Atlas

Family: Apiaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Atlas to a garden.

Sweetly perfumed and sun-warmed from the first harvest, Atlas delivers a rich, carrot-sweet flavor with a tender, crisp bite.

This round carrot forms a smooth, well-rounded root with a fine-grained texture that stays satisfying—ideal for fresh pulls and for turning into vibrant, colorful dishes where its gentle sweetness shines. Grow Atlas for a tidy, uniform stand that makes every bed look as polished as a market display.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Taproot

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Atlas Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Aug 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 24th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 28th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 22nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 17th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jul 13th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jul 10th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jul 4th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Jun 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	Jun 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	May 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Taproot
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Atlas is a round-carrot type with a sweet, perfumed snap—great when you want flavor that reads bright even with minimal cooking. Its fine-grained tenderness holds up in quick heat, so it carmelizes at the edges while staying crisp in the center.

Best Uses

raw snacking sticks—cut round discs that keep a crisp crunch
quick-roast or sheet-pan caramelization, letting the sugars brown without going woody
glazed baby-style rounds with butter and a touch of honey for glossy sweetness
blended carrot purée or soup base where you want silkiness without grain

Flavor Profile

carrot-sweet with sun-warmed perfume fine-grained, tender-crisp bite gentle sweetness that stays clean rather than earthy

Kitchen Pairings

butter honey ginger lemon coriander goat cheese

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease issue is most likely on carrots (Daucus carota var. sativus), and how can I treat it?

Watch for carrot rust fly, which leaves feeding trails and can cause roots to fork or become misshapen. Cover seedbeds and young plants with fine mesh immediately after sowing, and thin early so foliage stays dry and light can move through; remove and discard any severely damaged roots. If you see foliar fungal spots (often after humid weather), improve airflow between rows and water at the soil line, not over the tops.

How often should I water carrots during the main growing phase to avoid splitting or misshapen roots?

After germination, keep the top 1–2 inches of soil consistently moist with light, frequent watering so the seeds don’t dry out and roots grow straight. Once roots are established (mid-season), water more deeply only when the top inch starts to dry—aim for steady moisture rather than letting the bed swing between dry and soggy. Inconsistent watering is a common cause of root cracking and “hairy” branching.

How do I tell when Atlas carrots (Daucus carota var. sativus) are ready to harvest?

Start checking around 70 days from sowing by gently pulling one or two and looking for the root’s typical shoulder size above the soil line. Harvest when the roots are firm and have a clear orange color with minimal branching, before they become overly large and woody. If tops look healthy but roots are still small, wait a few more days and re-check—carrots left too long can get tough.