Description
Daucus carota ssp. sativus | Garden Carrot ‘Lila Lu Sang’
Garden Carrot, also known as Cultivated Carrot, Carrot Flower, Birds Nest Plant, and Bees Nest Plant, is a hardy, cool-season biennial root vegetable that’s bred and grown for its thick bright root during the first growing season. To create it, Wild Carrot was selectively bred over centuries to reduce bitterness, increase sweetness, and minimize the woody core, giving us the garden carrots we eat today.
‘Lila Lu Sang Carrot is a unique, newer European carrot variety known for its striking deep purple exterior and bright orange core, offering a sweet, mild flavor (unlike other purple carrots that are peppery), and good texture, making it great for fresh eating, roasting, and juicing. The purple pigmentation is attributed to higher levels of the antioxidant anthocyanin, alongside the usual beta-carotene that orange carrots offer. It’s praised by gardeners for its visual appeal and nutrient density.
Sow outdoors 2 to 4 weeks BEFORE average last frost. In climates with lows above 25°F, they can grow all winter. Not recommended to sow indoors. Do not allow carrots to get larger than normal size (8″ – 10″) before harvesting. They can be harvested when only 3″ to 4″ long for gourmet baby carrots. Peak harvest period lasts for 3 weeks. 70-80 days until mature.
Type: Biennial
Sun exposure: Full sun to light shade
Mature foliage height: 12 inches
Mature flower height: 3-4 ft
Mature width: 3-6 inches
Hardiness zones: 3-10
