Daucus carota Seeds | Royal Chantenay Carrot
LATIN NAME: Daucus carota
COMMON NAME: Royal Chantenay Carrot
Plant Profile
A distinctive member of its genus, Royal Chantenay Carrot (Daucus carota) is a fast-growing, annual in the carrot family. The Royal Chantenay carrot cones short, orange roots beneath feathery tops, the whole row standing in the neat, sturdy look of the kitchen garden bed. It is a plant of open, sunny, light, sandy, deep, moist ground. Bees find the flowers quickly, and that pollinator traffic is a garden benefit in its own right. Gardeners value it precisely for this blend of qualities.
Science & Biotechnology
Within the carrot family, Daucus carota is of continuing interest to researchers working on plant diversity, seed biology and the selection of improved garden forms. Raising it from seed today is a matter of ordinary good practice rather than specialist skill.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Royal Chantenay Carrot for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. The Royal Chantenay carrot is a neat, useful plant of kitchen garden bed and study collection. It is a neat, useful plant of open, sunny, light, sandy, deep, moist ground. The Chantenay seeds germinate well in a fine, sandy loam kept moist. It establishes readily and then requires nothing out of the ordinary.
The carrot is a vitamin-A powerhouse through its beta-carotene, and wild carrot seed has a folk record as a diuretic; the vegetable’s eye-health reputation is one of the best-earned in nutrition.
Growing from Seed
Raising Royal Chantenay Carrot from seed is straightforward. Sow on the surface of a gritty, well-drained mix, cover lightly with fine compost, and maintain gentle, even moisture in a sunny position. Once the seedlings have made true leaves, pot them on individually and plant out when they are sturdy and conditions are right.
Our Take
It grows as a fast-growing, annual, so its place in the garden is easy to plan. The traditional uses covered above are what first made this species worth cultivating. Fresh seed sown into evenly moist compost is most of the battle won.
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