Mokum Carrot
Daucus carota var. sativus
Top-rated for flavor among our early varieties. Attractive slender roots are great for early bunches. A bit earlier than Yaya, more slender, the same length (5 1/2-6 1/2") and color, and with similar high sugar and brittle tenderness. Holds sweet taste even in warm weather. Short tops. Widely adapted. Amsterdam type. Also available with NOP-compliant pelleting.
Harvest
50-60d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
4–11
USDA hardiness
Difficulty
Easy to moderate
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Mokum Carrot in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 root-vegetable →Zone Map
Click a state to update dates
Mokum Carrot · Zones 4–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | — | June – July | July – 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 | June – October |
| Zone 4 | — | — | April – June | June – October |
| Zone 5 | — | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | — | — | April – May | May – November |
| Zone 7 | — | — | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | — | — | March – April | April – December |
| Zone 9 | — | — | February – March | March – December |
| Zone 10 | — | — | January – March | March – December |
Succession Planting
Direct sow Mokum every 14-21 days starting around March 1 in zone 7, and keep going through early May for a continuous harvest window running May through July. Each sowing takes 50-60 days to size up, so the math works out cleanly — a March 1 planting pulls in mid-to-late May, a March 21 planting in early June, and so on. Stop sowing once daytime highs are reliably at 85°F, which in Georgia typically means wrapping up new plantings around late May; germination gets erratic in hot soil and roots turn bitter before they're worth harvesting.
Pick back up with a fall run starting around August 15 — soil temps will still be warm enough to push germination within 10-17 days, and the roots will size up as temperatures drop into the 60s°F, which actually concentrates sugars and improves flavor. Per NC State Extension's rotation guidance, track which beds you're using each season and don't run Apiaceae crops in the same ground more than once every 3 years.
Complete Growing Guide
Plant Mokum Carrot seeds directly in loose, well-draining soil 2–3 weeks before your last spring frost to capitalize on its 50–60 day maturity—earlier than comparable varieties like Yaya. This cultivar thrives in cool to moderate conditions and notably retains sweetness even during warm spells, making it ideal for succession planting into early summer. Space seeds ½ inch deep and thin seedlings to 2–3 inches apart to develop those signature slender, uniform roots. Mokum's short tops reduce foliage competition, but ensure consistent soil moisture during germination and early growth, as dry conditions cause roots to split and crack. Watch for carrot rust flies and root-knot nematodes, particularly in warmer regions; use row covers during peak fly season. A practical tip: harvest at the 5½–6½ inch sweet spot rather than allowing over-maturity, since this variety's fine texture and tender core deteriorate quickly once roots become overgrown.
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
Mokum carrots reach peak harvest when roots display a deep orange color throughout and measure 5 to 6 inches long, which typically occurs 50 to 60 days after sowing. Gently brush away soil to assess diameter—they should feel firm and smooth, roughly pencil to finger-thick for optimal tenderness. These slender Amsterdam types are ideal for continuous harvesting by pulling the largest roots first, allowing smaller ones to develop further, or for single-harvest bunching when all roots reach uniform size simultaneously. For best flavor and crispness, harvest in early morning or late afternoon when soil moisture is highest, as this ensures maximum sugar content and that signature brittle texture that distinguishes Mokum from later varieties.
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 Mokum carrots in perforated plastic bags in the refrigerator crisper drawer at 32-35°F with high humidity — they'll keep 2-3 months this way, maintaining their exceptional crispness.
For longer storage, layer roots in damp sand or peat moss in a cool (32-40°F) basement or root cellar. They'll stay perfect for 4-6 months. Mokum's dense flesh makes it excellent for freezing — blanch whole small carrots for 5 minutes or cut larger ones and blanch 3 minutes before freezing. The variety's high sugar content also makes it perfect for dehydrating into sweet carrot chips or fermenting into carrot kraut. Avoid canning whole carrots as Mokum's tender texture becomes mushy, though they're excellent in mixed vegetable preserves.
History & Origin
The Mokum carrot belongs to the Amsterdam type lineage, a classic European breeding tradition known for producing slender, tender roots prized for early harvesting and fresh-market bunching. While specific breeder attribution and introduction date are not well documented in readily available sources, the variety reflects decades of Dutch horticultural expertise in carrot refinement. The "Mokum" name itself references Amsterdam's historic nickname, suggesting intentional branding within this prestigious carriage heritage. The variety likely emerged through conventional selection within Amsterdam-type germplasm during the late twentieth century, prioritizing the combination of earliness, consistent slenderness, superior sweetness, and shortened tops that characterize the modern cultivar available today.
Origin: Europe, Eastern Asia and northern Africa
Advantages
- +Exceptionally sweet and crisp flavor holds even in warm weather conditions
- +Slender roots perfect for attractive early bunches and premium market presentation
- +Earlier maturity than similar varieties at just 50-60 days to harvest
- +Short tops reduce foliage while maintaining excellent sugar content and tenderness
- +Widely adapted Amsterdam type grows well across diverse growing regions
Considerations
- -Susceptible to carrot fly, aphids, flea beetles, and wireworm pest damage
- -Vulnerable to multiple leaf diseases including Alternaria blight and cercospora leaf spot
- -Requires careful soil preparation and consistent moisture to prevent cracking
Companion Plants
Onions, chives, and sage are the most useful companions for Mokum. Alliums — onions and chives — are thought to confuse carrot fly (Psila rosae) adults through scent masking; alternating rows or a tight border planting is the standard approach. Rosemary and sage work on a similar principle and stay low enough that they won't shade out your carrot tops. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) are worth tucking in at the row ends — they pull in beneficial insects that prey on aphids without competing for root space. Radishes do double duty: they germinate in 5-7 days and mark your rows while Mokum's slower 10-17 day germination plays out, then loosen the top inch of soil as you pull them.
Dill, coriander, and parsnips are the ones to skip. Dill and coriander are both Apiaceae — same family as carrots — so planting them nearby concentrates Alternaria dauci spores and carrot fly pressure in one spot. In our zone 7 Georgia garden, where humid conditions arrive fast and stay long, that kind of disease concentration isn't a trade-off worth making for a few herb sprigs. Parsnips share the same root depth and disease profile, so they don't diversify the bed at all; they just add more of the same risk.
Plant Together
Chives
Repels carrot flies and aphids with strong sulfur compounds
Lettuce
Shallow roots don't compete, provides ground cover to retain soil moisture
Tomatoes
Help deter carrot flies while carrots may improve tomato flavor
Rosemary
Strong aromatic oils confuse and repel carrot flies and other pests
Radishes
Break up soil for carrot growth and mature quickly as intercrop
Sage
Repels carrot flies and cabbage moths with aromatic compounds
Onions
Sulfur compounds strongly repel carrot flies and root maggots
Marigolds
Release compounds that deter nematodes and various soil pests
Keep Apart
Dill
Attracts beneficial insects when young but can stunt carrot growth when mature
Parsnips
Compete for same soil nutrients and space, attract similar pests
Coriander
May inhibit carrot germination and early growth through allelopathic effects
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #170393)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Excellent resistance to alternaria leaf blight and cavity spot
Common Pests
Carrot fly, aphids, flea beetles, wireworms
Diseases
Alternaria leaf blight, cercospora leaf spot, bacterial soft rot
Troubleshooting Mokum Carrot
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Seedlings collapse at soil level, stems look pinched or water-soaked, within the first 2 weeks of germination
Likely Causes
- Damping off — typically Pythium or Rhizoctonia spp. — triggered by cold, waterlogged soil
- Sowing too deep into poorly draining beds
What to Do
- 1.Thin to 2-inch spacing immediately so air can move between plants
- 2.Stop watering until the top inch of soil dries out; Mokum needs 1 inch per week but not pooling moisture
- 3.Next sowing, work in compost to improve drainage and wait until soil temps are consistently above 50°F
Feathery carrot tops show tan or brown lesions with yellow halos, starting around week 4-5
Likely Causes
- Alternaria leaf blight (Alternaria dauci) — spores splash up from soil or blow in on humid days
- Cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora carotae) — looks similar but tends to appear later in the season and produces smaller, more defined spots
What to Do
- 1.Pull and trash (don't compost) the worst-affected tops to slow spread
- 2.Mulch the bed with straw to cut down on soil splash
- 3.Rotate this bed out of carrots and other Apiaceae — parsley, parsnip, dill — for at least 3 years; NC State Extension's IPM guidance calls for keeping related crops off a site for 3 to 4 years minimum
Tunnels or irregular scarring on carrot shoulders and roots at harvest, no surface pest visible
Likely Causes
- Carrot fly larvae (Psila rosae) — maggots tunnel through the root just below the soil surface
- Wireworms (Agriotes spp.) — thin, hard-bodied larvae that bore narrow channels through the root
What to Do
- 1.At next planting, cover the bed with row cover immediately after direct sowing and keep it on through harvest — carrot fly adults are weak fliers and can't get under a sealed edge
- 2.Avoid planting into ground that was lawn or weedy fallow the previous season, where wireworm populations build up
- 3.Track your bed rotation: NC State Extension notes that not planting the same crop family in the same spot more than once every 3 years helps break larval cycles in the soil
Harvested roots are soft, slimy, and smell bad — either at the shoulder or all the way through
Likely Causes
- Bacterial soft rot (Erwinia carotovora) — enters through wounds or insect feeding sites, spreads fast in warm, wet conditions
- Leaving mature roots in the ground too long during warm spells
What to Do
- 1.Pull Mokum at 50-60 days; don't leave them in the ground past maturity when soil temps are above 70°F
- 2.Let harvested carrots sit in a cool, dry spot for a few hours before bagging — don't store them wet
- 3.Any root showing slime goes straight in the trash, not the compost bin
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Mokum carrot take to grow from seed?▼
Can you grow Mokum carrots in containers?▼
What does Mokum carrot taste like compared to store carrots?▼
Is Mokum carrot good for beginners?▼
When should I plant Mokum carrots for fall harvest?▼
Mokum vs Scarlet Nantes carrot - what's the difference?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.