Zone 8 · Root Vegetables Growing Guide

When to Plant Carrot
in Zone 8

Slow to germinate but rewarding. Loose, deep soil is the key — rocky or clay soil causes forked, stunted roots. Raised beds work well.

Plant outdoors
Feb 1 – Apr 1, Sep 1 – Oct 1
Start indoors
Direct sow
Last Frost
~Feb 15
Days to harvest
70–80 days
Difficulty
Medium
Ready to harvest — Zone 8
Harvest window: Apr – Jun, Nov – Feb

Planting Calendar

In Zone 8, Carrot should be planted outdoors Feb 1 – Apr 1, Sep 1 – Oct 1, after the average last frost date of approximately Feb 15.

Spring and fall crops. Summer heat makes roots woody and bitter. Fall planting is most productive.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun · 6–8 hrs/day
Watering
Regular
Spacing
3–4 inches
Soil
Deep, loose, sandy loam — no rocks or clumps
Days to maturity
70–80 days
Soil pH
6.0–6.8
plant tip · Zone 8

Spring and fall crops. Summer heat makes roots woody and bitter. Fall planting is most productive.

Feeding Schedule

How often
once at planting
Feed type
low nitrogen (5-10-10)
Key timing
at planting only

Avoid high nitrogen — it produces forked, hairy roots. A low-nitrogen feed worked into soil before sowing is ideal.

Succession Planting

Sow every 3 weeks

Sow every 3 weeks from early spring through midsummer. Carrots also store in the ground in mild zones, so successive sowings give you a very long harvest window.

Companion Planting for Carrot

What you plant next to carrot makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Lettuce
  • Onions
  • Rosemary
  • Tomatoes
Keep away from
  • Dill
  • Parsnips

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Common questions

In Zone 8, carrot has two planting windows: Feb 1 – Apr 1, Sep 1 – Oct 1. The spring window opens after your last frost around Feb 15. The fall window lets you grow a second crop before first frost around Dec 1. Spring and fall crops. Summer heat makes roots woody and bitter. Fall planting is most productive.
Zone 8 has an average last spring frost of approximately Feb 15 and a first fall frost around Dec 1. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for carrot include Lettuce, Onions, Rosemary, Tomatoes. Avoid planting near Dill, Parsnips, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Carrot typically takes 70–80 days from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 8. Expected harvest window: Apr – Jun, Nov – Feb.

Recipes using this crop

Great ways to use your harvest — see all recipes

Sides & Snacks

Honey Roasted Carrots with Thyme

45 min · easy

Mains

Carrot & Ginger Soup

45 min · easy

Free app · iOS February 2028

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Carrot in other zones
Crop Guides