New Hampshire · zones 4b–6a
When to plant carrots in New Hampshire.
Sow between Apr 7 to May 10 in a typical year, keyed to New Hampshire's median last frost around May 15. A second, fall sowing fits Jul 3 to Jul 29. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Carrots dates for a typical New Hampshire season.
Direct sow
Apr 7 to May 10
Keyed to the ~May 15 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 2" apart.
Fall round
Jul 3 to Jul 29
Counted back from the ~Sep 28 first frost.
Harvest
~68 days later
~0.2 lb per plant over ~2 weeks.
New Hampshire spans more than one climate: Zone 5 is the most common zone, but the state runs 4b to 6a. 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 New Hampshire: watch for
The pests that find carrots here.
The short season here, about 136 frost-free days, keeps carrot in front of carrot rust fly only briefly. One early row cover usually carries a planting through the worst of it.
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: New Hampshire gives carrots about 136 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 68 days to a first harvest. That fits about 4 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting carrots in New Hampshire: questions
When should I plant carrots in New Hampshire?+
In a typical New Hampshire year, sow carrots between Apr 7 to May 10, keyed to the state's median last frost around May 15. There's also a fall window: Jul 3 to Jul 29. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is New Hampshire?+
New Hampshire spans zones 4b–6a, mostly zone 5. 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.