Purple Dragon carrots with white and orange carrots

The next few months are the perfect time to plant carrots of any colour in any region, but why not try purple carrots for a change? Purple carrots (Daucus carota  Sativus Group ‘Purple Dragon’) were probably grown by early Romans who also grew white carrots, but it is believed that the first purple carrots came from Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern Iran. Purple, white and yellow carrots were imported to southern Europe in the 14th century and were widely grown in Europe into the 17^th Century. Our familiar orange carrots only appeared in 16^th century Holland when patriotic Dutch growers used seed from purple carrots and yellow Turkish carrots to produce orange roots, reflecting the colour of the ruling House of Orange. Over the ensuing centuries, orange carrots came to dominate and carrots of other colours were only preserved by growers in remote regions of the world. Purple carrots are still grown in Afghanistan where they are used by tribesmen to produce a strong alcoholic beverage.

Purple Dragon carrot

Carrots can be decorative as well as delicious

Carrots come in a range of colours

Like all carrots, purple carrots are biennials that grow with the typically deeply divided bright green leaves in a dense clump with one long plump ‘carrot’ root to each clump. The edible roots have vibrant purple skins with bands of orange, yellow and purple flesh in the centre. The flavour is sweet and spicy and these carrots are great for salad, juicing and roasting. The root colour comes from pigments in the roots that have known health-giving properties. Orange and yellow roots contain beta-carotene, red carrots contain lycopene and purple, anthocyanins which act as anti-oxidants that protect the body. In the second year, if the carrots are not harvested, then strong upright leafy flower stems will grow from the centre of the clump. Usually carrots are harvested before they flower, but carrot flowers are great beneficial insect attractors so consider leaving some to go to set flowers and go to seed. The flowers of purple carrot varieties are typically rose-pink to lavender (orange carrots have white flowers) and occur in umbrella-like flower heads in late summer and surprisingly can make a delightful addition to the flower garden.

All carrots like a sunny position and light well-drained soils without lumps or stones that might cause the roots to split. Add compost and well-rotted manure before planting, and water regularly. Carrots don not like to be transplanted so grow them from seeds sown directly into the soil from September to February in rows 20 cm apart. Thin seedlings so that there is about 10 cm between each plant. Start harvesting young carrots after about two months.

For those wanting to find out more go to the web site of the World Carrot Museum

John from the Carrot Museum has just let me know that: ‘It is not abundantly clear that orange carrots came from a cross between purple and yellow. The current thinking is that the Dutch developed deep yellow varieties. There is also some compelling evidence that orange existed in ad 500!’

Seeds of Purple Dragon carrots can be obtained from Diggers and Green Harvest among others.

Colourful heirloom carrots

The early Romans grew purple and white carrots, but it is believed that the first purple carrots came from Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern Iran. Purple, white and yellow carrots were imported to southern Europe in the 14th century and were widely grown in Europe into the 17^th Century. Our familiar orange carrots only appeared in 16^th century Holland when patriotic Dutch growers used seed from purple carrots and yellow Turkish carrots to produce orange roots, reflecting the colour of the ruling House of Orange. Over the ensuing centuries, orange carrots came to dominate and carrots of other colours were only preserved by growers in remote regions of the world. Purple and white carrots  still grow wild in Afghanistan where they are used by some tribesmen to produce a strong alcoholic beverage.

Carrots are biennials that grow with the typically deeply divided bright green leaves in a dense clump with one long plump ‘carrot’ root to each clump. The edible roots have vibrant orange, red, yellow, white or purple skins, some with bands of orange, yellow and purple flesh in the centre. The flavour is sweet and spicy and they are all great for salad, juicing and roasting. The root colour comes from pigments in the roots that have known health-giving properties. Orange and yellow roots contain beta-carotene, red roots contain lycopene and purple, anthocyanins which act as anti-oxidants to protect the body. In the second year, if the carrots are not harvested, then strong upright leafy flower stems will grow from the centre of the clump.
The flowers of purple carrot varieties are typically rose-pink to lavender while orange carrots have white flowers. They all occur in umbrella-like flower heads in late summer and can make a delightful addition to the flower garden as well as attracting beneficial insects. All carrots like a sunny position and light well-drained soils without lumps or stones that might cause the roots to split. Add compost and well-rotted manure before planting, and water regularly.

Carrot seedlings planted in rows about 20cm apart

Healthy heirloom carrot plants

Grow carrots from seeds sown directly into the soil from September to February in rows 20 cm apart. Seed can take a while to germinate so cover with some shade cloth to stop them from drying out. Thin seedlings so that there is about 10 cm between each plant. Start harvesting young carrots after about two months. Heirloom purple, yellow, red and white as well as orange varieties of carrots can be purchased from Diggers Seeds , Green Harvest and The Lost Seed . Heirloom vegetables are often easier to grow, more robust and better yielding making them perfect for the home gardener. Some of the purple varieties that are available from other sources are F1 hybrids which means you won’t be able to collect viable seed to sow the following year. Look for heirloom carrots like: Purple Dragon, White Belgian, St Valery, Western Red, Scarlet Nantes and Mini Round. This last is perfect if you have difficult soils (lumpy and not so well drained) or if you want to grow in a pot. For everything else that you ever wanted to know about carrots,  go to  the World Carrot Museum website.

Rising costs have combined with anxiety about food security to create a critical moment for people considering growing their own food. Right on cue is “Vegies A-Z”. It’s the third OG special (after Getting Started, $10.00, and Fruit, $10.00). Vegies A-Z combines new material with recent OG articles from reliable writers. My quibble with this third volume is that there is not more on soil preparation, which is crucial. Perhaps that’s in Getting Started? Perhaps the three volumes need to be read seriatum, and would make a great gift, possibly to yourself. PW is a major contributor. — AMS.
Note: There is more on soil preparation in Getting Started which is unfortunately currently out of print. A reprint is planned for later this year
Borrow a copy from your library, buy one from your local newsagent or go to the store on this website and buy a copy online