Yellowstone Carrot & Tonda di Parigi Carrot

Carrots happily self seed in our gardens each year in the same wild manner as the celery we grow. I'm planting more yellow carrots, 'Yellowstone', among a new batch of red romaine and decided to plant a non-yellow, round variety, 'Tonda di Parigi' next to the 'Blue Pod Capucijner' peas.


Botanical Name: Daucus carota
Plant Type:  Biennial
Growing Zones:  Zones 2 - 9
Hardiness:  Frost and heat hardy
Soil Preference:  Light loam but easily grown in just about any soil except clay
PH Preference:  5.5 - 6.5
Fertilizer:  5-10-10
Water:  Regular, consistent watering but not too wet
Sun Requirements:  Full sun
Spacing:  2 - 3 inches apart
Sizes:  Baby to extremely large/long. They come in short and circular to long and highly tapered.


Although I grow my plants in the ground, they can easily be grown in a pot.  A few years ago I grew carrots in a windowbox as a test.  Not only did they do well, they've continued to self seed in that same box each year - along with some Music Garlic (which is delicious!).

Try some in your garden. You will be pleasantly surprised when they pop up.

Yellow Carrot More than Edible

So I grew yellow carrots during the summer for the first time. They started off great. Many warned I wouldn't be able to grow carrots, let alone yellow ones. Well, with all that negativity, after a couple of months, they did just seem to wither away - at least I thought they'd withered away.

The spot where they were originally grown, I planted other items in that spot, not realizing there was one lone carrot enjoying every minute of it and becoming a double legged, monster. This carrot was in the ground for many, many, many months. Of course it was finally realized that 'something' was growing there but had no idea until I began preparing the bed for something else and voila! A baby was born.

Of course, those same negativos told me not to bother trying to eat the thing as it would be pithy and tasteless. Who cares what someone else thinks? I scratched the surface of the carrot and was stunned by what appeared to be juice coming from it...so I figured what the heck - can't hurt to try it.

That was the best carrot soup I've ever eaten. Not only did it make a very good meal, for several days, I might add, the carrot actually ended up being juicy and tender and really quite delicious.

Nay sayers, bah! I dare anyone to buy a cup of soup as good as the one I had from that yellow carrot that had grown to the size of a baby's leg.




01.25.09 :: Update
I've updated another post to help you locate a supplier for yellow carrots.  You can find the information here.

Yellow Alstromeria