Carrot Seeds

Carrot seeds FAQs

Browse our advice on buying, planting and growing your carrot seeds. Our expert team is available six days a week to offer you any further advice or help with queries. You can also take a look at our FAQs for more help.

When should I plant carrot seeds?

Carrot seeds are best sown directly into your garden, as they do not transplant well from pots. In the UK, you can plant your carrot seeds from March to
early July. If you plant in the earlier months, make sure to do so under cloches or cold frames to protect the seedlings from late frosts until temperatures
start to rise. For a continuous harvest, sow your carrot seeds every two to three weeks, ensuring a supply of fresh carrots from late spring through to autumn.

How do I grow carrots from seed?

1. Sow your carrot seeds thinly in rows about 1cm deep, spacing the rows 15-30cm apart. Then cover your seeds with a thin layer of soil and gently water – use a watering can with a rose – to avoid disturbing them.
2. Carrot seeds in the UK can take a while to germinate. You can expect to wait around 10-20 days, so keep the soil moist during this period.

Harvest carrots when they have reached their full size, and the roots are firm and brightly coloured. The time to harvest carrots depends on the variety and growing conditions, but most carrots are ready to harvest 10 to 16 weeks after sowing. Early varieties can be harvested from late spring to early summer, while main-crop varieties are typically ready from mid-summer to autumn.

Why grow carrots from seed?

Growing carrots from seed allows you to enjoy a wider variety of flavours, colours and sizes than you will find at your supermarket. Whether you’re looking for sweet, crisp baby carrots or large, hearty roots for
winter storage, starting from seed gives you control over the growing process. Carrots are a low-cost crop to grow from seed, and direct sowing means you can plant them exactly where you want them to grow, without the need for transplanting. Growing from seed also ensures your carrots are fresh,
chemical-free and harvested at the peak of flavour and nutrition.

Where can I grow carrots?

Carrots are easy to grow in various locations, including traditional garden beds, raised beds and deep containers. They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Carrots can also be grown in smaller garden spaces or on balconies, as long as the containers are deep enough to accommodate the roots. You can take a closer look at what carrot seeds best suit your garden space at the top of the page using

What can I grow carrots next to?

Carrots grow well alongside companion plants such as onions, leeks and radishes, which can help deter pests like carrot flies.

Why buy carrot seeds from Marshalls Garden?

• You are supported by a team of experts dedicated to providing valuable advice. You can also use our growing guides, backed by our 75 years of experience, to get the best results from your carrot seeds.
• Contact us six days a week – including bank holidays – to discuss our products and services or to chat about all things gardening.
• Your carrot seeds will be dispatched to you in 24 hours with express delivery. We're green-fingered in more ways than one, thanks to our fully recyclable packaging.
• We won the Silver Award for Best Online Retailer
  at the 2022 Great British Growing Awards.
• We're rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot with thousands of 5-star reviews from our fellow gardeners.