When to plant Carrots in London

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 London · last frost ≈ 4 Apr

Sow outdoors January to May, harvest March to December. Frost risk November to April.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Sow outdoorsYesYesYesYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
HarvestNoNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

Growing guide for

Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.

Use this for the earliest outdoor sowings under fleece or a cloche. It helps you get a jump on the season in a cool UK spring.

  1. 01

    Prepare the Bed

    4 Jan to 28 Mar

    Work the soil to a fine tilth before 4th January - 28th March and remove as many stones as possible. Avoid manured ground, because carrots fork easily in rich, freshly fed soil.

  2. 02

    Sow Seeds Directly

    4 Jan to 2 May Optional · repeat every 2 weeks

    Sow seeds thinly in shallow drills around 4 Jan - 2 May, then cover with of fine soil and water in carefully. Early sowings often do best under fleece or a cloche to warm the ground a little.

  3. 03

    Install Pest Protection

    4 Jan to 2 May

    Fit insect-proof mesh over the row straight after sowing, from 4th January. Keep it in place through the growing period so carrot fly cannot reach the crop.

  4. 04

    Thin Seedlings

    25 Jan to 30 May Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    Thin the seedlings carefully from 25th January to apart once they are large enough to handle. Water lightly after thinning to settle the soil and reduce the smell that can attract pests.

  5. 05

    Lift Roots

    15 Mar to 10 Dec Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    Begin lifting usable roots from 15th March and keep picking through 15th March - 10th December. Early sowings can size up faster than expected, so check them regularly rather than leaving them too long.

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.