Roots & bulbs
Carrot
Roots grown where you sow them.
Sowing & planting windows in Australia
Planting timing varies by broad Australian gardening zone. Local weather, unusual seasons and your garden’s microclimate can shift timing.
Cool
Sow · Aug-Mar
Core months: January, February, March, August, September, October, November, December
Temperate
Sow · Sep-May
Core months: January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December
Subtropical
Sow · Feb-Nov
Core months: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
Tropical
Sow · Mar-Jul
Core months: March, April, May, June, July
Arid
Sow · All year
Core months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
Getting started
Sow seed directly into a finely prepared bed. Thin crowded seedlings carefully; giving each root space helps it develop evenly.
The right conditions
Choose loose, deep, well-drained soil without large stones or clods. Avoid adding fresh, coarse manure immediately before sowing, which can encourage forked roots.
As it grows
Keep the surface moist while seeds germinate. Weed gently so young plants are not overwhelmed, and water in dry conditions to maintain steady growth.
Ready to harvest
Lift a sample root to judge its size, then harvest as needed. Loosen firm soil before lifting to reduce breakage. The right size depends on the variety and whether you want baby or larger carrots.
Related how-to guides
Lift root crops without snapping them
Check a sample root and the variety’s harvest guidance.
Plant guidance: Desk-reviewed against linked sources; not field-tested. Planting windows are a guide rather than a rule.