When to plant carrots in zone 6a
In zone 6a, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 29, sow outdoors April 8 to 29. For a fall crop, plant July 25 to August 15.
The zone 6a schedule for carrots
- Sow outdoors
- April 8 to 29
- First harvest, roughly
- June 7 to August 7
- Plant for a fall crop
- July 25 to August 15
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 4,514 ZIP codes in zone 6a, 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 6a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 6a, the typical last frost ranges from about April 16 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 11 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 4 to October 24. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 16Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 29Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 14Safe: 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 6a cities
| City | Typical last frost | Plant | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | Apr 11 | Mar 21 to Apr 11 | Aug 8 to 29 |
| Indianapolis city, IN | Apr 15 | Mar 25 to Apr 15 | Aug 3 to 24 |
| Denver, CO | May 4 | Apr 13 to May 4 | Jul 16 to Aug 6 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | May 3 | Apr 12 to May 3 | Jul 16 to Aug 6 |
| Omaha, NE | Apr 18 | Mar 28 to Apr 18 | Jul 29 to Aug 19 |
| Aurora, CO | May 4 | Apr 13 to May 4 | Jul 16 to Aug 6 |
| Lincoln, NE | Apr 24 | Apr 3 to 24 | Jul 21 to Aug 11 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | Apr 24 | Apr 3 to 24 | Jul 29 to Aug 19 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | Apr 29 | Apr 8 to 29 | Jul 28 to Aug 18 |
| Lakewood, CO | May 5 | Apr 14 to May 5 | Jul 13 to Aug 3 |
| Springfield, MA | May 3 | Apr 12 to May 3 | Jul 16 to Aug 6 |
| Joliet, IL | Apr 19 | Mar 29 to Apr 19 | Aug 2 to 23 |
How to grow carrotsAll zonesCarrots in zone 5bCarrots in zone 6bAbout zone 6a
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