When to plant Carrots in Edinburgh

Daucus carota subsp. sativus

Carrot
Carrot · Daucus carota subsp. sativus

Carrots do best in a deep, light, stone-free soil with plenty of sun. Sow direct in short batches from late winter into early summer, thin carefully, and keep roots covered to help reduce carrot fly damage.

30 cm · Full Sun · Moderate Water

Add to garden

Calibrated to Edinburgh · last frost ≈ 4 May

Sow outdoors April to May, harvest August to October. Frost risk October to May.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Sow outdoorsNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYesYesNoNo

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

Growing guide for

Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.

Grow outdoors in a fine, stone-free bed for the main harvest. This suits the usual UK garden sowing pattern and gives the longest picking season.

  1. 01

    Prepare the Bed

    9 Mar to 20 Apr

    Choose a deep, well-dug patch and break the soil down to a fine tilth before 9th March - 20th April. Rake out stones and do not add fresh manure, as that can split and fork the roots.

  2. 02

    Sow Seeds Directly

    20 Apr to 18 May Optional · repeat every 3 weeks

    Sow thinly in shallow drills around 20 Apr - 18 May, then cover with of fine soil and water in well. Sow a fresh row every 21 days for a steady supply rather than one large crop.

  3. 03

    Install Pest Protection

    20 Apr to 18 May

    Cover the row with fine insect-proof mesh straight after sowing, from 20th April. Keep the edges sealed, since carrot fly can find gaps very easily.

  4. 04

    Thin Seedlings

    18 May to 29 Jun Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    When the seedlings are up, from 18th May, thin them carefully to apart so the roots can swell properly. Do it on a still day and water the row afterwards to settle the soil.

  5. 05

    Lift Roots

    3 Aug to 16 Oct Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    Start lifting roots from 3rd August once they are large enough to eat. Pull them as needed through 3rd August - 16th October, and maincrop roots can often stay in the ground longer if the soil is free draining.

Suggested varieties

Popular varieties of Carrot to consider

Amsterdam Forcing 3

A slim early carrot for quick sowings and smaller roots. Good for a light soil and picking young.

Nantes 2

A dependable maincrop type with blunt, sweet roots and good texture. Common in UK gardens and suits most free-draining soils.

Flyaway

Bred to help reduce carrot fly damage in the garden. Useful where pest pressure is a regular problem.

Autumn King 2

A classic long-storing maincrop carrot with good flavour and size. Best when given a deep, stone-free bed.

Carrot guides by town

See how Carrot timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.