Carrot 'Nantes Coreless' Heirloom (200 seeds)
This delicious carrot shrugs aside heavy soil, and forms beautiful 15-20cm (6-8") long, fine-grained roots that are bright orange throughout and as coreless as the name suggests. Nantes Coreless carrot seeds develop cylindrical and sweet roots, with relatively small tops.
They have excellent flavour, and are very tender. Sow these lovely carrots in raised beds or in deeply cultivated garden soil, and be sure to thin the seedlings to 4-10cm (1.5 - 4") apart in the row so that each has room to develop on its own. In the home garden, sow short rows of carrot seeds at two to three week intervals, and enjoy a much longer harvest window.
Matures in 75 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)
The first mention of red, white, and purple carrots can be found in the records of both Afghanistan and Egypt. Yellow carrots, on the other hand, date back to Turkish records from the 900s. After World War I, carrots became extremely popular in the United States, and are now produced commercially mostly in Texas, Michigan, and California.
Approximately 200 seeds per packet (packed by volume).
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Daucus carota var. sativus Studies on the nutritional properties of carrots have revealed that they are powerhouses of a wide range of phytonutrient antioxidants. With the vast spectrum of colors and varieties available, the amounts of individual antioxidants vary, yet the overall balance of these potent nutrients contributes to outstanding health benefits regardless of the variety.Days to maturity are calculated from date of direct seeding.
Culture
• Carrots perform best in deeply worked, well-composted, loose soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0
• When the soil is workable, spade or till it to a fine texture 12-16 inches deep — cloddy, heavy soil will not make straight roots
• Heavy soils can cause forked roots
• Avoid split roots by maintaining even watering
• When plants have 7-10 leaves, hill 1-2 inches of soil around crowns to prevent green shoulders
Direct Sowing
• Dig a shallow furrow and lightly cover seed with soil, vermiculite or sifted compost
• Water evenly and regularly to prevent soil crusting
• Row cover beds when soil temperatures are cool and to help prevent soil crusting
• Thin when plants are 4 inches tall
• Sow mid-June—July for a fall/winter crop
Insects & Diseases
• Common insects: Carrot fly
• Insect control: Row covers at planting
• Common diseases: Various blights
• Disease prevention: 3-4 year crop rotation
Harvest & Storage
• Best harvested when 1/2-3/4 inches in diameter when carrots are sweet and tender
• Irrigate well prior to harvest to ensure the roots have absorbed their maximum capacity of water
• Cut tops prior to storage
• Store at 36°F and 95% relative humidity
• Fall/Winter Crop: Flavor is enhanced after a couple of frosts
• Fall/Winter Crop: Roots can be dug any time at maturity through winter as needed
• Fall/Winter Crop: In harsh climates, mulch with straw for protection