California · zones 7a–10b
When to plant carrots in California.
Sow between Dec 7 to Jan 9 in a typical year, keyed to California's median last frost around Jan 14. A second, fall sowing fits Sep 18 to Oct 14. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Carrots dates for a typical California season.
Direct sow
Dec 7 to Jan 9
Keyed to the ~Jan 14 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 2" apart.
Fall round
Sep 18 to Oct 14
Counted back from the ~Dec 14 first frost.
Harvest
~68 days later
~0.2 lb per plant over ~2 weeks.
California spans more than one climate: Zone 10 is the most common zone, but the state runs 7a to 10b. 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 California: watch for
The pests that find carrots here.
With about 334 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: California gives carrots about 334 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 68 days to a first harvest. That fits about 13 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting carrots in California: questions
When should I plant carrots in California?+
In a typical California year, sow carrots between Dec 7 to Jan 9, keyed to the state's median last frost around Jan 14. There's also a fall window: Sep 18 to Oct 14. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is California?+
California spans zones 7a–10b, mostly zone 10. 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.