Royal Chantenay Carrot Seeds For Planting (Daucus carota)

Sowing The See

Carrots are best established directly outdoors in a loose, rock free soil. It may be best to turn your dirt, replace the dirt with a mixture of fresh compost and soil, and/or create a raised bed. These vegetables enjoy cooler temperatures and are often sown 2 to 3 weeks prior to the last frost, or while temperatures are still cool. Sow the seeds at a depth of 1/4" to 1/2" under topsoil.

Growing Conditions

Place your Carrots in an area that will receive full sunlight with temperatures staying beneath 85F. Again make sure that the soil is loose and free of rocks. For areas consisting of hard, compacted soil, it is best to add in a fresh compost. The trick to germinating carrots successfully is to keep the topsoil moist until germination has occurred. Water regularly thereafter, but also avoid overwatering as this can definitely cause cracking or splitting in your roots. (Does not apply to this variety, although you should still avoid overwatering.)

Germination & Growth

Your carrot seeds will begin to germinate within roughly 14 to 21 days after sowing. The seeds can be sown 3 inches apart from one another, in rows positioned 6 inches apart. The leafy greens will usually reach a mature length of 12 to 18 inches tall. Royal Chantenay is a tasty variety that produces thick, chunky roots that grow to a mature length of 5 to 6 inches long.

Harvesting

The first step to harvesting your carrots is to pull one up to check its quality. Remember, the best tasting carrots are those that are bright orange and match the listed size on the seed packet. To harvest, simply loosen the soil around the roots and give it a tug. Be careful to plan out how often you will be using / eating your carrots so that you can store them for use. Storing them in a fridge or cool cellar is best, just make sure to rinse them prior. Carrots can also be kept in the ground up to an additional four weeks if you have no urgent use for them.