The Imperator 58 carrot delivers the classic supermarket carrot experience straight from your garden, producing stunning 9-inch orange taproots that are both sweet and satisfyingly crisp. This variety thrives across zones 2-10, reaching harvest in about 70 days to create the long, slender carrots that have made the Imperator type a grocery store staple. With bright green, fluffy tops growing up to 8 inches tall above ground, these carrots develop their signature tapered shape when grown in loose, sandy soil free of rocks.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Loose, Fertile Loam
Preferred Temp55-75°F
Growth Stats
8 in
Height
—
Width
2 in
Spacing
70–70
Days to Harvest
PeriodBiennial
TypeForb/herb
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-10
Size
8in H x ?in W
Growth
Biennial
Care
High
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Highlights
What makes Imperator 58 special is its ability to produce those perfectly straight, commercial-quality carrots that gardeners often struggle to achieve at home. The key lies in its soil requirements and the rewarding payoff of sweet, tender roots that can stretch nearly a foot long while maintaining just 1 to 1.5 inches in width. These are the carrots that make kids happy in lunch boxes and adults proud of their harvest, combining the familiar supermarket appearance with the superior flavor that only comes from garden-fresh roots.
Common Uses
These carrots excel in fresh applications where their sweet, crisp texture shines, from children's lunch boxes to raw vegetable platters. Their classic carrot flavor and substantial size make them perfect for juicing, while their tender texture works beautifully in both raw preparations and cooked dishes where you want that familiar, comforting carrot taste.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Early Spring
First Harvest
Mid-summer
Last Harvest
Late Summer
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Sow seeds directly half an inch deep with 2 inches between plants and 24 inches between rows, as carrots must be direct seeded since they're a root crop that doesn't transplant well.
Harvesting
Harvest when the carrot tops visible above ground appear full size, typically after 65 to 80 days from planting. Pull the carrots directly from the ground, using the green tops as a guide for when the roots have reached their mature 9-inch length and proper diameter.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Daucus carota L. var. sativus Hoffm.
Family
Apiaceae
Genus
Daucus
Duration
Biennial
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)CAN (I)SPM (I)