The Chantenay Carrot is a short, plump carrot known for its crispy, sweet taste. Unlike other carrots, the skin of the Chantenay Carrot doesn’t have to be peeled before cooking.
This disease-resistant carrot variety has been a favorite in backyard gardens worldwide since the early 18th century.
Looking to buy Chantenay Carrot seeds? Check availability.
Characteristics of the Chantenay Carrot
Known as a favorite heirloom variety in home gardens, the Chantenay Carrot is easy to grow in heavier, shallow soil or container gardens because of its shorter root.
What it Looks Like
The Chantenay Carrot has a red core and a stubby, blunt tip. It grows 4 to 5 inches long and has light orange flesh.
What it Tastes Like
When cooked, the Chantenay Carrot keeps its smooth, earthy taste. If eaten raw, Chantenay is the perfect crunchy carrot with a sweet kick.
History
Chantenay Carrots can be traced back to the early 18th century in the Chantenay region of France. Its earliest records show that it was used more for medicinal purposes than in culinary dishes.
The more it was used medicinally, the more people began to appreciate its sweet, earthy taste. And thus began its reign as one of the most loved carrots until the 1960s, when its popularity took a nosedive.
Thankfully, because the Chantenay Carrot is an heirloom variety, its popularity is beginning to soar as heirloom varieties are becoming more sought after in backyard gardens.
Ways to Enjoy the Chantenay Carrot
Carrots can be used in many different types of recipes. If you’re looking for a sweet or savory dish, you won’t have to look long before finding one that calls for carrots in some shape or form!
Carrot Cake
This recipe for The Best Carrot Cake You’ve Ever Tasted will surely catch your attention. The perfect addition to a family get-together, you’ll have loved ones asking for your recipe and racing for the last slice.
Honey Roasted Carrots
Looking for an easy side dish to go with the steak you’ve got thawing in the fridge? Look no further than these Honey Roasted Chantenay Carrots.
Stir Fry Carrot Noodles
Stir Fry Carrot Noodles is the unique recipe you’ve been looking for to add to your favorite easy dinner rotation.
Health Benefits of Carrots
Carrots are full of vitamins and minerals to keep our bodies healthy and strong. They are an excellent source of fiber as well as biotin, vitamin K, and many others.
In fact, carrots are the richest source of beta carotene, which our bodies use to turn into vitamin A. Vitamin A helps to keep our vision strong and our immune system healthy.
For more information on carrots’ incredible health benefits, check out our post on the Health Benefits of Carrots.
Learn to Grow
Carrots are a fun and easy vegetable to add to your garden. Their feathery tops are a beautiful addition to any raised bed, and come harvest, you’ll be giddy as you pluck these beautiful roots from the earth!
Planting
Planting carrot seeds can be tricky because they are so small. It’s helpful to mix sand in with your seeds to help spread them out to the plant.
When ready, dig a small, very shallow trench and sprinkle your seed and sand mixture. Once completed, lightly cover your seeds and water. You should see sprouts emerge after 10 to 15 days.
Caring
Once your seedlings are four inches tall, it’s important to thin them to ensure each carrot can grow alone and you don’t have a tangle of carrots growing below the soil’s surface.
When thinning, look for the small, scrawny plants to pluck. You’ll want each plant to be about a thumbs width apart.
Chantenay Carrots are highly resistant to pests and diseases, yet another reason they are a favorite variety of home gardeners.
Harvesting
About 65 days after sowing your seeds, your Chantenay Carrots will be ready to harvest! You’ll know they are ready because you’ll start to see the tops of the roots emerging from the soil.
You may need to use a fork to help harvest your carrots to ensure they don’t break off when you pull them from the ground.
Where to Buy
Are you considering adding Chantenay Carrots to your must-grow list this gardening season? True Leaf Market is an excellent option when purchasing your seeds!
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I wait too long to harvest my carrots?
There is no need to panic if you wait too long or forget to harvest your carrots. Often waiting until after the first frost to harvest your carrots can increase their sweetness. Many gardeners leave their carrots in the ground through the winter if they don’t have a place to store them.
If you leave your carrots in the ground too long during the hot summer months, chances are they’ll begin to rot and become mushy.
What part of the carrot do the seeds come from?
Does your mind wander while you’re planting seeds? It’s incredible to think that the tiny seed you put in the ground in just a few months will produce food for you and your family to eat!
But where do carrot seeds come from? “Bolting” happens when a plant is left unharvested for too long. Eventually, the grassy top of the carrot grows tall and flowers at the top. If left in the ground, these flowers will turn into seeds that can be harvested for planting the following year.
Wrapping up the Chantenay Carrot
While the Chantenay Carrot may not be the long, pointy carrot we grew up watching our favorite childhood cartoon characters enjoying, it’s still an excellent contender for space in your garden this growing season.
If you aren’t sold on Chantenay and you’re looking for other options, be sure to check out the Carrot Plant page on our website for more information.