Carrots — Daucus carota subsp. sativus

layout: base.njk title: Carrots description: Growing Carrots in West Virginia (Zone 6b/7a) category: cool-season

Quick Reference: See detailed growing information below

Type: Biennial (grown as annual)
Family: Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
Sun: Full sun (6+ hours, essential for root development)
Water: Moderate (1-1.5" per week, consistent moisture prevents splitting)
Soil pH: 6.0-6.8 (optimal 6.2-6.5)
Hardiness: Zones 2-11 (cool season annual, cold hardy, can overwinter)

🌱 Expected Yield

Per plant: 1-4 oz per root (variety-dependent). Baby carrots: 0.5-1 oz.
Per 10' row: 8-20 lbs ( depends on thinning and variety).
Per season: With succession planting and storage: 20-50 lbs per 10' row annually.

🏺 Heirloom Varieties (5-10+)

'Nantes Semi-Long'

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (rareseeds.com), Johnny's Selected Seeds (johnnyseeds.com)
Days: 65 days
Notes: French heirloom from 1800s. Cylindrical, blunt-ended, bright orange. Sweet, crisp, tender. Core nearly same color as exterior. Standard for fresh eating. Excellent for juicing. Stores well. Classic carrot flavor.

'Danvers 126'

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Johnny's Selected Seeds
Days: 70 days
Notes: American heirloom from 1870s (Danvers, Massachusetts). Conical shape, tapers to point. Deep orange. Good for heavier soils than Nantes. Sweet flavor. Excellent storage variety. Traditional American garden carrot.

'Chantenay Red Cored'

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (southernexposure.com)
Days: 70 days
Notes: French heirloom from 1800s. Short, broad, stump-rooted (5-6" long). Reddish-orange core. Sweet, tender. Excellent for heavy or rocky soils (doesn't need deep soil). Good for containers. Stores very well. Traditional for cooking.

'Imperator 58'

Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds, Baker Creek, Burpee (burpee.com)
Days: 75 days
Notes: Classic long carrot (10-12"). Requires deep, loose soil. Bright orange, high carotene. Standard grocery store type. Sweet flavor. Excellent for shipping and storage. Needs ideal soil conditions.

'Little Finger'

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Johnny's Selected Seeds
Days: 65 days
Notes: Small Nantes type (3-4" long, 1" diameter). Sweet, crisp. Excellent for containers, rocky soil, or eating whole. Kids love size. Early maturing. Good for succession planting. Tender texture.

'Paris Market' (Toupie de Paris)

Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange, Johnny's Selected Seeds
Days: 55 days
Notes: French heirloom. Golf ball-sized, round roots. Sweet, tender. Excellent for heavy or rocky soil (doesn't need depth). Beautiful appearance. Traditional for French cuisine. Fun novelty that's actually delicious.

'Scarlet Nantes'

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Johnny's Selected Seeds
Days: 65 days
Notes: Improved Nantes selection. Cylindrical, blunt-ended. Deep red-orange color. Sweet, crispy. Nearly coreless. Excellent fresh or stored. Standard for home gardens. Reliable producer.

'White Belgian'

Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
Days: 75 days
Notes: European heirloom. Large, white roots (can reach 12"+). Mild, sweet flavor. Traditional for livestock feed but excellent for human consumption. White carrots were common before orange breeding. Good for heavy soil. Stores well.

'Purple Dragon'

Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange, Johnny's Selected Seeds
Days: 70 days
Notes: Heirloom. Purple exterior, orange interior. Anthocyanin-rich. Sweet, earthy flavor. Beautiful raw. Color fades with cooking. Cold tolerant. Ancient carrot color (original carrots were purple/yellow, not orange).

'Lunar White'

Source: Baker Creek, Johnny's Selected Seeds, Seed Savers Exchange
Days: 65 days
Notes: White carrot heirloom. Sweet, tender, mild. No carotene (good for allergies). Beautiful appearance. Traditional before orange carrots developed. Excellent for juicing. Tender texture.

🌾 Seed Saving

Method: Carrots are biennial—require vernalization (cold period) to flower. For seed saving, select best roots, leave in ground over winter (mulch heavily in zone 6b/7a) or dig and store in cool, humid place (root cellar at 35-40°F in damp sand), replant in spring. In spring, plants send up 3-6' flower stalks with compound umbels (flat-topped clusters) of tiny white flowers.

Flowers are insect-pollinated (bees, flies, wasps, beetles—carrot family attracts diverse pollinators). Seeds mature 4-6 weeks after flowering, turning from green to brown. Carrot seeds are small, oval, covered with bristles (hooked hairs).

Cut umbels when most seeds brown but before shattering. Hang in paper bags in dry, ventilated area 2-3 weeks. Thresh by rubbing umbels between hands (wear gloves—bristles irritate skin).

Winnow by pouring between bowls in breeze to separate seeds from chaff. - Isolation distance: 1 mile minimum (up to 2 miles for pure seed). Carrots cross-pollinate readily with other cultivated carrots and wild Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota wild type). Wild carrot is common weed in many areas—must rogue out wild carrots within mile for pure seed.

Cage isolated plants or grow only one variety. - Viability: 3-4 years when stored in cool, dry, dark conditions in airtight containers. Small seeds with bristles store moderately well. - Special notes: Save seed from minimum 5-10 plants to maintain genetic diversity. Select for root shape, color, flavor, bolt resistance, disease resistance.

In zone 6b/7a, carrots can overwinter with heavy mulch (straw, leaves 12-18" deep). Replant in early spring. Carrots require two full seasons for seed saving.

Remove all wild Queen Anne's Lace from area (looks similar to cultivated carrot but flower cluster has single purple flower in center—identifying feature). First-year carrot foliage resembles wild carrot but roots differ. For seed saving, choose healthiest, best-formed roots..

Added to WV Planting Guide 26155 — The Loop Farmstead