When to plant carrots in zone 6b
In zone 6b, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 23, sow outdoors April 2 to 23. For a fall crop, plant July 30 to August 20.
The zone 6b schedule for carrots
- Sow outdoors
- April 2 to 23
- First harvest, roughly
- June 1 to August 1
- Plant for a fall crop
- July 30 to August 20
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 4,514 ZIP codes in zone 6b, 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 6b
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 6b, the typical last frost ranges from about April 10 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 6 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 9 to October 29. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 8Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 23Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 9Safe: 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 6b cities
| City | Typical last frost | Plant | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | Apr 18 | Mar 28 to Apr 18 | Aug 4 to 25 |
| Boston, MA | Apr 4 | Mar 14 to Apr 4 | Aug 17 to Sep 7 |
| Detroit, MI | Apr 21 | Mar 31 to Apr 21 | Aug 8 to 29 |
| Kansas City, MO | Apr 4 | Mar 14 to Apr 4 | Aug 10 to 31 |
| Cleveland, OH | Apr 8 | Mar 18 to Apr 8 | Aug 20 to Sep 10 |
| Cincinnati, OH | Apr 16 | Mar 26 to Apr 16 | Aug 2 to 23 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | Apr 24 | Apr 3 to 24 | Aug 4 to 25 |
| Buffalo, NY | Apr 24 | Apr 3 to 24 | Aug 3 to 24 |
| Toledo, OH | Apr 20 | Mar 30 to Apr 20 | Aug 4 to 25 |
| Boise City, ID | Apr 24 | Apr 3 to 24 | Jul 29 to Aug 19 |
| Spokane, WA | Apr 26 | Apr 5 to 26 | Jul 23 to Aug 13 |
| Rochester, NY | Apr 24 | Apr 3 to 24 | Aug 2 to 23 |
How to grow carrotsAll zonesCarrots in zone 6aCarrots in zone 7aAbout zone 6b
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