Arizona · zones 5b–10a
When to plant carrots in Arizona.
Sow between Dec 29 to Jan 31 in a typical year, keyed to Arizona's median last frost around Feb 5. A second, fall sowing fits Aug 20 to Sep 15. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Carrots dates for a typical Arizona season.
Direct sow
Dec 29 to Jan 31
Keyed to the ~Feb 5 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 2" apart.
Fall round
Aug 20 to Sep 15
Counted back from the ~Nov 15 first frost.
Harvest
~68 days later
~0.2 lb per plant over ~2 weeks.
Arizona spans more than one climate: Zone 9 is the most common zone, but the state runs 5b to 10a. That's why the planner works from your ZIP code's frost dates, not your zone: mountain and coastal gardens in the same state can be three weeks apart.
In Arizona: watch for
The pests that find carrots here.
With about 283 frost-free days, carrot spends longer in the ground here than in most of the country, which widens the window in which carrot rust fly can find it. Scout weekly from midseason and act on the first signs.
Rusty tunnels in the roots and stunted tops.
Organic fix: Cover the row; rotate away from last year's carrots.
Big green-and-black striped caterpillars on the foliage.
Organic fix: Handpick (or leave for swallowtails); Bt if heavy.
Brown spots ringed in yellow on the oldest leaves first, darkening until the tops look scorched.
Organic fix: Water at the base rather than overhead, turn under old carrot tops, and leave 2 years between carrot crops.
Your season math: Arizona gives carrots about 283 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 68 days to a first harvest. That fits about 11 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting carrots in Arizona: questions
When should I plant carrots in Arizona?+
In a typical Arizona year, sow carrots between Dec 29 to Jan 31, keyed to the state's median last frost around Feb 5. There's also a fall window: Aug 20 to Sep 15. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is Arizona?+
Arizona spans zones 5b–10a, mostly zone 9. But frost dates, not zones, set planting time. The free planner uses your ZIP code's actual frost dates.
How many carrots plants do I need?+
Depends who you're feeding. The crop page has exact counts per household size, or the free planner does the math for your family in about 60 seconds.