How to Choose Carrot Seeds

The type of carrots you should plant depend on your soil. Most carrots need light, easily penetrated earth that is free of rocks. Because most Southern Californians don’t have that type of soil, stay away from long carrot varieties.

“If you are planting directly into the ground and have hard clay soil, there are several short variety carrots to choose from that grow really well here,” says Scott Lathrop, general manager of Flowerdale Nursery in Santa Ana. “One popular, very productive carrot is short and sweet. It grows to about 3 inches.”

Nola Skyler is vice president on the board of directors for the UCI Arboretum. She suggests trying the Chantenay and Nantes types, both of which grow well in heavy or clay soils.

Other good choices are the miniature carrots Amstel and lady finger.

You can find these various carrot types in seed catalogues.