Carrot growing in soil, ready to be harvested

Carrot Growth Stages

Carrots are typically grown in home gardens are an annual plant, but they are technically biennials, needing two years to complete their life cycle. The first year they produce green leafy tops and the brightly colored fleshy roots we harvest. If plants are left in the ground over the winter they produce seeds the second growing season, and then perish.

bountiful carrot harvests depending on good growing techniques

How to Grow Carrots from Seed to Harvest

Carrots are a beloved garden plant because of their small footprint and easy growing nature. They tuck well in between other crops as long as they can get full sun, and have well-drained, loose soil. Avoid over-fertilizing them to encourage root growth over vegetative growth.

Carrots that have been harvested

Carrot Sprouts and How to Identify Them

Identifying carrot sprouts, and telling them apart from weeds, is difficult. Carrot seeds take 14 to 21 days to germinate, with immature leaves pushing through the soil surface shortly thereafter. These baby plants look like fine, green blades of grass growing out of one spot in the soil.