When to plant carrots in Colorado
Colorado’s average last spring frost is May 5, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 1 — about 149 frost-free days (USDA zones 3b, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7a). Carrot needs 60–80 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Colorado's growing season.
Colorado covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant carrots in Colorado: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Apr 9 – Apr 28. Seeds germinate in soil from 40 to 85°F.
Succession sow again in Colorado: May 2 · May 20 · Jun 7
Spring succession stops before summer heat makes it bolt. Start sowing again in late summer for a fall crop (see the fall window above).
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow carrots in Colorado, step by step
- Prepare the bed. They need six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough and loose soil at least 12 inches deep, with a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. Dig in compost before planting.
- Sow outdoors (Apr 9 – Apr 28). Space plants about 3 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart, sowing seed ¼ inch deep. It handles frost well, so it can go out before the last frost date. As a cool-season crop it does best before summer heat arrives in Colorado.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: carrot rust fly, wireworm, root-knot nematode, aphids. Diseases and disorders: alternaria leaf blight, cavity spot, aster yellows.
- Harvest (from about Jun 13 – Jul 3). Carrot takes 60-80 days to reach harvest. Never transplant. Keep the surface constantly moist for the slow 2-3 week germination - a board or burlap over the row helps. Needs loose, stone-free soil or roots fork.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Colorado’s average frost dates. More in the full carrot growing guide.
Carrot planting dates by USDA zone in Colorado
Colorado spans USDA zones 3b, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the carrot dates shift with them.
When to plant carrots in nearby states
Questions gardeners in Colorado ask
When is the best time to plant carrots in Colorado?
Sow carrots in Colorado between April 9 and April 28. That timing is set by Colorado's average last spring frost of May 5; Colorado spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
Can I plant carrots in the fall in Colorado?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between July 6 and July 23, so the crop matures in cool weather before Colorado's first frost around October 1.
When will carrots planted in Colorado be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, carrots are usually ready from about June 13 to July 3, 60-80 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Colorado?
On average around May 5, with the first fall frost around October 1 - about 149 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.