Red Cored Chantenay Carrot Seeds (Daucus carota )HEIRLOOM VEGETABLE

 Broad-shouldered variety with sweet, old fashioned carrot flavor.

Wide shoulders, a tapered root and a blunt, rounded tip; thrives in heavy soils. Fine-grained texture and a characteristic red core. A great variety for soups, freezing, canning and storage. Introduced in France in the late 1800s and quickly became the processing industry standard.

• 24,000 seeds/oz.; 3 lbs. /acre.
• 7-21 days, 50-85°F.

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.

Seed Saving: Because carrot varieties will cross pollinate with each other as well as with wild carrots, isolate the plant for seed at least two miles from other varieties or provide a protective cage. In areas where the ground freezes over winter, it will be necessary to dig up the carrots before the first heavy frost; twist off the tops and store the carrots at 35 degrees F in damp sand or sawdust over winter, making sure the roots do not touch. Plant them again in the spring. From 30-40 carrots should be harvested to preserve genetic diversity. In warmer climates, leave them in the ground and cover them thickly with mulch over winter. In the spring, allow the top of the plant to flower; when they grow brown and dry, cut them off and allow them to fully dry. Clean to remove as much chaff as possible, then store Red Cored Chantenay carrot seeds in a cool, dry place for up to three years.