Tendersweet Carrot

70-75 days to maturity. Tendersweet carrot Seeds. Daucus carota subsp. sativus. Non-GMO. Heirloom. Aptly named Tendersweet for its tender 9-10" roots and its unmatched sugar content, next to sugar beet, Tendersweet carrot is truly one of the sweetest root vegetables in the garden. A century-old American heirloom, Tendersweet has served as the parent crop to countless of hybrids, boasting the same sweetness, just as delicious raw as when cooked. They are coreless and delicious, perfect for canning, juicing, or eating raw.

How to Grow Tendersweet Carrot from Seed

Carrot is a cool weather crop best sown directly 2-3 weeks before final spring frost and every 2 weeks after for successive harvests. Like many root vegetables, carrot does not transplant well and should be sown directly. Plant 2-3 seeds 1/2" deep and 1-2" apart in loamy, loose, and well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0. Seeds germinate in 14-21 days, thinning back to 1 plant every 2-4" as true leaves establish. Carrots require a deep well-tilled garden for straight taproot growth. Avoid using nitrogen-rich fertilizers which are known to cause root abnormalities as well as excessive greens and weak root development.

These carrots should be planted in soil with a pH level of approximately five to seven. The soil should also be sandy and moist, with few rocks or lumps to get in the way of the root growth. Sow the seeds in the spring in an area with full sun by placing half an inch of soil over each seed.

Tendersweet in the Vegetable Garden

Tendersweet has long, 9-10" tapered roots; rich orange color; sweet, and coreless. This heirloom carrot is a reliable producer that has been pleasing folks for generations. Try Tendersweet carrot seed in your Victory Garden!

Carrot is a sugary sweet root vegetable second only to the beet in overall sugar content. Carrot is one of the easiest, quickest, and most satisfying garden crops and lends itself to as many savory dishes as it does sweet. Although considered a predominantly orange vegetable, the carrot is available in a wide selection of exquisite heirloom colors such as red, purple, yellow, and white. Carrots can be sown every couple weeks for successive season-long harvesting.

Harvesting Tendersweet Carrots

Most varieties of carrot are ready for harvest about 70-80 days from sowing, while smaller varieties such as Parisian are ready a few weeks sooner. Regardless of color, carrots are usually ripe for harvest when the root begins to show above soil.

A sandy and well-tilled garden will help in harvesting, providing a loose soil to safely uproot the carrot crop without the need for tools. For more hardened soils, use a specialized hand cultivator or garden hori-hori knife.