Carrot Purple Haze ( Daucus carota ) is a hybrid carrot with deep purple exterior and bright orange inside. It is certainly a beautiful carrot to grow and its flavour is delicious. When eaten raw the texture is crisp and the flesh is sweet and flavoursome, definitely a family favourite, especially with children.
We’ve noticed on other seed dealers websites that it is not uncommon to announce ‘great flavour raw or cooked’, however we have to sadly disagree to this one. Once cooked the flavour seems to become very slightly bitter and the vibrant purple colour fades. Cooking in our opinion ruins this beautiful carrot, eat them fresh or use them with dips to get the most out of them.
The Purple Haze Carrot is an F1 Hybrid. Plant hybridisation is when 2 plants are cross pollinated to create a specific variety of plant. They are also referred to as F1 hybrid varieties, ‘F1’ is an abbreviation for ‘Filial 1’, which literally translates to first children. Many people get a little worried when they see some of these terms and immediately think of lab created genetic mutants. Not the case at all, the parent plants of hybrids / F1’s are usually either open-pollinated or hand pollinated. There is no connection to horrendous practices (in our opinion) like the genetic modifying of food in laboratories (GMO). There is however a downside to F1 hybrids – they can not be used for seed saving. Very often if the variety has seeds present, when grown they will not be true to type. They are a seed that needs re-purchase each year 🙁
For information on other carrot varieties try Carrot All Seasons, Carrot Nantes Darcy or Carrot Baby Amsterdam.
Growth
The Carrot Purple Haze will grow up to 18-23 cm’s (7-9 inches) in length. The inside is a bright orange cylinder covered by a ring of deep purple on the outside. Harvest in 10-14 weeks.
6 Tips on Growing Carrots
- Choose a sunny spot in the garden as carrots like some full sun, they don’t mind if the sun isn’t all day though so some light shade is fine.
- Carrots need a good quality loose, well draining soil so turn your soil over about 30 cm’s deep to loosen and aerate it. If your draining isn’t great add in some horticultural (course) sand. Don’t using bark or similar for drainage and remove any pebbles etc that are chunky because this can cause forking. Add in some organic compost or manure.
- Carrots don’t transplant well so are best sown as seed directly into the garden. If you are considering buying pre germinated seedling from your nursery – choose biodegradable pots that you can plant straight into the garden for this reason.
- Once your carrots have started to pop up you can feed them every week or two with some organic seaweed fertiliser or similar, as long as it is not high in nitrogen. High nitrogen levels will cause your carrots to spend their time getting very bushy on top but not grow a lot of actual carrot.
- Sow carrots every 4-6 weeks for a continual supply through acceptable seasons. (see germination instructions tab)
- Write the date in your diary for when you planted the seeds, this variety will usually be ready by 10-14 weeks. Harvest as you need them, carrots store well if left in the ground but start to lose their flavour around 18-20 weeks.
Note: Germination instructions can be found in the ‘Germination Instructions Tab’ below. Upon purchase you will receive these detailed instructions via email so that you have a permanent record.
FAMILY:
Apiaceae
CLIMATE:
Cold to Tropical
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
10 to 30°C / 50 to 86°F
SOIL TYPE:
Composted, loose well draining soil.
LOCATION:
Full sun – Light Shade
HEIGHT:
Up to 18-22 cm’s (7-9 inches) – Root
WIDTH:
Up to 3-3.5 cm’s (1-1.4 inches) – Root
pH:
6.0-6.8
GROWTH TYPE:
Annual
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Medium
POLLINATION:
Insects, bisexual flowers.
MATURITY:
Average 10-14 weeks
GERMINATION RATES:
94%
GERMINATION TIME:
14-21 days
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 800
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
Health Benefits
WEED POTENTIAL:
No
EDIBLE:
Yes.
SEED STORAGE & VIABILITY:
Store a 4°C (fridge) for 3 years.
FACTS ABOUT DAUCUS CAROTA (Carrot Purple Haze)
Most people have heard the saying ‘eating carrots helps you see in the dark’ and while this is not exactly true, carrots are very beneficial for eye health, preventing aging eye conditions and macular degeneration. The health benefits don’t stop there though, eating carrots is good for your immune system, your skin and hair, prevent heart disease and even lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Eating too many carrots can literally turn your skin orange, you wont turn bright orange but your skin will have an orange tint.
