3,000 Chantenay Red Cored Carrot Seeds | Vegetable Seeds
 
 
Chantenay Red Cored carrots are popular for the home vegetable garden and great for canning and freezing. They grow blunt, blocky, tapered roots that are 5" to 6" long, and are deep reddish orange all the way through. The fine-grained flesh is crisp and sweet.
 

The origin of carrots is somewhat obscure, but early records from many civilizations refer to this colorful root. Carrots fulfilled medicinal purposes for thousands of years, being used for maladies as diverse as indigestion and cancer. The 19th century seed specialist Louis de Vilmorin introduced the French varieties of carrot such as Nantes and Chantenay, which both derive their names from their places of origin. After World War I, carrots became extremely popular in the United States, and are now produced commercially mostly in Texas, Michigan, and California.
 
 
Sowing: Prepare the soil 3 weeks before the last expected spring frost or when the soil temperature reaches 45 degrees F. These short, stocky carrots can grow even in heavy soil. Build up a raised mound in the row, about 8" wide; sow the Red Cored Chantenay carrot seeds on it, and cover them with 1/4" very loose soil. Keep the soil moist, but do not allow the area above the seeds to become hard - this may prevent the Red Cored Chantenay carrot seeds from germinating. Sow more seeds every 3-6 weeks for a continuous crop. For companion planting benefits, plant carrots with aromatic herbs or onions; this will repel the carrot fly and its maggots.
 
 
Growing: When the seedlings reach 2" high, gently thin them to 2-4" apart, depending on desired carrot size. The farther apart they are, the bigger they will grow. Do not allow the soil to dry out. When the tops of the carrots begin to emerge from the soil, cover them with mulch to keep them tender. Keep weeds under control to prevent the young carrots from being stunted.
 
 
Harvesting: Begin gathering baby carrots when grow big enough to eat, to allow the remaining carrots to reach a larger size. If they become difficult to pull, make sure the ground is moist. To store carrots for the winter, twist off the tops but do not wash them. Layer them in damp sand or sawdust. In warmer climates, leave the carrots in the garden over winter topped with a thick layer of mulch.