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Chantenay Red Core Carrot

Daucus carota 'Chantenay Red Core'

A robust French heirloom carrot perfect for heavy or shallow soils where longer varieties struggle. These broad-shouldered, conical carrots develop exceptional sweetness and a distinctive deep orange color throughout, making them ideal for fresh eating and storage. Their sturdy 5-6 inch length and excellent keeping quality have made them a favorite since the 1920s.

Harvest

65-75d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

4–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Difficulty

Moderate

🌱

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct Sow

Harvest

Direct Sow

Harvest

Showing dates for Chantenay Red Core Carrot in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 root-vegetable →

Zone Map

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Chantenay Red Core Carrot · Zones 4–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Moderate

Spacing2-3 inches

SoilDeep, loose, sandy loam free of stones and clods

pH6.0-6.8

Water1 inch per week, deep consistent watering

SeasonCool season

FlavorSweet, crisp, and tender with rich carrot flavor

ColorDeep orange throughout with bright orange core

Size5-6 inches long, 2-3 inches wide at shoulder

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	—	—	June – July	August – September
Zone 2	—	—	May – July	July – September
Zone 11	—	—	January – February	February – December
Zone 12	—	—	January – February	February – December
Zone 13	—	—	January – February	February – December
Zone 3	—	—	May – June	July – October
Zone 4	—	—	April – June	July – October
Zone 5	—	—	April – May	June – November
Zone 6	—	—	April – May	June – November
Zone 7	—	—	March – May	May – November
Zone 8	—	—	March – April	May – December
Zone 9	—	—	February – March	April – December
Zone 10	—	—	January – March	March – December

Succession Planting

In zone 7, direct sow Chantenay every 2-3 weeks from early March through late April for spring crops, then start again mid-August through mid-September for a fall harvest that holds in the ground past first frost. Skip the heat of June and July — germination collapses above 85°F soil temp, and any carrots that do come up will be bitter and woody.

Fall-sown Chantenay is the better crop here. Cooler nights past October convert starch to sugar, and the stout 5-6 inch roots handle our heavier red clay better than longer Imperator or Nantes types. Pull as needed through December; mulch with 4-6 inches of straw if a hard freeze is coming.

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed.

Harvesting

Small, dry, and ribbed with bristly hairs. The compound umbel of fruits folds inward to form a roundish shape that can be blown by the wind and roll across the ground dropping seeds.

Color: Brown/Copper. Type: Achene. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.

Edibility: Leaves, roots, flowers, and seeds are edible. The young fleshy roots can be cooked or eaten raw, the flower clusters can be french-fried to produce a carrot-flavored dish, the aromatic seed is used as a flavoring in stews, etc. The dried roasted roots are ground into a powder and are used for making coffee.

Storage & Preservation

Remove green tops immediately after harvest, leaving ¼ inch of stem to prevent bleeding. Brush off soil but don't wash until ready to use. Store unwashed Chantenay Red Core carrots in the refrigerator in perforated plastic bags for 2-4 months—their excellent keeping quality is one of their standout features.

For longer storage, layer carrots in slightly damp sand or sawdust in a cool (32-35°F), humid root cellar where they'll keep 4-6 months. These carrots freeze exceptionally well: blanch whole small carrots for 3 minutes or cut larger ones into coins and blanch 2 minutes, then freeze in portions. They're also excellent for canning in pressure canners and make superior carrot juice due to their intense sweetness and deep color. Dehydrate thin slices at 125°F for healthy snacks that retain much of their natural sweetness.

History & Origin

Origin: Europe, Eastern Asia and northern Africa

Advantages

+Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Pollinators
+Edible: Leaves, roots, flowers, and seeds are edible. The young fleshy roots can be cooked or eaten raw, the flower clusters can be french-fried to produce a carrot-flavored dish, the aromatic seed is used as a flavoring in stews, etc. The dried roasted roots are ground into a powder and are used for making coffee.
+Fast-growing

Considerations

-Toxic (Leaves, Sap/Juice): Low severity
-Causes contact dermatitis
-High maintenance

Companion Plants

Chives, leeks, and rosemary all work next to carrots through smell — carrot rust fly (Psila rosae) hunts by scent, and the sulfur compounds in alliums plus the volatile oils in rosemary and sage muddle the trail. Marigolds (Tagetes) suppress root-knot nematodes, which matters in our zone 7 Georgia garden where sandy loam carries nematode populations year to year. Lettuce and radishes are spacing companions more than chemical ones — radishes germinate in 5-7 days and break the soil crust for slow carrot seed (14-21 days), and lettuce shades the bed without competing for root zone since carrots dive 8-12 inches down.

Dill and coriander should stay far away. Both share Apiaceae with carrots, so they pull the same pests (rust fly, aphids) and the same Alternaria leaf blight, and bolting dill draws anything overwintering in carrot litter. Parsnips have the same family problem plus they compete for the same deep root channel. Tomatoes are fine neighbors but I wouldn't credit them with much beyond afternoon shade.

Plant Together

Chives

Repels carrot flies and aphids while improving carrot flavor

Leeks

Repels carrot flies and root maggots through strong scent compounds

Rosemary

Deters carrot flies, cabbage moths, and other pests with aromatic oils

Sage

Repels carrot flies and root flies while attracting beneficial insects

Lettuce

Shallow roots don't compete, provides ground cover to retain soil moisture

Radishes

Breaks up compacted soil for carrot root development and deters flea beetles

Marigolds

Repels nematodes and carrot flies through root secretions and scent

Tomatoes

Provides partial shade and may improve carrot flavor when planted nearby

Keep Apart

Dill

Attracts carrot flies when mature and can cross-pollinate with carrots

Parsnips

Competes for same nutrients and attracts similar pests like carrot weevils

Coriander

Can attract carrot flies and may inhibit carrot seed germination

Nutrition Facts

Calories

41kcal(2%)

Protein

0.93g(2%)

Fiber

2.8g(10%)

Carbs

9.58g(3%)

Fat

0.24g(0%)

Vitamin C

5.9mg(7%)

Vitamin A

835mcg(93%)

Vitamin K

13.2mcg(11%)

Iron

0.3mg(2%)

Calcium

33mg(3%)

Potassium

320mg(7%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #170393)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Good tolerance to splitting and cracking

Common Pests

Carrot rust fly, wireworms, aphids

Diseases

Alternaria leaf blight, bacterial soft rot, aster yellows

Troubleshooting Chantenay Red Core Carrot

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Forked, twisted, or hairy roots at harvest

Likely Causes

Rocky or cloddy soil — the taproot hits an obstruction and splits
Fresh manure or high nitrogen, which causes branching and root hairs
Transplant shock — carrots resent being moved

What to Do

1.Double-dig the bed to 12 inches and sift out rocks before sowing; Chantenay's 5-6 inch root is more forgiving than Imperator types, but it still needs loose soil
2.Use only finished compost, and save the nitrogen feeds for the leafy crop that follows
3.Always direct sow — never transplant carrots

Winding tunnels through the roots and rust-colored frass, leaves looking bronzed

Likely Causes

Carrot rust fly (Psila rosae) larvae feeding in the roots
Crop planted in or next to last year's carrot or parsnip bed

What to Do

1.Cover the bed with insect netting or floating row cover (Agribon AG-15 or similar) from germination through harvest — adult flies lay eggs at the soil line
2.Rotate out of Apiaceae for 3-4 years per NC State's IPM guidance; don't follow carrots with parsnips, dill, celery, or fennel
3.Pull and trash (don't compost) any infested roots in fall to break the cycle

Yellow-brown V-shaped lesions on older leaves, foliage collapsing before roots size up

Likely Causes

Alternaria leaf blight (Alternaria dauci) — splashes up from soil in warm wet weather
Overhead watering late in the day
Crowded stand with no airflow

What to Do

1.Thin to a true 2-3 inch spacing once seedlings are 2 inches tall — crowded carrots stay wet and stay small
2.Switch to drip or soaker hose, water in the morning, and mulch lightly between rows once tops are 4 inches
3.If it's bad, strip the worst leaves; the roots will keep sizing as long as some canopy survives. Rotate the bed next year.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Chantenay Red Core carrots take to grow?▼

Chantenay Red Core carrots take 65-75 days from seed to harvest. In cooler climates or early spring plantings, they may take up to 80 days to reach full size. The exact timing depends on soil temperature, moisture, and growing conditions, but you'll see the characteristic broad shoulders developing around 50-60 days.

Can you grow Chantenay Red Core carrots in containers?▼

Yes, Chantenay Red Core carrots are excellent for container growing due to their shorter, broader shape. Use containers at least 8-10 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Their compact size makes them ideal for pots, window boxes, or raised beds where longer varieties would struggle. Ensure good drainage and consistent moisture.

Are Chantenay Red Core carrots good for beginners?▼

Chantenay Red Core carrots are moderately beginner-friendly. They're more forgiving of soil conditions than long varieties and have good disease resistance. However, they do require proper soil preparation, consistent watering, and diligent thinning. Beginners often succeed better with these than with finicky long varieties, especially in challenging soils.

What do Chantenay Red Core carrots taste like?▼

Chantenay Red Core carrots have a sweet, rich carrot flavor with excellent crispness and tender texture. They're notably sweeter than many modern varieties, especially after cold exposure. The deep orange color throughout indicates high beta-carotene content, contributing to their intense, classic carrot taste that's perfect for both raw eating and cooking.

When should I plant Chantenay Red Core carrot seeds?▼

Plant Chantenay Red Core seeds in early spring, 2-3 weeks before your last frost date when soil temperatures reach 45-50°F. In most areas, this means mid to late March through April. For fall harvests, plant 10-12 weeks before your first hard frost. In warm climates, grow them as a fall and winter crop.

How do Chantenay carrots compare to Nantes carrots?▼

Chantenay carrots are broader, shorter, and more conical than cylindrical Nantes varieties. Chantenays handle heavy soils better and store longer, while Nantes are more tender and uniform. Chantenay Red Core develops better sweetness and has superior crack resistance, making it better for challenging growing conditions and long-term storage.