15 Best Carrot Varieties to Grow at Home

The carrot is an essential part of salads, stir-fries, and even soup. That is why they are a favorite for most gardeners. Since they come in various types and colors, you do not have to settle for the traditional orange ones. You may even be surprised to learn that there are yellow, purple, and white carrots available!

All carrots fall under these groups, including heirlooms, giant carrots, and all the various colored carrots. Read on below for the best 15 to grow at home!

The Top 15 Carrot Varieties to Grow at Home

1. Solar Yellow

The solar yellows are buttery-yellow-colored, ancient heirlooms that have been around since the 14th century. They can withstand the test of time and grow in the cool seasons with partial shade or little sun. This variety takes about 60 days to harvest for a juicy, crispy, sweet treat. The lovely yellow roots usually grow up to approximately 7 inches long.

2. Tender-Sweet

Tender-sweets are your go-to, multipurpose carrots for cooking, juicing, and canning. They stand apart thanks to their rich orange appearance, tender-sweet feel, and sugary taste, no matter how you eat them.

Thanks to their coreless nature, they are perfect for juicing and canning because they freeze better than other kinds. They take around 75 days to mature to their 7 inches length. Zones 3 to 9 are ideal for this heirloom. They also do well in sandy soil under maximum sunlight.

3. Sugarsnax

Sugarsnax carrots are deep orange because they are rich in beta-carotene. They are delicious soft roots that are consistently straight when growing and are a popular variety that is resistant to blights. They usually take around 68 days to mature to a 9-inch stature, and they do well over spring and summer.

4. White Satin

White satin carrots are a hybrid of the nantes and imperator carrots, although their roots resemble danvers. They are crispy and juicy and can adapt well to different conditions. However, they thrive best during spring and summer. After planting their seeds, they take about 65 days to mature to about 10 inches.

5. Lunar White

Lunar whites are creamy-white-skinned veggies that mature for around 65 to 80 days. They grow up to 6 to 8 inches long of sweet-flavored roots. These carrots are an ancient heirloom that resemble parsnips and flourish best in slightly acidic, well-drained sandy soil.

6. Little Fingers

If you are looking for a carrot variety that grows fast, then the little fingers are ideal. They take up to 55 days to fully mature, so don’t let their tiny size fool you. You may mistake them for baby carrots, but they have enough nutrients and sweetness for your household needs.

They are ideal for growing in a small garden because they can still yield a massive harvest when planted densely. Little fingers are 3 inches long, ½ an inch wide, with a blunt tip. They grow best under full sunlight and porous sandy soil in zones between 3 and 9.

7. Purple Dragon

Purple dragons delight your eyes and taste buds while livening your plate. Its skin is a vibrant purple with bright orange in the middle. It is an imperator that grows to 8 inches tall within 65 to 70 days. However, their roots reach 6 inches long. They are flavorful and best served raw because they lose some color when cooked.

8. Short and Sweet

Are you looking for a carrot variety that can grow in containers and even in poor soil? Short and sweet is your perfect choice. It can survive in the worst garden conditions, including clay soil. It can take up to 68 days to develop its mature, 4-inch-long roots from planting to harvest. It is a sweet little root vegetable packed with crucial nutrients for the body.

9. Deep Purple Hybrid

Unlike the purple dragon, the deep purple hybrid is purple inside and out. Thanks to its unique royal color, it is an excellent food addition. Its color fades when cooked, so it’s best to eat it raw. You can harvest them after around 65 to 80 days when they fully develop to a maximum of 8 inches.

10. Black Nebula

Black nebulas are deep-purple carrots rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and great taste. They are so dark that their color persists even after cooking and their juice can even be used as a dye. You can harvest them within 75 days after they grow to about 7 to 8 inches. Black nebulas are an open-pollinated hybrid that can thrive during spring.

11. Chantenay Red Cored

Chantenay red cored has a bright orange exterior and red interior. Their length is between 5 and 7 inches long and 2 inches wide at maturity. They are usually ready for harvest after about 70 days from sowing. Chantenay red cored is an heirloom that thrives best in heavy soil.

12. Kaleidoscope

Worry not if you are a color enthusiast and can’t decide which carrot to bring home. Kaleidoscope has your back, wrapped up in five beautiful colors:

13. Imperator 58

Despite its unique name, the imperator 58 is a traditional heirloom that is large and tasty. You can find these flavorful, bright orange carrot seeds in your local stores. Imperator 58 flourishes best in loose soil. They are larger than most varieties growing up to 9 inches long! You can expect a harvest within 68 to 75 days after sowing.

14. Parisian Heirloom

Unlike the usual skinny and long carrot types, the Parisian Heirlooms are stumpy, round, plump roots. So, they are ideal for rough, rocky-soiled gardens and can also do well in containers. They are sweet, tender, and one of the fastest-growing kinds, taking between 55 and 60 days to mature. They grow best under maximum sunlight in a zone of between 3 and 9.

15. Manpukuji Carrots

Our list cannot end without mention of the enormous carrot variety—the manpukuji. They were discovered in Japan about 4 centuries ago. They are so large that they can grow up to 35 inches long and thrive best in raised beds, especially over spring. The manpukuji can reach their impressive height without fertilizers or artificial intervention.

Conclusion

With all these varieties at your disposal, you are certainly spoiled for choice. Whether you have a small, medium-sized, or large garden, this list has a carrot type that will best suit you.

And with all the beautiful colors they come with, your garden is sure to light up! Not to mention all the tasty nutrients they will bring to your plate.

Featured Image Credit: klimkin, Pixabay