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 3, sow outdoors April 12 to May 3. For a fall crop, plant July 12 to August 2.
The zone 5a schedule for carrots
- Sow outdoors
- April 12 to May 3
- First harvest, roughly
- June 11 to August 11
- Plant for a fall crop
- July 12 to August 2
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,200 ZIP codes in zone 5a, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for carrots.
Dates before the last frost assume the soil has thawed and is dry enough to work: a squeezed handful crumbles instead of sticking. After a late or wet spring, wait for that even if the date has passed.
Frost risk in zone 5a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 5a, the typical last frost ranges from about April 27 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 21 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 25 to October 13. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 20Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- May 3Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 17Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
Your dates for carrots
Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant carrots where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.
Carrots in zone 5a cities
| City | Typical last frost | Plant | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | Apr 23 | Apr 2 to 23 | Jul 24 to Aug 14 |
| St. Paul, MN | Apr 23 | Apr 2 to 23 | Jul 24 to Aug 14 |
| Anchorage, AK | May 5 | Apr 14 to May 5 | Jul 9 to 30 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | May 1 | Apr 10 to May 1 | Jul 14 to Aug 4 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | Apr 28 | Apr 7 to 28 | Jul 20 to Aug 10 |
| Billings, MT | May 10 | Apr 19 to May 10 | Jul 9 to 30 |
| Bloomington, MN | Apr 23 | Apr 2 to 23 | Jul 22 to Aug 12 |
| Sioux City, IA | Apr 29 | Apr 8 to 29 | Jul 13 to Aug 3 |
| Brooklyn Park, MN | Apr 30 | Apr 9 to 30 | Jul 16 to Aug 6 |
| Woodbury, MN | Apr 24 | Apr 3 to 24 | Jul 24 to Aug 14 |
| Plymouth, MN | Apr 29 | Apr 8 to 29 | Jul 20 to Aug 10 |
| Blaine, MN | Apr 30 | Apr 9 to 30 | Jul 16 to Aug 6 |
How to grow carrotsAll zonesCarrots in zone 4bCarrots in zone 5bAbout zone 5a
Sources
- Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP 103/VH021) · University of Florida IFAS Extension
- Carrot, Beet, Radish & Parsnip (HGIC 1305) · Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center
- How to Grow Carrots in Your Garden · Utah State University Extension
- Vegetable Planting Guide · Colorado State University Extension
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County (AZ1005) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
- Vegetable Crops of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (planting guide) · Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Cameron County
- Growing carrots, beets, radishes, and other root crops in Wisconsin (A3686) · University of Wisconsin Extension
- The Fall Vegetable Garden (HO-66-W) · Purdue University Extension
- Fall Vegetable Gardening (G1343) · University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension
- Root crops (beets, carrots, radishes, turnips) presentation · Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Leon County
- Types of Containers for Growing Vegetables · University of Maryland Extension
- Container Gardening Basics · Oregon State University Extension Service