Scarlet Nantes stands as the patriarch of modern carrots, a 19th century French heirloom that has parented countless varieties now known simply as Nantes-style carrots. These bright orange roots grow 6-7 inches long with the characteristic blunt, rounded tips that define the Nantes family. Thriving in zones 1-10 and maturing in about 75 days (though sources report anywhere from 60-99 days), this hardy cultivar produces remarkably uniform, slightly tapered carrots that have become the gold standard for home gardeners and market growers alike.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
1-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Loose, Fertile Loam
Preferred Temp55-75°F
Growth Stats
18 in
Height
2 in
Width
2 in
Spacing
75–75
Days to Harvest
PeriodBiennial
TypeForb/herb
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
1-10
Size
18in H x 2in W
Growth
Biennial
Care
High
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Highlights
What sets Scarlet Nantes apart is its exceptional uniformity and reliability, traits that have made it one of the most popular carrots ever grown. The 6-7 inch roots grow with consistent cylindrical shape and rounded ends, even tolerating heavier soils better than many varieties. Sweet, crisp, and practically coreless, these carrots excel both fresh from the garden and as long-term storage keepers. Their bright orange color, tender texture, and superior juice quality make them equally prized for bunching at market and filling root cellars for winter.
Common Uses
Scarlet Nantes excels in both fresh eating and long-term storage applications. Their exceptional juice quality makes them prized for fresh carrot juice, while their crisp texture and sweet flavor shine in raw preparations and cooking. These carrots store beautifully for months when properly harvested and kept, making them valuable for winter food security. Their uniform cylindrical shape and rounded ends make them excellent for bunching at farmers markets, and their coreless nature eliminates waste in kitchen preparation.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Not Applicable (Harvested Before Flowering)
First Harvest
65-70 Days
Last Harvest
Determinate
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Not recommended as root disturbance stunts carrot growth
Direct Sow
Sow directly 2-3 weeks before final spring frost when soil temperature reaches at least 45°F, ideally 60-85°F. Plant 2-3 seeds per spot in deeply tilled, loose soil free of rocks and clods
Harvesting
Harvest Scarlet Nantes when roots reach full size at approximately 75 days, or when the carrot shoulders begin showing above soil level. The 6-7 inch roots should feel firm and well-filled when gently squeezed at soil level. In loose, sandy soil, carrots pull easily by hand, but harder soils may require a hand cultivator or garden knife to loosen them safely. Remove tops immediately after harvest to prevent moisture and nutrient loss from the roots.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
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)
History & Origin
“Scarlet Nantes traces its roots to 19th century France, where it emerged as a hardy heirloom variety that would eventually reshape the carrot world. Over the past 50 years, this French original has been carefully improved in the United States while maintaining its open-pollinated genetics, becoming one of the most uniform and reliable heirloom carrots available. As the founding parent of countless modern Nantes-style varieties, Scarlet Nantes represents a pivotal moment in carrot breeding history when uniformity, sweetness, and storage quality converged in a single cultivar that ordinary gardeners could grow successfully.”