Grow Rainbow Blended Carrots from fresh Daucus carota seeds. This rainbow mixture produces an array of colorful carrots. Mixed together you will find varieties of Cosmic Purple, Atomic Red, Solar Yellow, Bambino Orange and Lunar White. Each of the roots will range in lengths from 6 inches, up to 11 inches long and boast a delicious and unique flavoring. Most varieties within this carrot mixture will be ready for harvesting in about 65 to 70 days after first sprouts appear.
Carrots, believe it or not, weren’t always orange. Some of the most popular picks and more common picks in earlier days came in an array of colors such as Red (Atomic Carrot), Purple (Cosmic Carrot), Yellow (Solar Carrot) & White (Lunar Carrot). But as time carried on, orange became the more popular pick.
Carrots aren’t just tasty, they have a number of health benefits to offer you as well. They are rich in Vitamin A, and offer 210% of your daily recommended serving. Also providing 2% of Calcium, 2% of Iron and 6% of Vitamin C. But it doesn’t stop there, they are known to provide a healthy serving of fiber, vitamin K, potassium, folate, manganese, phosphorous, magnesium, vitamin E and zinc as well. Carrots are known to prevent various cancers such as, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, leukemia, prostate cancer, and are also well known in improving your vision.
Carrots are best stored in a cold fridge, in ziplock bags, or other ziplock containers. It is best to remove all leafy greens prior to storing as this will prevent the greens from drawing out moisture and nutrients from the roots. Carrots should be peeled and rinsed before consuming. Add them to salads, in a pot roast and other tasty dishes and enjoy their delicious flavor.
Sowing The Seed
Carrots are best established directly outdoors in a loose, rock free soil. It may be best to turn your dirt, replace the dirt with a mixture of fresh compost and soil, and/or create a raised bed. These vegetables enjoy cooler temperatures and are often sown 2 to 3 weeks prior to the last frost, or while temperatures are still cool. Sow the seeds at a depth of 1/4″ to 1/2″ under topsoil.
Growing Conditions
Place your Carrots in an area that will receive full sunlight with temperatures staying beneath 85F. Again make sure that the soil is loose and free of rocks. For areas consisting of hard, compacted soil, it is best to add in a fresh compost. The trick to germinating carrots successfully is to keep the topsoil moist until germination has occurred. Water regularly thereafter, but also avoid overwatering as this can definitely cause cracking or splitting in your roots.
Germination & Growth
Your carrot seeds will begin to germinate within roughly 14 to 21 days after sowing. The seeds can be sown 3 inches apart from one another, in rows positioned 6 inches apart. The leafy greens will usually reach a mature length of 12 to 18 inches tall. This colorful rainbow mixture is consisted of 5 varieties including Cosmic Purple, Atomic Red, Solar Yellow, Lunar White and Bambino Orange.
Harvesting
The first step to harvesting your carrots is to pull one up to check its quality. Remember, the best tasting carrots are those that are bright orange and match the listed size on the seed packet. To harvest, simply loosen the soil around the roots and give it a tug. Be careful to plan out how often you will be using / eating your carrots so that you can store them for use. Storing them in a fridge or cool cellar is best, just make sure to rinse them prior. Carrots can also be kept in the ground up to an additional four weeks if you have no urgent use for them.