Carrot
Daucus carota
Root vegetable preferring loose, stone-free soil for straight root development. Slow to germinate but well worth the wait.
Overview
Companion Planting
Tomato
Lettuce
Onion
Radish
Chives
Rosemary
Sage
Leek
Bell Pepper
Chili Pepper
Swiss Chard
Arugula
Garlic
Pea
Parsley
Dill
ParsnipToxicity
Cultivated carrot roots are non-toxic and safe for humans, dogs, and cats. Note: the foliage of wild carrot (Daucus carota) contains furanocoumarins that may cause skin irritation or photosensitivity on contact.
Planting Tips
1 cm of water per m² equals 10 liters. Use the Watering Calculator for exact amounts.
Care Tip: Thin seedlings to 3-5 cm apart once they reach 5 cm tall; mulch to retain moisture and keep shoulders covered to prevent green tops.
Common Pests
Carrot Rust Fly (Psila rosae)
Symptoms: Larvae tunnel into roots leaving rusty-brown grooves; foliage wilts and discolors, especially in dry weather.
Treatment: Cover beds with floating row covers to exclude egg-laying adults; harvest early to limit larval damage and apply beneficial nematodes (Steinernema spp.) to soil.
Prevention: Rotate crops yearly, remove volunteer umbellifers, and interplant with onions or garlic whose scent deters the flies.
Aphids (Cavariella aegopodii and others)
Symptoms: Colonies cluster on foliage causing leaf curl, yellowing, and sticky honeydew that attracts sooty mold.
Treatment: Dislodge with a strong water spray; apply insecticidal soap for heavy infestations.
Prevention: Encourage natural predators such as ladybugs and lacewings; avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization that promotes lush, aphid-attracting growth.
Root-Knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.)
Symptoms: Stunted, forked, or galled roots with knobby swellings; above-ground plants appear wilted and yellowed.
Treatment: Remove and destroy affected plants; solarize soil with clear plastic in summer to reduce nematode populations.
Prevention: Practice 2-3 year crop rotation with non-host crops (e.g., grains); incorporate organic matter to boost beneficial soil organisms.
Common Diseases
Alternaria Leaf Blight (Alternaria dauci)
Symptoms: Dark brown to black irregularly shaped spots with yellow halos on older leaves, progressing upward and causing defoliation.
Treatment: Apply fungicides (e.g., azoxystrobin or chlorothalonil) on a 7-10 day schedule at first sign of infection; remove and destroy affected foliage.
Prevention: Use disease-free or hot-water-treated seed; rotate away from carrots for at least one year and promote air circulation by proper spacing.
Cercospora Leaf Blight (Cercospora carotae)
Symptoms: Small circular tan-to-brown lesions with chlorotic halos on younger leaves; leaflets yellow and curl at the margins as disease advances.
Treatment: Begin a preventative fungicide program (pyraclostrobin or tebuconazole) at 7-10 day intervals; shorten to 5-7 days in wet weather.
Prevention: Remove and destroy (do not compost) infected debris; practice 2-3 year rotations and choose tolerant varieties such as 'Bolero'.
Cavity Spot (Pythium violae / P. sulcatum)
Symptoms: Elliptical, sunken, dark lesions on the root surface that enlarge over time, making carrots unmarketable.
Treatment: No reliable chemical cure once established; improve soil drainage and apply lime to raise pH, which inhibits the pathogen.
Prevention: Ensure well-drained soil, avoid waterlogging, and rotate crops; avoid fields with a history of cavity spot for at least two years.