Red Carrot Seeds

• Red Carrot
• The Red Carrot Plant
• How to Sow Red Carrot
• How to Grow Red Carrot
• Tips for Red Carrot
• Diseases and Pests of Red Carrot
• Properties of Red Carrot
• Nutritional Values of Red Carrot

Red Carrot

The red carrot is a traditional variety notable for the intense colour of its root, due to a high concentration of lycopene and anthocyanins, the same pigments found in tomatoes and pomegranates. Its shape is cylindrical-conical, with firm flesh and a slightly sweeter flavour than classic orange carrots, traits that make it prized both raw in salads and cooked.

The Red Carrot Plant

Daucus carota is a biennial herbaceous plant of the Apiaceae family. In its first year it develops a rosette of deep green pinnate leaves and a taproot that accumulates sugars and pigments; only if left in the ground beyond the first season does the plant flower and produce seed. In the red carrot, pigmentation develops evenly along the whole root, from crown to tip, unlike some bicolour varieties.

How to Sow Red Carrot

Red carrot is sown directly in the open field, as its taproot does not tolerate transplanting. The recommended period runs from March to June, in loose, well-worked soil free of stones or clods that could deform the root. Seeds should be buried about 0.5-1 cm deep, in rows 20-25 cm apart, keeping the soil moist until germination, which takes about 2-3 weeks.

How to Grow Red Carrot

Once seedlings emerge, thin them to leave 5-8 cm between plants, allowing the root to develop evenly. Red carrot prefers full sun and well-draining, slightly sandy soil with a pH between 6 and 7. Watering should stay regular but never excessive. Harvest generally takes place between 80 and 120 days after sowing, once roots reach a diameter of 1-2 cm.

Tips for Red Carrot

To achieve an intense, even red colouring it helps to avoid excessive nitrogen fertilisation and instead use well-rotted manure or compost during soil preparation. Crop rotation matters: after carrots avoid other umbellifers and prefer legumes or solanaceous crops. Good companion plants include onion, leek, peas and lettuce, while pairing with celery is not recommended.

Diseases and Pests of Red Carrot

Like other varieties, red carrot can be attacked by carrot fly, which lays its eggs near the crown, causing tunnels in the root. Common fungal diseases include alternaria leaf blight and various physiological disorders linked to water imbalance. Good drainage and proper crop rotation remain the main preventive defences.

Properties of Red Carrot

Red carrot combines the classic nutritional properties of carrots (beta-carotene, fibre, potassium) with a significant content of lycopene, a natural antioxidant traditionally associated with cardiovascular wellbeing. The root's intense colour is a direct sign of its richness in antioxidant pigments, making it a vegetable of particular nutritional interest compared to lighter varieties.

Nutritional Values of Red Carrot