We’re just starting to get serious about growing carrots, so we’re trying out several varieties and we don’t know much about them yet! Last year they got neglected and fall carrots didn’t even get planted. Surprisingly we did actually get to taste a few in the fall when we finally got around to digging them up. We’ll just be growing the same ones over again this year, with the hope that we will get a decent crop and also get to taste them all.
Uzbek Golden
This was free seed from Baker Creek last year. We’re planning to grow it again this year, and, hopefully, we’ll have more than one carrot to harvest (poor, neglected carrots!).
Why we’re growing it: To continue testing this free variety; to find carrots we like and can grow; it’s different, because it’s yellow.
Where we’ll grow it: probably in the Kitchen Garden.
Giants of Colmar
Since this is supposed to be “good for the root cellar,” we were going to sow it for a fall crop last year. Carrot successions stopped with one or two last year, so we still have a full seed pack. From Territorial Seed Company (2022).
Why we’re growing it: Looking for carrots we like; good for the root cellar.
Where we’ll grow it: probably in the kitchen garden, since it’s experimental and the Kitchen Garden is a good place for things I want to keep an eye on. Possibly somewhere else, with other experiments (because they won’t all fit in the kitchen garden!).
Autumn King
Tolerant of cooler climates. Sounds good for fall, right? Well, we’ll try again this year! From True Leaf Market (2022) (Mountain Valley Seed Co.).
Why we’re growing it: Testing carrots; possibly good fall crop.
Where we’ll grow it: probably in the kitchen garden, since it’s experimental and the Kitchen Garden is a good place for things I want to keep an eye on. Possibly somewhere else, with other experiments.
Scarlet Nantes
I think this one’s main “claim to fame” was it’s good taste. True Leaf Market (2022).
Why we’re growing it: Looking for carrots we like; based on recommendations.
Where we’ll grow it: In the Kitchen Garden.
Chantenay
This is fairly old seed (2018) that we’ve (apparently) tried before and neglected. From Southern States.
Why we’re growing it: Because we have it (someone gave it to us) and we’re looking for carrots.
Where we’ll grow it: In the Kitchen Garden.
Danvers 126 Half Long
From Baker Creek (2022).
Why we’re growing it: Looking for carrots we like; based on recommendations.
Where we’ll grow it: In the Kitchen Garden.
Chantenay Red Core
“One of the sweetest varieties.” Sounds good to me! From Baker Creek (2022).
Why we’re growing it: Looking for carrots we like; based on recommendations; it’s supposed to be sweet.
Where we’ll grow it: In the Kitchen Garden.
Tendersweet
In our taste tests this fall, this one was neither tender nor sweet. Maybe if we took care of our carrots like we should, and harvested them on time, we’d get better results. 😉 Definitely, I’m not blaming the carrot, and we’ll give it another try. From Pinetree (2022).
Why we’re growing it: Looking for carrots we like; based on recommendations; supposed to be tender and sweet.
Where we’ll grow it: In the Kitchen Garden.
So that’s our carrot roundup for 2023! I did just order some more of a few of these that we are almost out of. Uzbek Golden and Danvers 126 Half Long from Baker’s Creek. I may have also ordered some more Tendersweet, but I can’t remember where and I can’t find it among my (many) seed orders.
Are you growing carrots this year? Where are you in your carrot growing journey? What varieties are you growing?
