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When to Plant Carrots in Iowa

Iowa spans USDA hardiness 4b to 6a (zones 4b to 6a on this page). Plant carrots by your local frost date, not the calendar — pick your zone below for exact start-indoors, transplant, and harvest dates.

Jump to: Zone 4b · Zone 5a · Zone 5b · Zone 6a

Carrots planting calendar for Iowa, Zone 4b

Average last spring frost

May 10

Average first fall frost

September 25

spring planting

🌿

Direct sow

Apr 26

🌾

Projected first harvest

Jul 5

fall planting

🌿

Direct sow

Jul 24

🌾

Projected first harvest

Oct 2

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

spring planting

fall planting

🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 4b (approximate)

Most carrots mature in about 54 to 75 days depending on the variety. Full zone 4 guide (both 4a and 4b) →

Carrots planting calendar for Iowa, Zone 5a

Average last spring frost

May 5

Average first fall frost

October 1

spring planting

🌿

Direct sow

Apr 21

🌾

Projected first harvest

Jun 30

fall planting

🌿

Direct sow

Jul 30

🌾

Projected first harvest

Oct 8

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

spring planting

fall planting

🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 5a (approximate)

Most carrots mature in about 54 to 75 days depending on the variety. Full zone 5 guide (both 5a and 5b) →

Carrots planting calendar for Iowa, Zone 5b

Average last spring frost

April 30

Average first fall frost

October 5

spring planting

🌿

Direct sow

Apr 16

🌾

Projected first harvest

Jun 25

fall planting

🌿

Direct sow

Aug 3

🌾

Projected first harvest

Oct 12

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

spring planting

fall planting

🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 5b (approximate)

Most carrots mature in about 54 to 75 days depending on the variety. Full zone 5 guide (both 5a and 5b) →

Carrots planting calendar for Iowa, Zone 6a

Average last spring frost

April 25

Average first fall frost

October 10

spring planting

🌿

Direct sow

Apr 11

🌾

Projected first harvest

Jun 20

fall planting

🌿

Direct sow

Aug 8

🌾

Projected first harvest

Oct 17

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

spring planting

fall planting

🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 6a (approximate)

Most carrots mature in about 54 to 75 days depending on the variety. Full zone 6 guide (both 6a and 6b) →

Not sure which half-zone you're in? Set your ZIP in HomeSown for dates tuned to your exact location.

Varieties to grow

12 varieties of carrots in the HomeSown library. Tap any for its full grow guide.

Atomic Red Carrot →Bolero Carrot →Chantenay Carrot →Cosmic Purple Carrot →Danvers Carrot →Dragon Carrot →Imperator Carrot →Mokum Carrot →Nantes Carrot →Paris Market Carrot →Rainbow Carrot Mix →White Satin Carrot →

Common problems with carrots

What to watch for, with identification and treatment for each

Carrot WeevilCarrot Rust FlyParsleywormWirewormsGroundhogsAntsCavity SpotCommon ScabForkingWoody RootsHollow HeartCracking & Splitting

🌱 Grow carrots with a calendar built for your exact yard

HomeSown turns your ZIP code into a personalized planting calendar, watering reminders, and pest help. Free to start.

Start your free garden →

carrots — full zone guide

All zonesZone 4 →Zone 5 →Zone 6 →