How to Grow Carrot in New Zealand

Sow direct into loose, stone-free soil; carrots resent transplanting. Keep the surface moist until germination, which can take up to three weeks. In Auckland and the warm north you can sow almost year-round, easing off only in the coldest weeks.

When to plant carrot in New Zealand

Timing is everything in New Zealand, where the warm north and the cooler south are weeks apart. Sow or plant in these months for your region:

Best carrot varieties for NZ

• All Seasons — The Yates staple. Long tapered orange, good on deep sandy soil. Easiest general-purpose carrot in SEQ. (Yates NZ, Mitre 10, Mr Fothergill's NZ)
• Chantenay Red Cored — Short stubby heirloom with a deep red core. Excellent for SEQ heavy clay where long carrots fork. (Egmont Seeds, Kings Seeds, Mr Fothergill's NZ)
• Baby Amsterdam — Small fingerling carrot. Fast, sweet, perfect for shallow raised beds and containers. (Yates NZ, Mr Fothergill's NZ, Mitre 10)
• Paris Market — Round golf-ball shaped heirloom. Thrives in shallow or rocky soil where nothing else works. (Kings Seeds, Egmont Seeds)
• Purple Dragon — Deep purple skin, orange core. Striking in salads, same growing habit as All Seasons. (Kings Seeds, Egmont Seeds)

How to grow carrot

• Space plants about 5cm apart.
• Sow seed around 0.5cm deep.
• Position: full sun.
• Ready to harvest in roughly 85 days.
• Seeds germinate in about 18 days.

Companion planting

Grow carrot near: Lettuce, Onion, Leek, Rosemary, Sage, Chives, Tomato.

Pests and problems

Watch for: Carrot rust fly, Aphids. See our NZ pest and disease guide for organic control.