Growing Guide: Carrots — Bay Area (USDA Zones 9–10)

Carrots want cool soil, consistent surface moisture, and loose, stone-free beds. In USDA 9–10 you’ll get best roots from fall and late-winter sowings; spring heat ends the run fast.

When to plant (USDA 9–10)

• Fall: sow when nights are <60–62°F and days <75–80°F (often Sept–Nov).

• Late winter: sow as soon as soil is workable (roughly Jan–Feb).

• Succession: re-sow small bands every 2–3 weeks within your window.

• Planting Calendar page

Site & soil

• Raised beds or loosened rows 8–10”+ deep; screen out stones.

• Work in 1–2” compost; avoid heavy fresh nitrogen (forking risk).

• Target pH ~6.0–7.0.

Sowing & spacing

• Drill shallow furrows; sow ¼–½” deep.

• For full-size: thin to 2” between plants; bands/rows ~6–8” apart.

• Keep the top ½–1” uniformly moist until emergence (10–21 days). Use burlap/boards for shade and moisture, then remove at first sprout.

Germination moisture & early care

• Mist or brief drip pulses 2–3× daily in warm spells; reduce once cotyledons stand.

• After first true leaves, thin carefully; mulch lightly to prevent crusting.

Water, feeding & harvest

• Even moisture = straight roots; avoid wet-dry swings.

• Carrots rarely need extra fertilizer beyond compost.

• Harvest when shoulders color and roots size; chill briefly for sweetness.

Pest Management

• Forked roots: compaction/rocks—loosen deeper; screen soil.

• Aphids: rinse off; manage ants; encourage beneficials.

• Snails/slugs at seedlings: hand-pick dusk; consider iron-phosphate baits.

“GrowBot did some digging… Moisture at the surface is the whole game—pulse irrigation or a burlap cover speeds germination and reduces reseeding.”