There’s more to carrots than their orange colour
It’s sure to get the thumbs up from Bugs Bunny … 2019 has been designated the Year of the Carrot, but there’s more to this vegetable than its orange colour. Every year, the Fleuroselect Home Garden Association, an international non-profit organisation, chooses a vegetable and flower, designed to help the horticultural industry.
Here are my choices, focusing on ease of growing, those suitable for growing in containers and top colours (for health).
Caracas: With short, conical roots, it can be grown on heavier soils or in containers as baby carrots, £2.49, www.thompson-morgan. co.uk
Night Bird F1: This almost black variety is packed with purple anthocyanins, which are thought to be beneficial to heart health. It has a has a nuttier flavour than most carrots, James Wong Range, £3.49, www.suttons.co.uk
Oxheart: An old French variety, these snub-nosed carrots grow well in containers or shallow soil, reaching 10-13cm wide at the shoulder. Rob Smith Heritage Veg Range, £2.50, www.dobies.co.uk
Ruby Prince F1: A new carrot that is pinky-red outside and inside. Packed full of lycopene, it is crisp, tasty and healthy, £1.95, www.chilternseeds.co.uk
Paris Market Baron: A 19th-century French heirloom type, these tender, bite-sized, round carrots are perfect for beginners, even in a window box, £1.65, www.plant-worldseeds.com
Volcano: New and exclusive, this extremely strong, reliable and tasty variety is resistant to breakage, splitting and disease, £3.05, www.mrfothergills.co.uk
Malbec F1: One of the best reds available, this Imperator type carrot produces reliable, tasty crops. Especially recommended for roasting, £3.05, www.johnsons-seeds.com
Dragon Purple: A purple carrot that looks like roots did when they were first domesticated in the Middle East, £2.37, www.realseeds.co.uk
Aron F1: An unusual shaped 5-10cm half long stumpy carrot, early cropping and full of flavour, £1.70, www.kingsseeds.com
Primo: A forcing variety for overwintering under protected cropping for an early spring crop. Roots are very tender and sweet, £2.20, www. seaspringseeds.co.uk
Jaune De Doubs: Rustic yellow variety prized for its culinary quality, £1.99, www.seedsofitaly.com
Carrot Seeds Cropping Programme: Perfect for an allotment when you want almost year-round roots with Amsterdam Sprint, Sugarsnax F1, Senior F1 and Maestro F1, £6.46, www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk
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