HybridContainer OK

Tendersweet Orange Carrot

Daucus carota 'Tendersweet Orange'

This Burpee-developed variety has earned its place as one of the most dependable and flavorful carrots for home gardens, winning recognition for both its exceptional sweetness and reliable growing characteristics. The 7-8 inch roots develop beautiful orange color throughout and maintain their tender texture even when fully mature. Garden families especially appreciate this variety's consistent performance and kid-friendly sweet flavor that makes fresh vegetables irresistible.

Harvest

75-80d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

4–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Difficulty

Easy

🌱

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct Sow

Harvest

Direct Sow

Harvest

Showing dates for Tendersweet Orange Carrot in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 root-vegetable →

Zone Map

Click a state to update dates

Tendersweet Orange Carrot · Zones 4–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing2-3 inches apart, rows 12-18 inches apart

SoilDeep, loose, sandy loam with excellent drainage

pH6.0-6.8

Water1 inch per week, even moisture

SeasonCool season

FlavorExceptionally sweet and tender with fine texture and minimal core

ColorRich, deep orange throughout

Size7-8 inches long, 1.5 inches diameter at shoulder

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	July – November
Zone 6	—	—	April – May	June – November
Zone 7	—	—	March – May	June – November
Zone 8	—	—	March – April	May – December
Zone 9	—	—	February – March	April – December
Zone 10	—	—	January – March	April – 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 tops immediately after harvest, leaving ½ inch of stem to prevent moisture loss. Store unwashed Tendersweet Orange carrots in perforated plastic bags in your refrigerator's crisper drawer at 32-35°F with high humidity. They'll maintain quality for 3-4 months when properly stored.

For freezing, blanch 3-inch pieces in boiling water for 3 minutes, cool in ice water, then package in freezer bags. Frozen carrots work excellently in soups and stews but lose their crisp texture. Dehydrate thin slices at 125°F for chips and snacks – Tendersweet Orange's high sugar content creates particularly sweet dried carrots. This variety also excels in fermented preparations like carrot kraut, where its natural sweetness balances the tangy fermentation flavors beautifully.

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 onion scent

Rosemary

Deters carrot flies and other root pests with aromatic oils

Marigolds

Repel nematodes and other soil pests that damage carrot roots

Lettuce

Shallow roots don't compete, provides ground cover and efficient space use

Tomatoes

Carrots help break up soil for tomato roots, tomatoes provide shade

Leeks

Strong scent confuses carrot flies and other root-attacking pests

Sage

Repels carrot flies and cabbage moths with potent aromatic compounds

Radishes

Break up compacted soil and are harvested before carrots need full space

Keep Apart

Dill

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

Parsnips

Compete for same nutrients and space, both are long-season root crops

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 general disease resistance and stress tolerance

Common Pests

Carrot rust fly, wireworms, flea beetles, aphids

Diseases

Alternaria leaf blight, bacterial soft rot, aster yellows

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Tendersweet Orange carrot take to grow?▼

Tendersweet Orange carrots mature in 75-80 days from seed to harvest. You can begin harvesting smaller carrots at 65 days for baby carrots, but full-size 7-8 inch roots with peak sweetness develop by 80 days. Cool fall weather actually improves their sugar content, so don't rush the final harvest.

Can you grow Tendersweet Orange carrots in containers?▼

Yes, but use containers at least 12 inches deep and 8 inches wide to accommodate their 7-8 inch root length. Choose a deep window box or large pot with excellent drainage holes. Use a high-quality potting mix without garden soil, which becomes too compacted. Container-grown carrots need more consistent watering than ground-planted ones.

Is Tendersweet Orange carrot good for beginners?▼

Absolutely – it's rated as an easy variety with excellent stress tolerance and disease resistance. Burpee specifically bred this variety for reliable home garden performance. The main requirement is proper soil preparation, but once established, Tendersweet Orange forgives minor watering inconsistencies better than most carrot varieties.

What does Tendersweet Orange carrot taste like?▼

Tendersweet Orange offers exceptional sweetness with a crisp, tender texture and minimal fibrous core. The flavor is notably sweeter than grocery store carrots, with a clean carrot taste that appeals especially to children. Cool weather enhances the sugar development, making fall-harvested roots particularly sweet and flavorful.

When should I plant Tendersweet Orange carrot seeds?▼

Plant 2-3 weeks before your last frost date when soil reaches 45-50°F. In most areas, this means early to mid-spring planting. For fall harvests, plant 10-12 weeks before your first hard frost. Southern gardeners should plant in fall for spring harvest, as carrots develop better sweetness in cooler weather.

Can I save seeds from Tendersweet Orange carrots?▼

No, Tendersweet Orange is a hybrid variety, so saved seeds won't produce plants true to type. The offspring will revert to parent varieties with unpredictable characteristics. For seed saving, choose open-pollinated carrot varieties like Danvers or Chantenay instead, though you'll sacrifice some of the hybrid vigor and disease resistance.