Carrot Varieties
There are tons of carrot varieties! How do you choose what kind of carrot to grow? Is the best way to get all Zen, and let it choose you? Well, actually…
Choosing the right type of carrot to grow will mainly depend on your garden soil. So, in a way, it does choose you. Of course, check with your local extension agency to see which varieties do best in your area. If you’re really stuck on a variety of carrot, amend your soil to meet its preferred growing conditions (see below).
Carrots, being root crops, need loose, rock-free soil to grow. This is where the longer growing carrots do best, in soil with no obstacles. If you have a heavy soil, or rocky conditions, try a shorter or dwarf carrot.
Here’s a list of varieties of garden carrots!
Heavy Soil Carrots:
Amsterdam Forcing 2, Amice
Autumn King 2
Chantenay Red Cored 2
Pioneer
Nantes Half-long
Little Finger
Danvers Half-long
Spartan Bonus
Five-Star Baby
Parmex
Mini Round
Thumbelina
Container Garden Carrots:
Amsterdam Forcing 2, Amice
Amsterdam Forcing 3 , Sprint
Chantenay Red Cored 2
Danvers Half-long
Spartan Bonus
Nantes Half-long
Little Finger
Mini Round
Pioneer
Fall and Winter Carrots:
Artemis
Autumn King 2
Barwon
Carotene 200
Disease and Pest Resistant Carrots:
Flyaway- Carrot fly.
Barwon- Alternaria and leaf blights.
Bolero- Alternaria blight, powdery mildew, and cavity spot.
Magno- Cracking and cavity spot.
Topweight- Most carrot pests and diseases.
Sweet Flavored Carrots:
Adonis
Artist
Soprano
Royal Chantenay
Kingston
Rare Carrots:
Parmex- Small, round carrots.
Belgian White- White skin carrots.
Early Horn- Reddish skin.
French Round- Round carrot.
King West- Red roots.
Pakistani- Purple to red, and rare carrot.
Sinclair’s- Yellow carrot.
Cosmic Purple- Deep reddish purple skin with reddish orange flesh.
Thumberline- Round carrot.
Dragon- Purple skin with orange flesh.
Rainbow- Various pastel colors.
Click here for complete carrot variety list for the US.
Preferred Growing Conditions
With root crops, your soil is crucial to being a successful carrot grower. Soil temperature should average around 65 degrees Fahrenheit for flavorful, quality carrots.
Also, soil needs to be loose, and well-drained with no rocks. Organic matter in the soil, yes. But, you don’t want any obstacles, like rocks or compacted soil, which block carrot growth. And, the soil pH should be around 6.5.
Check out the soil amendment greensand. Carrots like the trace elements and minerals in this soil amendment!
How to Plant Carrots
Grow from seeds. Transplants are not very successful, because the main root tends to fork. Grow seeds in about 12 inch rows, and space seeds about ½ inch apart in 3/8 inches of soil. Once seedlings emerge, you can thin to about three inches apart.
Companion Plants for Carrots
Growing these companion plants around carrots will be helpful: alliums, rosemary, wormwood, sage, beans, and flax.
Some plants actually are bad to the health of carrots. Avoid these plants around carrots: dill, parsnip, and radish.
Maintaining Your Carrots
Carrots really need water consistently. Mulch will help maintain soil moisture, and keep the top of the carrot covered reducing pest exposure. You can put a light layer of mulch down after planting the seeds. After, seedlings establish, mulch again. A good layer of mulch for carrots should be about 3-4 inches deep. Straw or shredded bark works well for organic mulch. Check out growing carrots in the home garden.
When to Use Organic Fertilizer
Starting out, you can give your carrots organic fertilizer with a decent amount of nitrogen. But as they grow and get established, don’t use high nitrogen fertilizers. Too much nitrogen for carrots causes hairy roots, and the carrot to branch forming multiple roots.
Harvesting Carrots
You can pick the carrots when they are fully colored. But, don’t wait too long. You’ll want them tender. They mature in about 50-75 days.
Store carrots by cleaning the roots, pack them in moist sand, and store around 40 degrees. They can last for months. And of course, if you have the time, can the carrots. Also, try juicing the carrots—see the wonders of carrot juice.
Carrot Pests and Diseases
The biggest carrot pest concern will be the carrot rust fly. The larvae attack the roots in the soil. They can even eat tunnels in the carrots. The best organic pest prevention method is to rotate crops. This way, when the carrot rust fly larvae hatch, they won’t have a food source. Also, use companion planting. Aromatic herbs like rosemary to deter the carrot rust fly.
Other concerns are flea beetles, vegetable weevil, armyworms, parsleyworm, yellow woollybear, vegetable leafminers, tarnished plant bug, wireworms, thrips, and aster and six-spotted leafhoppers. For more information on these pests, check out information on insect management for carrots from Florida A & M University Cooperative Extension Program.
