best carrot varieties

Best Carrot Varieties to Grow at Home

Parisian Heirloom.
Purple Dragon.
Red.
Short 'n Sweet.
Solar Yellow.
Tendersweet.
Thumbelina.
Touchon.

Which carrot is the sweetest?

Kuroda Carrots. An Asian cultivar, Kuroda carrots are characterized by large, stubby, red-orange taproots and are one of the sweetest carrots available on the market. Although the carrots grow quite large, they retain a high level of moisture and tenderness. Its candy-sweetness makes it great for juicing or using raw.

What is the best month to plant carrots?

Carrots grow best in cool temperatures of early spring and late fall. Night temperatures of 55 degrees F and day temperatures of 75 degrees F are ideal for carrots. High temperatures cause poorly colored, low-quality carrots.

What is the most common carrot?

The most common carrot types include Amsterdam or Baby, Chantenay, Danvers or Danvers Half Long, Imperator, Nantes or Nantes Half Long, and Paris Market or Round. While now cultivated primarily for its root, the carrot was originally grown, since at least 3,000 B.C., for its leaves and seeds.

What are Nante carrots?

Nantes carrots are small to medium in size, averaging 15-20 centimeters in length and 2-5 centimeters in diameter, and are cylindrical in shape with blunt, rounded ends on both the stem and non-stem end. ... Nantes carrots are crunchy and tender with a mild, sweet taste.

What is the easiest carrot to grow?

Find a carrot variety that's right for your garden. Blunt-tipped Nantes types are the easiest for most backyard gardeners to grow. Imperators are the long, straight, tapered types usually sold in stores.

Why are my carrots so hairy?

The little white “hairs” are small roots growing that are looking for moisture. The cracks can be caused by too little moisture or by the carrot trying to grow around something in the soil (pebbles, rocks, etc.).

What fertilizer is best for carrots?

Fertilizing Carrots

Carrots should be fertilized when the tops have reached 3 inches tall. A granular type fertilizer will work well, if used in moderation. Choose a fertilizer that has little nitrogen and more potassium and phosphate - 0-10-10 or 5-15-15 will work well.

Do carrots need full sun?

Carrots need a location that receives full sunlight, though they can tolerate partial shade, too. As discussed above, soil must be loose, sandy or loamy, and airy so that carrot roots can easily push down through the soil.

How early can I plant carrots?

Learn When to Plant Carrots

In the spring, sow carrot seeds in fertile, well-worked soil about two weeks before your last frost date. In cool climates, continue planting every three weeks until midsummer. In summer, begin sowing seeds for fall and winter carrots 10 to 12 weeks before your average first fall frost.

What are fancy carrots called?

Preferred varieties include: 'Red-Cored Chantenay', 'Hercules' or 'Carson Hybrid. ' Ball or Mini – This grouping includes carrot varieties that are shaped like radishes or miniature compared to Chantenay.

Where is the best place to plant carrots?

Carrots need an open, sunny site and fertile, well-drained soil. If your soil is stony, shallow or heavy clay, you may end up with stunted or forked carrots, so try short-rooted types. These are also ideal for growing in containers.

Which carrot is good for health?

They're rich in beta-carotene, a compound your body changes into vitamin A, which helps keep your eyes healthy. And beta-carotene helps protect your eyes from the sun and lowers your chances of cataracts and other eye problems. Yellow carrots have lutein, which is also good for your eyes.

Why are Chinese carrots so big?

Carrots, which were purple in the wild, are believed to have been domesticated in 5000 BC. ... Hybridization of Wild Carrots created larger (and more palatable) taproots which evolved into Eastern Carrots, also called Asian Carrots, which are one of the two major types of modern Carrots produced today.

How deep should a container be for carrots?

Your container should be at least 12-inches deep, to accommodate the developing roots. Select one with adequate drainage, or make several holes in the bottom of the vessel of your choice.

Can you eat immature carrots?

Not only are carrot greens edible, they're delicious. ... Small, immature carrots are less flavorful than mature carrots, but slender, young carrots are best. Since, like beet greens, carrot greens pull moisture from the root, as soon as I get them in the kitchen I separate the greens from the root.

Can I grow a carrot from a carrot?

To plant a whole carrot in the ground to grow a carrot plant, just place the carrot into the soil about 1/2 inch below the surface. Plant in full sun in light, well-draining soil. ... The seeds can then be saved for next growing season and planted to possibly grow new carrot plants.

Is raw carrots bad for you?

Carrots are generally considered safe to eat but may have adverse effects in some people. Additionally, eating too much carotene can cause your skin to become a little yellow or orange, but this is harmless.

Are carrots healthier raw or cooked?

Q: Are cooked carrots more nutritious than raw? A: Yes, cooked carrots are more nutritious, but you still get plenty of nutrients from raw carrots. Cooking, especially prolonged boiling, does reduce the vitamin content of vegetables.

Is it OK to eat hairy carrots?

Hairy carrots are safe to eat as long as there are no signs of rot. Just shave off the hairy peel and prepare them for your favorite recipe.

Can I cut the tops off my carrots?

Cut the greens off the top after harvest to about ¼ - ½ inches above the shoulder. This will help the carrot to keep longer as the greens can take moisture from the root.

How do you stop forking carrots?

For Long Carrots, Offer Deep, Loose Soil

Deep, loose soil without stones, in particular, will give long, straight roots. Hard clay soil, or soil filled with stones or rocks, will give shorter carrots that are often forked or split. World-record carrots are grown in tubes of fine soil.