Description
Heirloom! Red Core Chantenay Carrot stands the test of time for all kinds of reasons. Amazingly, these summer and fall roots grow truly enormous when thinned to 3-4″ (ever seen a two-pound carrot??!!). The size belies their incredible taste, both fresh and cooked; a taste that carrot breeder John Navazio describes as “complex, good old fashioned carrot flavor.“ Additionally, these wedge-shaped, other-worldly beauties make fun conversation pieces at market. They’re truly the perfect antidote to the deluge of watery, sugar-stick hybrids on the market. Chantenays originated in France in the 1830s and came to the US in the late 1800s. Red Core Chantenay Carrot was selected and introduced by C.C. Morse of Maine in 1930.
Here’s how he described them in his 1931 seed catalog:
“The first time you pull this new carrot you’ll want to eat it then and there. The deep orange-red color and smooth symmetrical shape are combined with just the right size to make it irresistibly appetizing. Its beauty is not merely skin deep; it goes clear through to the very center and the interior is even more tempting than the outside. This flavor alone is enough to establish its superiority and when combined with the crisp, tender quality and deep color of the flesh a new treat is furnished for those who appreciate the healthful and high nutriment value of carrots.”
(RIP to our beloved cat ‘Beetle’ pictured above).
Days to maturity: 75-80
Latin name: Daucus carota
Life cycle for Seed Saving: Biennial
Planting Instructions:
Direct seed Red Core Chantenay Carrot in full sun as soon as soil can be worked through mid-July. Optimal soil temperature for germination is 65-75°F. Keep soil moist. Seeding depth: 1/8”. Seeding rate: 2-3 seeds/inch and thin to 1/2-1″. Thin to 3-4″ for huge carrots. Row spacing 18”.
All of our seed is Non-GMO and Certified Organic by Washington State Department of Agriculture. We grow the majority of our varieties here at Deep Harvest Farm on Whidbey Island while we purchase the rest from other small, organic Northwest seed growers. Finally, all of our offerings are open-pollinated (OP) so that you too can save and share seed from these plants!
