5 of the best carrot varieties to grow

Keen to add carrots to your plot? Here are some of the best varieties to grow…

Carrots are often what spring to mind when we think of a traditional vegetable patch. What many don’t realise, though, is that away from the supermarket shelves, there’s a whole world of varieties waiting to be tasted – a myriad of shapes, colours and sizes. You could grow the rainbow, in fact! Most varieties do well in finely-prepared soil – especially if it’s been raked to a fine tilth – but there are exceptions if your soil is stubborn. There are also certain types that do well in containers, so you can grow carrots no matter what space you have, be it a garden, allotment or balcony. Here are some of our favourites…

‘Amsterdam Forcing’
If you’re after a reliable all-rounder, ‘Amsterdam Forcing’ is a great choice. The roots are quick to mature and look just like your traditional carrot: short, cylindrical and rich-orange in colour. They’re especially sweet pulled up young as baby carrots, so don’t let thinnings go to waste. Plus, if you want to grow carrots for this year’s Christmas dinner, you can sow ‘Amsterdam Forcing’ into large pots in September to grow on in the greenhouse until they’re ready to store for the big day.

‘Samurai’ 
This bold variety will impress your plot neighbours. The long red roots are high in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant which aids heart and bone health. In fact, this variety is attractive inside and out: slice and dice the roots to reveal pink inner flesh which holds its colour when cooked, so it’ll look fantastic on the plate. This variety certainly lives up to its impressive name, and it’s easy to grow from direct sowings outdoors

‘White Satin’
These roots look very much like parsnips, but they’re actually yet another colour variation of the carrot. A maincrop variety, ‘White Satin’ produces roots that have a sweet, crisp flavour. They are long and cylindrical with a smooth texture that makes them a delight to prepare and eat. The plants enjoy full sun and are quite happy in containers as well as the ground. Try planting herbs like mint and sage around your carrots to deter carrot fly.

‘Purple Haze’
Did you know that carrots were more likely to be purple than orange before the 17th century? Well, this variety pays homage to its roots. Striking purple skin surrounds the tasty orange flesh of this Nantes variety. The long, slender roots taste especially great raw, so they’re perfect in salads or as attractive snacks in a packed lunch. They’re also delicious cooked, but bear in mind that steaming and boiling will fade the colour of the roots. Still, this variety is a culinary delight for all its quirkiness.

‘Paris Market’
If your plot is normally limited by stony soils, this might be the variety for you. ‘Paris Market’ produces vivid-orange, spherical roots which grow well even in rough, shallow soil. They’re also a great choice for the smaller garden, as they thrive in containers. These carrots look different, too: the globe-shaped roots are really tasty, especially when they’re harvested young. Sow successionally between April and July for delicious harvests all season.