Scarlet Nantes Carrot
Daucus carota 'Scarlet Nantes'
A classic French heirloom carrot prized for its sweet flavor and crisp texture. These cylindrical orange roots grow 6-7 inches long with smooth skin and virtually no core, making them perfect for fresh eating and cooking. Their exceptional sweetness and tender flesh have made them the gold standard for home garden carrots worldwide.
Harvest
65-75d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
4–11
USDA hardiness
Difficulty
Easy
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Scarlet Nantes Carrot in USDA Zone 7
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Scarlet Nantes Carrot · Zones 4–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Bloom time: Fall, Summer
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 ½ inch of stem to prevent bleeding. Store unwashed carrots in perforated plastic bags in the refrigerator crisper drawer at 32-35°F with high humidity. Properly stored Scarlet Nantes keep 2-4 months, far longer than most carrot varieties.
For preservation, blanch 2-inch pieces in boiling water for 3-5 minutes, then freeze in airtight containers for up to 8 months. Their naturally high sugar content makes them excellent for dehydrating—slice thin and dry at 125°F for 6-8 hours until leathery. Scarlet Nantes also pressure can beautifully, maintaining texture better than many varieties. The tender, coreless flesh makes exceptional purees for baby food or soups that freeze well for up to one year.
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
Plant Together
Chives
Repels carrot flies and aphids with strong sulfur compounds
Leeks
Deters carrot rust flies while carrots repel leek moths
Rosemary
Strong aromatic oils mask carrot scent from carrot flies
Sage
Repels carrot flies and other root pests with pungent oils
Lettuce
Shallow roots don't compete, provides living mulch between carrot rows
Tomatoes
Solanine in tomato roots may deter some soil pests affecting carrots
Radishes
Break up soil for carrot growth and mature quickly before carrots need space
Marigolds
Root secretions suppress nematodes that damage carrot roots
Keep Apart
Dill
Mature dill plants can stunt carrot growth and reduce yields
Parsnips
Attract same pests like carrot flies and compete for similar soil nutrients
Fennel
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit carrot germination and growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #170393)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good general disease resistance, moderate carrot fly tolerance
Common Pests
Carrot fly, wireworms, flea beetles, aphids
Diseases
Leaf blight, black rot, cavity spot, carrot rust fly damage