Carrot Seeds

These firm and crisp root vegetables are typically known for their deep orange color, but can grow in a variety of hues from white to purple! Traditionally added to stews and salads, this diverse vegetable is a must-have in the garden. The carrot is a cool-season biennial vegetable that brings a healthy punch of earthy, sweet flavor to any dish. They grow low to the ground, making it easy to find room in your garden for sweet home-grown carrots.

• 23 carrot seed varieties
• Great source of vitamin A
• Can lower cholesterol levels and improve eye health
• Culinary options such as eating raw, cooking, juicing, baking, and more

Carrots are a traditional garden staple, associated mainly with spring dining. Sweet and delicate, home-grown carrots that cannot be found in supermarkets are among a home gardener's greatest culinary rewards. In addition to their delicious taste, carrots are a great source of beta carotene, fiber, potassium, and antioxidants. Thousands of years ago, they were grown as medicine for an assortment of ailments and are said to improve eye health, digestive health, and cardiovascular health.

Since much of the aesthetic quality of this vegetable is based on the shape of the root, make sure you have well-draining, loose soil to make it easier to grow your carrots long and straight. Slender varieties such as Eden Brothers' Scarlet Nantes Carrot Seeds and Imperator 58 Carrot Seeds benefit from deep, loose soil. We also carry blocky shapes that can handle heavy or shallow soil, such as Danvers 126 Carrot Seeds and Chantenay Red Cored Carrot Seeds.

For summer harvesting, sow carrot seeds outdoors three to five weeks before the last spring frost. For fall harvesting, sow seeds in mid- to late-summer, starting about ten weeks before your first fall frost. It is best to sow seeds directly into the garden rather than starting seeds indoors and transplanting. Carrots prefer full sun but can tolerate some shade if necessary.

Plant the seeds about two inches apart and 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep. Cover the top of the soil with a layer of fine compost. Keep the soil moist with frequent but shallow waterings. Carrots require at least one inch of water to start, then two inches as the roots mature. Gently mulch around the plant base to retain moisture, increase germination speed, and to block the sunlight from directly hitting the roots. Carrots can take two to three weeks to show signs of growth. When carrots are about 1/2 inch in diameter, they are ready to harvest. Gently pull from the leafy top and enjoy! If you fail to harvest and leave carrots in the soil, the tops will flower and produce seeds in the following year.

For more information about planting, growing, and caring for carrot seed, see the Carrot Seeds Planting Guide.