Don’t you just love the taste of homegrown carrots fresh from the garden? They are deliciously sweet, crunchy and give that hint of nostalgia. Most of us probably have fond memories of enjoying fresh carrots from the garden when we were kids. I remember growing up with the boys on my street and –besides constantly looking for bugs, bees, snakes and frogs – hunting around our front yard gardens for Queen Anne’s lace and chewing on the roots because they tasted like carrots.
In hindsight, I’m very glad that there was no hemlock or hogweed in the area that we could have mistaken it for… but I know that my mom was always watching and would have never allowed our foraging if there were.
But I digress…
There are so many different varieties of carrots to choose from, and they come in quite literally all shapes and sizes! I’d venture to say that most varieties nowadays are hybrids, and there is nothing wrong with that at all, but if you find a variety that you absolutely LOVE and must have every year, you unfortunately will not be able to let any go to seed and save them for next year.
As homesteaders, a common goal amongst many of us is to become self-sufficient, and with the rising costs of food at the grocery store, it’s becoming a crucial skill to be able to grow your own food and be able to keep your own personal seed bank in case of emergencies like seed shortages, not to mention being able to save money on fresh produce. That is why I always recommend growing heirloom or open-pollinated varieties, since they will always be true to seed and you can continue to grow them for generations.
Did you know that most orange carrots and grocery store carrots are hybrids and that orange carrots in general are relatively new? Before the 16th century, carrots were dark purple!
With that being said, I’ve put together a list of the 10 best heirloom carrots to grow in your garden this year. Check it out and see what piques your interest!
1. Tendersweet
First up is your standard classic orange carrot. Tendersweet is a classic heirloom carrot variety that has been popular since the 1930s, and, as the name implies, it is a very sweet variety – one of the sweetest carrots on the market! These heirloom carrots grow long and are snappy and coreless, making them perfect for eating fresh, juicing, canning, and even freezing. They are a wonderful all-purpose variety.
Color: Orange
Days to Maturity: 70-75
Mature Size: 9-10”
Available at True Leaf Market.
2. Purple
Now this is a cool-looking heirloom carrot! Purple carrots have a beautiful, deep purple exterior, but when you cut into them, they reveal a bright orange interior. Their unique look is great to grab the interest of kids if you need a little extra help to get them to eat their veggies, and they’d be great as an addition to a veggie tray or cooked as a side dish!
Color: Purple
Days to Maturity: 65-70
Mature Size: 7-8”
Available at True Leaf Market.
3. Danvers 126
Danvers 126 is an heirloom carrot variety that dates back to the late 19th century in Danvers, Massachusetts. This is one of the best heirloom carrots to grow in hot climates, as this variety is particularly hardy and heat tolerant. It also grows fairly well in heavy soils, so if you are worried that your soil might not be suitable to grow carrots and other root crops, consider trying out a Danvers variety and you might be pleasantly surprised!
Color: Orange
Days to Maturity: 65-70
Mature Size: 6-7”
Available at True Leaf Market.
4. Scarlet Nantes
Nantes carrots are heirloom varieties that originated in France over 200 years ago, and Scarlet Nantes is one of the original Nantes varieties. They don’t grow as large as some other heirloom varieties like Tendersweet, but they are considered a very high-performing carrot variety and are popular in many vegetable markets.
Color: Orange
Days to Maturity: 70
Mature Size: 6”
Available at True Leaf Market.
5. Atomic Red
These heirloom carrots have a striking red outer layer and a bright orange inside. The beautiful red coloring comes from higher levels of lycopene, which is an antioxidant and is also responsible for giving tomatoes, pink grapefruit, and watermelon their red or pink coloring. Grow these along with orange, purple and white varieties and you’ll have yourself a whole rainbow of healthy and delicious heirloom carrots!
Color: Red
Days to Maturity: 65-80
Mature Size: 6”
Available at True Leaf Market.
6. Autumn King
Looking for cold-tolerant heirloom carrots? Look no further than the Autumn King variety! As its name implies, it is a cold-hardy carrot and an excellent choice for late planting. In fact, it is a very high-yielding carrot overall and stores extremely well! If you’re in a cooler area like I am, you should definitely consider getting your hands on some of these seeds.
Color: Orange
Days to Maturity: 70
Mature Size: 10-12”
Available at True Leaf Market.
7. Black Nebula
Okay, this might be my favorite heirloom carrot variety on this list simply because of how cool the carrots look! This is by far one of the darkest carrot varieties out there, if not THE darkest. The cool thing about Black Nebula carrots is that the dark color goes all the way through to the core and these carrots retain their dark coloring when cooked. The dark color indicates a high level of healthy antioxidants known as anthocyanins, which are also found in blueberries, cherries, red cabbage, black beans and more. The juice of these carrots is so dark that you can use it make dye if you’re feeling extra creative! If you’re looking for something extra unique with lots of health benefits, I would highly recommend growing a crop of Black Nebula carrots!
Color: Deep purple to black
Days to Maturity: 75
Mature Size: 6-8”
Available at True Leaf Market.
8. Little Fingers
No, this carrot was not named after the character in Game of Thrones. Little Fingers is an heirloom baby carrot variety that is absolutely perfect for container gardening and gardening in small spaces. They are small and sweet – perfect for little kids (and adults, too) to munch on as a healthy snack! You can cook them or can them whole, too – super convenient!
Color: Orange
Days to Maturity: 55-65
Mature Size: 3-5”
Available at True Leaf Market.
9. Lunar White
Lunar White is a beautiful creamy white carrot variety that descends from wild, white carrots all the way back to the Middle Ages. Nowadays, white carrots are becoming quite rare and harder to find. These beautiful heirloom carrots are delicate, mild and sweet, and they make a beautiful addition to salads and cooked side dishes. Cooking especially brings out the sweet flavor. Grab a piece of history and get your hands on these heirloom carrot seeds!
Color: White
Days to Maturity: 65-80
Mature Size: 6”
Available at True Leaf Market.
10. Kuroda Long
Kuroda carrots are heirloom varieties originally bred in Japan. These varieties are slightly shorter and stockier than others, but this particular variety grows longer, up to 8” when mature. This heirloom carrot variety tolerates a variety of climates from cool to hot. These carrots have a beautiful, fine texture and sweet flavor and are great for juicing as well as eating fresh.
Color: Orange
Days to Maturity: 75
Mature Size: 8”
Available at True Leaf Market.
Bonus – Rainbow Blend (Multiple Heirloom Varieties)
Are you overwhelmed by the many heirloom carrot varieties here and just can’t decide what to get? Or maybe you want to grow the whole rainbow but don’t want to have to get a whole pack of each. Look no further than this beautiful rainbow blend offered by True Leaf Market! This all-heirloom blend includes five varieties: Atomic Red, Bambino Orange, Cosmic Purple, Lunar White and Solar Yellow. What better way to sample a bit of everything and enjoy a variety of colors!
Color: Red, orange, yellow, white and purple
Days to Maturity: 65-75
Mature Size: 6-10”
Available at True Leaf Market.
Final Thoughts
There you have it – these are my top 10 best heirloom carrots to grow in your garden. I love how you can get carrots in almost every color, and they don’t even need to be hybrids either! There is something so satisfying about pulling up homegrown carrots and enjoying them fresh. I just love that crisp, sweet bite of a freshly-grown organic carrot! I always encourage growing heirloom varieties in your garden to help preserve old lineages of dependable, high-performing crops.
What are your favorite carrot varieties? Let me know in the comments!
Interested in more top 10 heirloom veggies to grow in your garden? Check out my top picks for cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, peas, squash and many more!
Happy growing!
