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
All Zone 7 root-vegetable →Zone Map
Click a state to update dates
Scarlet Nantes Carrot · Zones 4–11
Growing Details
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
Scarlet Nantes is a cool-season crop that turns woody and bitter when daytime temps hold above 80°F, so succession planting is really about staying ahead of summer heat and picking back up in fall. Direct sow every 3 weeks starting March 1 in zone 7, and cut off spring successions by early May — anything sown after that risks maturing in July heat. Resume sowing in late July or early August for a fall harvest running into November; soil temps above 85°F will tank germination, so if the ground is that warm, wait a week before trying again.
Each sowing takes 65 to 75 days to mature, so count backward from your first expected hard frost and don't start a round you can't finish. NC State Extension's IPM guidance recommends rotating root crops out of the same bed every 3 to 4 years, so keep a simple row map each season — it's easy to forget where carrots ran two years back.
Complete Growing Guide
Scarlet Nantes carrots demand consistent moisture and loose, well-draining soil to develop their signature smooth, coreless roots—clay or compacted beds will cause forking and cracking. Direct seed in early spring or mid-summer for fall harvest, spacing seeds ½ inch apart in rows 2-3 inches apart, as these cultivars rarely germinate well when transplanted. They prefer cooler weather and will bolt prematurely if temperatures exceed 75°F during their 65-75 day window, so avoid late-spring sowings in warm climates. This heirloom shows moderate susceptibility to carrot rust fly larvae, particularly in its first four weeks; use row covers for protection or practice crop rotation. Thin seedlings ruthlessly to 2 inches apart by week three—overcrowding stretches roots and reduces sweetness. For optimal tenderness, harvest at 6-7 inches rather than waiting for full maturity, as these carrots lose their delicate texture when oversized.
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
Scarlet Nantes carrots reach peak harvest when their shoulders display a deep orange-red color and roots measure approximately 6-7 inches long with a diameter of half an inch or more. Gently probe the soil around the carrot crown to assess firmness and size before pulling; the smooth skin should feel crisp and yield slightly to pressure without softness. These carrots can be harvested individually as needed or all at once when the majority reach full size, allowing flexibility for continuous use or bulk storage. For optimal sweetness, time your harvest in the morning after soil moisture has settled overnight, as carbohydrate content peaks before midday heat depletes sugars.
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 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
The Nantes carrot type originated in France during the 19th century, named after the Loire Valley city of Nantes where it was developed and refined. While the exact breeder and year remain undocumented in readily available historical records, the variety emerged from French horticultural traditions emphasizing superior sweetness and tender flesh over bulk yield. The Scarlet Nantes cultivar represents this classic type and became widely distributed by European seed companies in the early 20th century, eventually gaining recognition as an international heirloom standard. Its cylindrical shape and virtually coreless structure distinguish it from earlier carrot varieties and made it the template for modern Nantes-type breeding lines still cultivated worldwide.
Origin: Europe, Eastern Asia and northern Africa
Advantages
- +Exceptional sweetness and tender flesh make them ideal for fresh eating.
- +Classic French heirloom with virtually no core ensures superior texture.
- +Moderate 65-75 day maturity allows multiple plantings in most climates.
- +Smooth cylindrical shape and consistent 6-7 inch size simplify harvesting.
- +Easy cultivation makes them perfect for beginner gardeners.
Considerations
- -Susceptible to carrot fly damage, requiring careful pest management strategies.
- -Vulnerable to multiple diseases including leaf blight, black rot, and cavity spot.
- -Requires well-draining, loose soil to prevent forking and misshapen roots.
Companion Plants
Chives and leeks are the most practical companions here — the sulfur compounds alliums release at the soil surface disorient carrot fly (Psila rosae) adults before they locate a place to lay eggs, and because alliums root in the top 6 inches, they leave the carrot's deeper taproot zone alone. Rosemary and sage pull the same pest-confusion duty and can serve as a low windbreak on open ground. Sow radishes in the same row at roughly a 1:4 ratio; they push through soil crust in 5 to 7 days and open a path for the slower carrot seed, which takes 10 to 17 days to germinate. Dill is the one to cut from the list — it cross-pollinates with carrots and stunts root development within 18 inches; fennel is worse, genuinely allelopathic to most vegetables and a bad neighbor to carrots at any practical spacing.
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
Troubleshooting Scarlet Nantes Carrot
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Forked, stunted, or gall-covered roots at harvest — plant above-ground may look slightly off-color or wilted for no obvious reason
Likely Causes
- Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) — inject growth-regulating substances into root cells, forming visible knots or galls on the carrot itself
- Compacted or rocky soil that forces the root to split before nematodes are even a factor
What to Do
- 1.Dig and inspect roots mid-season; galls on carrots are irregular and hard — not the smooth nitrogen-fixing nodules you'd see on legume roots
- 2.Work beds to at least 12 inches deep and pull out any stones or clods before sowing
- 3.Per NC State Extension's IPM guidance, rotate carrot beds out of root crops entirely for 3 to 4 years; nematode pressure builds fast in consecutive plantings
Foliage collapsing or showing tunneled, discolored crowns — orange larvae visible when you pull the plant
Likely Causes
- Carrot fly (Psila rosae) — lays eggs at the soil surface near the crown; larvae tunnel down through the root
- Wireworms (Agriotes spp.) — especially bad in beds converted from sod within the last 2 to 3 years
What to Do
- 1.Cover beds with row cover immediately after sowing and keep it on until harvest; carrot fly is a low flier and 0.8mm mesh stops it reliably
- 2.Delay sowing in a known wireworm bed until late May — the main egg-laying flush of carrot fly peaks in April through early May
- 3.Pull the affected plants, dispose of them in the trash, and keep that bed out of carrots and parsnips for at least 3 seasons
Brown, water-soaked lesions on foliage with a yellow halo, spreading inward from leaf margins during wet stretches
Likely Causes
- Leaf blight (Alternaria dauci or Cercospora carotae) — both fungal, both splash up from soil, both thrive when foliage stays wet for more than an hour or two
- Overhead irrigation late in the day, leaving leaves wet overnight
What to Do
- 1.Water at the base of plants or switch to drip; if overhead irrigation is unavoidable, run it early morning so foliage dries by midday
- 2.Strip and bag affected foliage as soon as you spot it — don't put it in the compost
- 3.Thin to the full 2 to 3 inch spacing and keep row spacing wide enough for air to move; Scarlet Nantes tops get bushy and packed rows stay damp hours longer than open ones
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Scarlet Nantes carrots take to grow?▼
Can you grow Scarlet Nantes carrots in containers?▼
Are Scarlet Nantes carrots good for beginners?▼
What do Scarlet Nantes carrots taste like compared to store-bought?▼
When should I plant Scarlet Nantes carrot seeds?▼
Why are my Scarlet Nantes carrots forked and twisted?▼
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.