When to plant Carrots in Liverpool

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 Liverpool · last frost ≈ 16 Apr

Sow outdoors April, harvest July to November. Frost risk November to April.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Sow outdoorsNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYesYesYesYesNo

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

    19 Feb to 2 Apr

    Choose a deep, well-dug patch and break the soil down to a fine tilth before 19th February - 2nd April. Rake out stones and do not add fresh manure, as that can split and fork the roots.

  2. 02

    Sow Seeds Directly

    2 Apr to 30 Apr Optional · repeat every 3 weeks

    Sow thinly in shallow drills around 2 Apr - 30 Apr, 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

    2 Apr to 30 Apr

    Cover the row with fine insect-proof mesh straight after sowing, from 2nd April. Keep the edges sealed, since carrot fly can find gaps very easily.

  4. 04

    Thin Seedlings

    30 Apr to 11 Jun Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    When the seedlings are up, from 30th April, 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

    16 Jul to 12 Nov Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    Start lifting roots from 16th July once they are large enough to eat. Pull them as needed through 16th July - 12th November, 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.