Understanding Carrot Varieties Which Type is Right for You?

Carrot varieties can be divided based on root shape, colour and growing conditions – an essential consideration when planning seasonal vegetable garden crops as it determines how the carrots will be grown and harvested.

Cool weather and rich soil promote loose, smooth roots while imperator varieties thrive in warmer regions with extended growing seasons, but in these environments carrots may bloom (bolt).

Imperator

Carrots are one of the easiest, most rewarding vegetables to grow in a home garden, offering an astonishing variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and flavors!

Imperator carrots are one of the most sought-after varieties, with long and skinny roots reaching lengths up to 10 inches. Perfect for eating fresh, juicing, and cooking purposes alike, these varieties thrive when grown in loose soil with plenty of organic matter; compacted or rocky conditions will impede their elongation efforts.

Nantes varieties are another highly favored variety, providing deliciously short carrots with great flavor. Their cylindrical shapes and vibrant orange hue make them great for cooking while their speed of harvest makes them great options for kids who can pick them quickly.

Nantes type carrots are ideal for small spaces or consecutive crops due to being resistant to carrot fly infestation and growing well in heavy soils.

Scarlet Nantes type carrots are another fantastic option. Boasting an eye-catching red-orange hue that pops in any garden setting, this variety boasts sweet and tender flesh as well as tons of beta-carotene and lycopene which may help lower risk for heart disease and cancer. They also tend to be less vulnerable to root maggot infestation and other ailments.

Danvers

Carrots are one of the easiest crops to cultivate in your garden, as they’re an abundant source of beta-carotene which the body converts to vitamin A for increased immunity, cell formation regulation and maintaining eye health. Carrots also provide potassium, folate and fiber.

George W. Park introduced the Danvers variety of carrot in 1871, quickly making it a favorite among New England home gardeners for its long elongated shape and sweet flavor. Today it remains an immensely popular variety.

As with other varieties of carrots, Danvers carrots thrive best when planted in loose and rich soil. Easy to care for and resistant to cold conditions, they’re an ideal choice for northern gardens. When sowing seeds three weeks before the last frost date it is important to sow in an open bed with well-draining soil as otherwise the seeds could bolt or get bitter quickly due to warm soil temperatures when germinating; additionally try amending it with compost and well-rotted manure to increase porosity and fertility of your soil as possible for maximum results!

Danvers carrots take between 65 to 85 days from seed to harvest, depending on weather conditions. To prevent their roots from rotting before picking, water them the day prior – this makes pulling them up easier without damaging their fragile structures.

Heirlooms

Heirloom carrots have been around for generations – sometimes centuries! Selective breeding was used to breed for orange color and disease resistance as well as fast growth rates in dense soil conditions and cold storage capabilities; flavor was less of a consideration.

Consider planting heirloom carrots this year that you will enjoy eating fresh in your own kitchen garden. Choose from an array of colors and flavors including purple, white, and orange varieties – they make great options for children or those with sensitive stomachs due to having lower sugar content than orange varieties.

David Landreth & Sons introduced the Saint Valery or Vilmorin intermediate variety into America at the latter part of the 19th century. It is an heirloom carrot known for its fine teeth and short length that produces sweet flavorful flesh when cooked or added raw to salads; with an 8″ mature size.

The Bambino Orange Carrot, another heirloom variety, has become increasingly popular since the 1930s and serves as an all-purpose carrot that’s ideal for both juicing and cooking.

Commercial

At first glance, carrot varieties found in grocery stores may seem similar; however, this is just the tip of the iceberg as there are numerous different shapes, sizes, and colors of this versatile vegetable available today.

Imperator carrots are one of the four main commercial carrot varieties, alongside Danvers, Chantenay and Nantes varieties. Imperators are long and tapered varieties which thrive best in deep soil beds; they’re known for being very durable and sweet tasting as well as storing well; in fact this type is thought to outperform all others when it comes to yield and quality performance.

Danvers carrots are medium length conical carrots renowned for their excellent storage qualities and strong top growth, including thick shoulders that taper out into blunt points. Their popularity among gardeners lies in their great flavor – such as in varieties such as “Danvers Half Long” or 126.

Chantenay carrots are shorter than Imperator and Danvers varieties, and feature stocky shoulders and narrower bottom ends – perfect for heavier soil conditions. Their sweet flavor, crisp texture and great nutritional qualities make them suitable for both juicing and fresh eating applications. Multiple variations have been developed of Chantenay varieties including Red Cored Chantenay, Shin Kuroda and Hokkaido while Scarlet Nantes and Little Finger varieties also offer good options. Carrots are generally easy to grow and make an extremely rewarding garden vegetable: they’re resilient against pests like Cavity Spot, Nematodes and wireworms among others!