Carrot

Daucus carota

Root crop (Scarlet Nantes — sweet, blunt-tipped). Direct-sown; the seedbed must stay evenly moist until the slow germination finishes. Thinning is essential for sizing.

Sun
full sun to part sun
Water
moderate
Mature size
tops 8–12 in × root 6–7 in long
Bloom
Biennial — flowers only in year two; harvested as an annual root.
Hardiness
USDA Zones cool–season

Care guide

Quick ID

Scarlet Nantes — sweet, cylindrical, blunt-tipped. Direct-sown into deep, loose, stone-free soil (rocks/heavy clay fork the roots).

Growing & Watering

Keep the seedbed continuously moist through the slow (2–3 week) germination — a board over the row helps. Thin seedlings to ~2 in apart or roots stay small and tangled. Low nitrogen — too much forks and hairs them.

Harvest

Pull at finger-to-full size; flavor sweetens after a light frost. Succession-sow for a continuous supply.

In my garden

G2‘Scarlet Nantes’
SunFull sun
Soilsandy loam, fast percolation
Water sourceSecondary
Hardiness hereZone 7
2026-05-23
Planted · ~0 yrs
What I've done here
  • 2026-05-23Direct-seeded (1st planting)