Daucus carota

Daucus carota (carrot) — a hardy root crop first domesticated in Central Asia, where early types were purple and yellow; the sweet orange carrot was popularised by Dutch growers. The botanical home of our carrot range.

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  • Carrot Parijse Markt 4 seeds (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable Carrot Parijse Markt 4 (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Carrot Seeds Parijse Markt 4 Daucus Carota Annual
    $6.00

    Parijse Markt 4 carrot for compact roots carrot seeds Parijse Markt 4 are an annual vegetable choice valued for their distinctive, round root shape and reliable performance in the kitchen garden. This round carrot seeds...
  • Carrot Paris Market 4 seeds (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable Carrot Paris Market 4 (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Carrot Seeds Paris Market 4 Daucus Carota Annual
    $6.00

    Compact Paris Market carrots for small spaces carrot seeds paris market 4 are a classic choice for gardeners who want a reliable, space-saving crop for patios, balconies, and small beds. This Paris Market carrot variety...
  • Summer Carrot Napoli F1 Early seeds (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable Summer Carrot Napoli F1 Early (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Summer Carrot Napoli F1 Early Seeds Daucus Carota Annual
    $8.00

    Summer carrot seeds for early, reliable crops summer carrot seeds napoli f1 are a popular choice for gardeners who want an early carrot variety with consistent results. This annual vegetable garden seed is suited to...
  • Winter Carrot Autumn King 2 seeds (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable Winter Carrot Autumn King 2 (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    17%
    Winter Carrot Seeds Daucus Carota Annual Autumn King 2 Variety
    $5.00$6.00

    Winter carrot seeds for reliable maincrop harvests winter carrot seeds are a classic choice for gardeners looking for a dependable maincrop carrot with strong keeping quality. This annual variety is widely known as Autumn King...
  • Summer Carrot Nantes 2 10g seeds (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable Summer Carrot Nantes 2 10g (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    17%
    Summer Carrot Nantes 2 Seeds Daucus Carota Annual 10g
    $5.00$6.00

    Summer carrot Nantes 2 seeds for gardens summer carrot nantes 2 seeds are a reliable choice for vegetable beds and kitchen gardens, producing long, slender roots with a uniform Nantes-type shape. This sweet summer carrot...
  • Carrot Jaune Du Doubs Late seeds (Daucus carota) – vegetable Carrot Jaune Du Doubs Late (Daucus carota) – vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Carrot Seeds Daucus Carota Jaune Du Doubs Late Variety
    $6.00

    Late yellow carrot seeds for productive harvests Carrot seeds ‘Jaune du Doubs’ are a late season carrot variety valued for their distinctive yellow roots and reliable performance in the root vegetable garden. This classic forage...
  • Chantenay Carrot Summer 23 37 seeds (Daucus carota) – vegetable Chantenay Carrot Summer 23 37 (Daucus carota) – vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Chantenay Carrot Seeds Daucus Carota Summer Variety Chantenay 23 37
    $6.00

    Chantenay 23/37 summer carrots with conical roots chantenay carrot seeds are a classic choice for gardeners who want a dependable Chantenay carrot variety with a compact, conical shape that is broad at the top and...
  • Winter Carrot Flakkeese 2 seeds (Daucus carota) – organic annual vegetable Winter Carrot Flakkeese 2 (Daucus carota) – organic annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    17%
    Winter Carrot Seeds Organic Daucus Carota Annual Flakkeese 2
    $5.00$6.00

    Organic winter carrot seeds for dependable harvests winter carrot seeds are a reliable choice for gardeners looking for a maincrop carrot with strong performance and excellent keeping quality. This organic selection, Flakkeese 2, is known...
  • Winter Carrot Flakkée 2 seeds (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable Winter Carrot Flakkée 2 (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    17%
    Winter Carrot Seeds Flakkée 2 Daucus Carota Annual
    $5.00$6.00

    Winter carrot seeds for reliable maincrop harvests winter carrot seeds Flakkée 2 are a productive maincrop carrot variety valued for long keeping quality and consistent performance in the vegetable garden. This selection produces large, smooth...
  • Carrot Amsterdam Bak 2 seeds (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable Carrot Amsterdam Bak 2 (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Carrot Amsterdam Bak 2 Seeds Daucus Carota Annual
    $6.00

    Classic summer carrot with bright orange roots carrot amsterdam bak 2 seeds are a trusted choice for gardeners looking for a dependable, early carrot cultivar with an even, attractive appearance. This Amsterdam Bak 2 carrot...
  • Winter Carrot Pelleted Flakkee 2 seeds (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable Winter Carrot Pelleted Flakkee 2 (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Winter Carrot Seeds Daucus Carota Pelleted Annual Variety Flakkee 2
    $6.00

    Winter carrot seeds for reliable garden harvests winter carrot seeds are a practical choice for gardeners looking for a dependable, annual vegetable garden crop with strong, uniform roots. This Flakkee 2 type is known for...
  • Winter Carrot Autumn King 2 Storage seeds (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable Winter Carrot Autumn King 2 Storage (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Winter Carrot Autumn King 2 Storage Seeds Daucus Carota Annual Variety
    $6.00

    Winter carrot seeds for dependable maincrop roots winter carrot seeds are a classic choice for gardeners looking for a robust maincrop carrot with long, thick roots and a rich orange-red colour. This annual vegetable is...
  • Summer Carrot Napoli F1 seeds (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable Summer Carrot Napoli F1 (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Summer Carrot Seeds Napoli F1 Daucus Carota Annual
    $8.00

    Summer carrot seeds for open ground beds summer carrot seeds Napoli F1 are a very early carrot option for gardeners who want reliable roots through the summer and into autumn. This annual vegetable garden seed...
  • Winter Carrot Berlicum 2 seeds (Daucus carota) – organic annual vegetable Winter Carrot Berlicum 2 (Daucus carota) – organic annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Winter Carrot Seeds Berlicum 2 Organic Daucus Carota Annual
    $6.00

    Organic winter carrot seeds for reliable harvests winter carrot seeds Berlicum 2 are an organic maincrop choice for gardeners who want a dependable winter storage carrot variety with strong, uniform roots. This annual vegetable is...
  • Carrots Nantes 2 Pelleted seeds (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable Carrots Nantes 2 Pelleted (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Carrots Nantes 2 Seeds Daucus Carota Annual Pelleted
    $6.00

    Pelleted Nantes 2 carrot seeds for gardens carrots nantes 2 seeds are a reliable choice for growers looking for a classic summer carrot variety with an even, attractive root shape. This selection produces long slender...
  • Carrot Flakkee 2 Winter 25g seeds (Daucus carota) – vegetable Carrot Flakkee 2 Winter 25g (Daucus carota) – vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Carrot Seeds Flakkee 2 Daucus Carota Winter Variety 25g
    $8.00

    Carrot seeds for dependable winter harvests Carrot seeds Flakkee 2 are a maincrop, winter carrot variety valued by gardeners who want robust plants and large, well-shaped roots. This classic root vegetable garden seed produces heavy...
  • Carrot Amsterdam 2 seeds (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable Carrot Amsterdam 2 (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Carrot Amsterdam 2 Seeds Daucus Carota Annual Variety
    $6.00

    Carrot variety for early summer harvests carrot amsterdam 2 seeds are an annual vegetable seed variety selected for producing long, slim roots with a cylindrical carrot root type and an even, attractive colour. This Amsterdam...
  • Nantes Carrot Summer 25g Pack seeds (Daucus carota) – vegetable Nantes Carrot Summer 25g Pack (Daucus carota) – vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Nantes Carrot Seeds Daucus Carota Summer Variety 25g Pack
    $9.00

    Summer Nantes carrots with uniform root shape nantes carrot seeds are a reliable choice for gardeners looking for a classic summer carrot with an even, attractive appearance. This Nantes 2 type produces fairly large, long,...
  • Summer Carrot Amsterdamse Bak Cylindrical seeds (Daucus carota) – vegetable Summer Carrot Amsterdamse Bak Cylindrical (Daucus carota) – vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Summer Carrot Seeds Amsterdamse Bak Daucus Carota Cylindrical Variety
    $9.00

    Summer carrots with a neat cylindrical shape Summer carrot seeds ‘Amsterdamse Bak’ are a well-known choice for gardeners who want uniform, slender roots with a classic cylindrical carrot variety look. This selection produces orange summer...
  • Winter Carrot Berlikum 2 10g seeds (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable Winter Carrot Berlikum 2 10g (Daucus carota) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Winter Carrot Berlikum 2 Seeds Daucus Carota Annual 10g
    $6.00

    Winter carrot for reliable garden harvests winter carrot berlikum 2 seeds are a classic choice for gardeners looking for an annual root vegetable with a dependable, productive habit. This winter storage carrot variety is known...

Daucus carota — the carrot

Daucus carota is the botanical name for the carrot, a hardy biennial in the carrot family (Apiaceae) that is almost always grown as an annual for its sweet, crunchy root. It is the species behind our whole carrot range within the root vegetable collection.

History & origin

The cultivated carrot traces back to Persia and Central Asia — the region of modern Afghanistan — where the first domesticated roots, grown well over a thousand years ago, were purple and yellow rather than orange. From there carrots spread west through the Arab world and into Europe by the Middle Ages, and east into China and Japan.

The familiar deep-orange carrot is a relatively recent arrival: it was selected and popularised by Dutch growers in the 16th and 17th centuries, refined from yellow stock into the sweet, vitamin-rich root we know today — part of the reason the carrot remains so closely tied to the Netherlands. Its wild ancestor, also known as Queen Anne's lace, still grows across Europe and Asia and shows where all that feathery carrot foliage comes from.

Botanical characteristics

Grown for its swollen taproot, Daucus carota forms a feathery rosette of leaves in its first year and, if left in the ground, sends up a lacy white flower umbel in its second. Roots vary enormously: quick round and stump-rooted types for shallow soils and pots, long maincrops for storing, and a rainbow of colours from orange to purple, yellow, red and white. Their sweetness comes from sugars that build as the root matures, often improving after a touch of autumn cold. Quick early carrots feature among our fast-growing vegetables, while short types thrive in our container range.

Growing Daucus carota from seed

Carrots are always sown direct where they are to grow — they resent transplanting, which causes forked, misshapen roots. Sow thinly into light, stone-free, un-manured soil and keep it evenly moist for steady growth. Their one real enemy is carrot fly, so sow sparingly to avoid thinning, and grow under fine mesh or alongside onions to throw the pest off the scent. Our soil guide explains how to get the fine tilth carrots love, while the vegetable sowing calendar shows the windows for successional sowing from spring to late summer.

Ready to grow carrots? Browse the varieties or read up first.

Related categories: Carrot · Root Vegetables · Beetroot · Parsnip · All Vegetables

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Daucus carota?
It is the botanical name for the carrot, a biennial root vegetable in the carrot family (Apiaceae).

Where do carrots originate?
From Persia and Central Asia — around modern Afghanistan — where the earliest cultivated roots were purple and yellow.

Why are carrots orange?
The sweet orange carrot was selected and popularised by Dutch growers in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Is the carrot annual or biennial?
It is a biennial, but it is grown as an annual and harvested for its root in the first year.

How do I grow carrots from seed?
Sow direct into light, stone-free soil and never transplant them; keep them evenly watered.