New Jersey · zones 6b–7b
When to plant carrots in New Jersey.
Sow between Mar 8 to Apr 10 in a typical year, keyed to New Jersey's median last frost around Apr 15. A second, fall sowing fits Aug 2 to Aug 28. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Carrots dates for a typical New Jersey season.
Direct sow
Mar 8 to Apr 10
Keyed to the ~Apr 15 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 2" apart.
Fall round
Aug 2 to Aug 28
Counted back from the ~Oct 28 first frost.
Harvest
~68 days later
~0.2 lb per plant over ~2 weeks.
New Jersey spans more than one climate: Zone 7 is the most common zone, but the state runs 6b to 7b. 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 Jersey: watch for
The pests that find carrots here.
A middle-length season, about 196 frost-free days, means carrot overlaps carrot rust fly for a stretch each summer. Check plants every week or two and treat early.
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 Jersey gives carrots about 196 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 68 days to a first harvest. That fits about 7 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting carrots in New Jersey: questions
When should I plant carrots in New Jersey?+
In a typical New Jersey year, sow carrots between Mar 8 to Apr 10, keyed to the state's median last frost around Apr 15. There's also a fall window: Aug 2 to Aug 28. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is New Jersey?+
New Jersey spans zones 6b–7b, mostly zone 7. 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.