QUESTION: Do deer eat carrots? Would planting carrots at the edge of my yard help keep deer away from my vegetable garden?
ANSWER: The answer to your question is yes, deer both enjoy eating carrots and will even harvest them by pulling the edible parts out of the ground. Some people who manage deer populations grow the crops specifically to lure the deer away from areas where they do not want the deer to feed.
How late can you plant carrots for deer?
Having a well-maintained food crop is one way to attract deer to an area. Knowing this, you can plant carrots in your region in mid or late summer. Carrots reach 60-90% of their growth in 60-90 days, with their best flavor coming at maturity which in late winter or early spring; carrots are ready around late winter to early spring.
In spring and summer, deer are generally resistant to eating carrots. During the period of first frost in autumn until May, the roots of carrots become sweet and unappealing to local deer. Both the tops and the roots will be consumed by deer during the winter season.
In northern regions where winter comes sooner, it is best to plant carrots during late summer months, specifically July or August. However, for those in southern regions, temperatures cool much later, making early autumn (August to September) the best period for planting carrots in these zones.
While these are the suggested plant dates, they are not rigid. If these dates have passed and you still have carrot seeds to sow, there is no need to worry. Depending on the region, the best time to plant carrots differs greatly due to the local climate.
If you do not want to grow carrots as a lure crop, consider these deer-proof plants.