Are you searching for an heirloom carrot variety with a high yield and unforgettable flavor?
If so, you’ll love growing the Danvers 126 carrot in your garden. This consistent producer has been delighting gardeners since the 19th century because it’s easy to grow and has a huge payoff in the flavor department.
Below, you’ll learn all about this carrot variety, including its physical characteristics, health benefits, and taste profile. You’ll also discover how to add this carrot to your backyard garden.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about the Danvers 126 carrot!
Looking for Danvers 126 carrot seeds? Check availability.
What Does the Danvers 126 Carrot Look Like?
Before diving into the history and growing guide, let’s look at some key attributes that set the Danvers 126 apart from other carrots.
This variety has a bright orange color and tapered shape that looks like the carrots you would find in the grocery store, but a couple of features are unique to the Danvers 126.
It’s much smaller than the common Bolero variety, measuring just 6 inches long at its peak. This stocky carrot also grows rugged stems, which make it easy to yank the roots out of the ground when it’s time to harvest.
History of the Danvers 126 Carrot
The Danvers 126 carrot is an heirloom variety with roots (no pun intended) back in 1886. Gardeners in Danvers, Massachusetts, were searching for the perfect carrot with a high yield, improved flavor, and uniformity across harvests.
After many tries, the Danvers 126 carrot was born.
Ways to Enjoy
Now that you know this heirloom’s physical characteristics and origins, learn about its impressive taste and how you can use it in cooking.
How Does it Taste?
One of the best features of the Danvers 126 carrot is its flavor. As soon as you sink your teeth into this stocky root, you can expect a unique sweetness to enchant your taste buds.
While this carrot has a delicious flavor, some find the core fibrous and tedious to chew. We recommend cooking this variety for the tastiest results.
Recipes
Making carrot cake is one of the best uses for the Danvers 126. Since this heirloom is naturally sweet, it makes the perfect addition to baked goods.
Another way to take advantage of this variety’s natural sweetness is through juicing. Many carrots create bland or savory-tasting juice, but not the Danvers 126.
One round in the juicer makes a sweet tonic loaded with flavor and natural sugars. If you’ve never tried juicing, check out our carrot juice guide to get started.
The Danvers 126 carrot works in more than just sweet dishes. You’ll love how well this variety shines in savory recipes like these garlic-roasted carrots.
Health Benefits
Not only does the Danvers 126 carrot have an incredible flavor, but it also has enormous health benefits.
Most of us already know that carrots are great for our eyes since they contain high amounts of vitamin A. Just one serving can provide nearly 75% of your daily recommended dose.
But there’s more to carrots than helping optical health.
Carrots contain beta carotene, an antioxidant linked to improved immune function and a lower risk of heart disease and cancer.
You’ll also find an impressive amount of fiber in carrots, which can help lower cholesterol and regulate digestion.
Learn to Grow Danvers 126 Carrots
Are you inspired to grow this sweet variety in your backyard? Luckily, the Danvers 126 carrot is easy to grow and high-yielding. Here’s how to get started.
Planting
Before planting your Danvers 126, make sure it’s been at least 2-3 weeks since the last frost. The soil should be warmer than 45°F, but 60°–85°F would be ideal.
You may be tempted to start these seeds inside, but germination is not recommended since root disturbance can stunt growth. Instead, plant your Danvers 126 seeds directly into the ground.
Look for a sunny spot that receives a minimum of 6 hours of daylight since carrots need full sun to be the most productive.
Choose loose soil that contains a lot of compost or well-decomposed organic matter. Aim for a pH level between 6-6.5 and avoid acidic or nitrogen-rich soil.
Watering
The Danvers 126 carrot needs a consistent supply of water for productive growth. If you only water sparingly, tiny string-like growths will form on the roots in the hunt for water, resulting in excessively hairy carrots.
Too much water may encourage top growth, causing the roots to split. Aim to give your carrots 1 inch of water per week and let the moisture soak deeply through the soil.
Container Planting
Most carrots don’t thrive in containers, but shorter varieties like the Danvers 126 might be an exception. If you find a vessel that’s deep enough, like a half-wine barrel, you might be successful growing carrots in containers.
Make sure your container is at least 12″ deep and 18″ wide and has drainage holes at the bottom for best results.
Harvesting
You can expect the Danvers 126 carrot to sprout in 12-18 days and reach full maturity in 75 days.
When it’s time to harvest, simply pull the stem until the root is out of the ground. Don’t be afraid to give this carrot a good yank since the sturdy stalk can withstand it.
Where to Buy Seeds
Are you ready to start growing your own delicious bounty of heirloom carrots?
You can find Danvers 126 carrot seeds at many retailers, but we recommend Hoss Tools for the highest-quality seeds.
Wrapping up the Danvers 126 Carrot
The Danvers 126 carrot has a lot to love. Not only does it have a high yield, but it’s easy to grow and boasts super sweet results. It’s a mainstay heirloom variety every home gardener needs to try at least once.
Want to add more carrot varieties to your garden? Check out our Carrot Plants page to discover new species you might not know about.