A review of the best carrot varieties with different ripening periods

Early varieties of carrots

Early carrots aren't very suitable for storage—they're usually either eaten immediately or canned. We present the best early-ripening carrot varieties.

Amsterdam

A bright orange carrot. It has a cylindrical shape and a blunt tip. Length – up to 17 cm, weight – up to 120 g. The core is small. Juicy, sweet taste. A high-yielding variety, resistant to flowering and cracking.

Parisian Carotel

It's one of the oldest varieties. Its round fruits, 3 to 6 cm in diameter, resemble radishes and weigh up to 60 g. Carotel isn't very productive, but it's delicious: the tender, sweet fruits are considered a dessert variety. This small carrot prefers heavy loamy soils.

Parmex

A variety of Katoreli. A small carrot with distinctive bright orange, spherical fruits (2–4 cm in diameter), weighing approximately 50 g. Juicy, with a delicate flavor. It can be preserved whole. It can be grown in heavy soil with a thin fertile layer.

Dragon

A beautiful and unusual carrot with purple skin. The orange flesh is spicy and slightly sweet, with notes of juniper and rosemary. Length – up to 25 cm, diameter – 1.5–3 cm. This colorful carrot contains powerful antioxidants. Prefers slightly acidic soil, bright light, and abundant watering.

Tushon

A large carrot with orange cylindrical roots up to 20 cm long, weighing 80–150 g. Resistant to budding and cracking. Juicy and sweet. The core is slightly distinct. It has a short shelf life and is used fresh and for canning. The growing season is 80–90 days. Requires ample light. Winter sowing is acceptable, but seedlings should not germinate before frost, otherwise they will die.

Fairy

The fruits are tasty, smooth, cone-shaped, and slightly pointed at the tip. They reach 18–20 cm in length and weigh up to 170 g. They ripen in 95–105 days. Like the Nandrin carrot variety, they are one of the few early-ripening varieties that can be stored. They are especially suitable for freezing. They require fertile, loose, sandy loam or light loam soil with a deep topsoil.

Finchor

A large, conical carrot, smooth, weighing up to 150 g. It has a delicate dessert flavor. The core is small. The growing season is 80 days. It has good disease resistance.

Mid-season varieties

Mid-season varieties can be stored for a long time. Many consider them particularly appetizing, as they develop juice and sweetness during ripening. Let's look at the best mid-season carrot varieties.

Nantes

Many consider the Nantes carrot to be the tastiest. It's cylindrical and orange. Average length is 12–16 cm, weighing up to 150 g. The skin is thin and smooth. Ripening time is 90–120 days. It requires light soil (this also affects the shape of the roots).

Vitamin 6

A widely grown variety. Long, cylindrical carrots up to 20 cm long, weighing up to 160 g. The flesh is orange-red. Like all the best carrot varieties, it contains a large amount of vitamins.

The growing season is about 120 days, but due to its good resistance to adverse weather conditions, it is suitable for cultivation in northern regions.

Losinoostrovskaya 13

A productive carrot variety that stores well. It grows up to 18 cm in length and weighs 70–115 g. It's easy to pick from the ground. The base of the carrot doesn't turn green (which is important, as green carrots have an unpleasant taste). It can be grown both outdoors and in a greenhouse. It prefers loam or sandy loam soil. It requires ample watering and light. It is disease-resistant.

Moscow winter A 515

The fruits are bright orange. They are medium in length (up to 18 cm) and weigh up to 170 g. They are juicy and sweet (with a sugar content of 7–8%). The core is small. They can be stored until spring and are resistant to leaf spot. They can be sown before winter for an early harvest.

Incomparable

Firm, conical fruits up to 17 cm in length and weighing up to 200 g have a delicate dessert flavor. They have a high carotene content and a thin core. They emerge evenly, producing a high yield. The shoulders protrude slightly from the soil. Ripening occurs 90–110 days after germination. The fruits are easily removed from the soil. The variety is resistant to cold and flowering. Can be sown before winter.

Research Institute of Oncology and Microbiology 336

Contains a high amount of carotene (19 mg per 100 g). The fruits are 16–18 cm long, weighing 100–130 g, sweet and tender, and ideal for juice production. They do not require hilling. They prefer slightly acidic, light soil and moderate watering.

Rothe-Riesen

A large carrot that, with proper care, grows up to 25 cm. Juicy, sweet, and suitable for juice production. The core is medium-sized. It keeps well, retaining its freshness. A yield of up to 3.8 kg can be obtained from 1 square meter. Cold-resistant, it can be planted for winter.

Samson

A massive, sweet, crunchy, and juicy variety. Fruits reach up to 20 cm in length and weigh up to 200 g. Ripening occurs in 108–115 days. A very productive variety, with proper care, yields 5–6 kg per square meter. It prefers good light and loose soil.

Forto

The fruits are firm and sweet, up to 20 cm long, weighing up to 110 g. The growing season lasts 100–110 days. Forto is resistant to bolting, lodging, and cracking. Green spots do not appear on the upper part of the fruit.

Late-ripening carrot varieties

Late-ripening varieties can be stored until the next harvest. They typically produce large fruits. The best carrot varieties in this category are described below.

Vita Longa

A large, durable variety that is resistant to cracking. Fruits reach 20–25 cm in length and weigh between 100 and 300 g. They contain large amounts of vitamins and carotene and produce a rich juice.

Yellowstone

An exotic variety for those who enjoy colorful carrots. The fruits are bright yellow, tapering toward the end. Sweet and crunchy. Length: 20–25 cm, average weight (200 g). Contains a lot of lutein, which is beneficial for the cardiovascular system and eye health.

Queen of Autumn

Red carrots up to 22 cm long. Sweet, tasty, with a distinct, pleasant aroma. Resistant to both disease and adverse climate conditions, they are easy to care for. Suitable for winter sowing. They retain their flavor and nutrients during long-term storage and are resistant to leaf-sprouting.

MO (Special Carrot)

A conical variety up to 20 cm tall. Juicy and sweet. Suitable for winter sowing, it produces a large harvest.

Shantenay 2461

A popular large orange carrot. Juicy and flavorful. Medium length (15 cm), weight up to 250 g. Resistant to bolting. Growing season is 105–110 days. Completely buried in the ground, easy to pull out.

Video: "Overview of Carrot Varieties"

This video will tell you about the best varieties of carrots.