When to plant carrots in zone 5b
In zone 5b, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 1, sow outdoors April 10 to May 1. For a fall crop, plant July 18 to August 8.
The zone 5b schedule for carrots
- Sow outdoors
- April 10 to May 1
- First harvest, roughly
- June 9 to August 9
- Plant for a fall crop
- July 18 to August 8
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,546 ZIP codes in zone 5b, 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 5b
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 5b, the typical last frost ranges from about April 21 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 18 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 30 to October 19. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 18Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- May 1Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 16Safe: 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 5b cities
| City | Typical last frost | Plant | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | Apr 19 | Mar 29 to Apr 19 | Aug 6 to 27 |
| Madison, WI | May 1 | Apr 10 to May 1 | Jul 18 to Aug 8 |
| Des Moines, IA | Apr 18 | Mar 28 to Apr 18 | Jul 28 to Aug 18 |
| Aurora, IL | Apr 19 | Mar 29 to Apr 19 | Jul 31 to Aug 21 |
| Fort Collins, CO | May 2 | Apr 11 to May 2 | Jul 15 to Aug 5 |
| Naperville, IL | Apr 19 | Mar 29 to Apr 19 | Jul 31 to Aug 21 |
| Rockford, IL | Apr 24 | Apr 3 to 24 | Jul 25 to Aug 15 |
| Elgin, IL | Apr 26 | Apr 5 to 26 | Jul 26 to Aug 16 |
| Greeley, CO | May 2 | Apr 11 to May 2 | Jul 16 to Aug 6 |
| Green Bay, WI | Apr 30 | Apr 9 to 30 | Jul 17 to Aug 7 |
| Davenport, IA | Apr 19 | Mar 29 to Apr 19 | Jul 30 to Aug 20 |
| Longmont, CO | May 6 | Apr 15 to May 6 | Jul 13 to Aug 3 |
How to grow carrotsAll zonesCarrots in zone 5aCarrots in zone 6aAbout zone 5b
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