How to grow carrots in a raised bed

Carrots are the crop a raised bed was made for — deep, loose, stone-free mix lets the roots grow long and straight, the way they struggle to in heavy garden soil.

Quick facts

• Position: full sun, 6+ hours
• Spacing: 3–5 cm apart
• Tub depth: our 41 cm depth — the deeper the better for long roots
• Time to harvest: 12–16 weeks

When to plant: Carrots grow nearly year-round in mild areas. Always sow directly where they're to grow — they hate being transplanted. Our free planting calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

Growing them in a raised bed: Sow seed thinly into fine, loose mix and keep it damp until they germinate (this can take a couple of weeks — don't give up). Thin the seedlings so the roots have room to swell.

Watering and feeding: Keep moisture even — a dry spell followed by a soaking splits the roots. Go easy on fresh manure, which makes roots fork; a raised bed's fine mix avoids that.

Common pests: keep an eye out for aphids, cutworms and slugs and snails. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide.

Common diseases: the main ones are leaf spot and damping-off. Good airflow, morning watering and steady moisture prevent most.

Companion plants: Onions, leeks and spring onions help mask the scent that draws carrot pests; lettuce is a good neighbour too. See our companion planting guide.

Harvest and storage: Pull as you need them once they colour up — they hold happily in the bed. A gentle twist and lift works best in loose mix.

Plan your patch: our free planting calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Adimora chidinma, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.