Romance Carrot

Growing Instructions

Carrots like Romance grow best in cooler conditions, though this variety has good vigor to handle a range of seasons. Ideally, sow carrot seeds in early spring and late summer for a fall crop in temperate zones, or during the cool winter season in warm climates like Florida and the Deep South. Prepare loose, well-draining soil with plenty of depth since carrots need soil free of rocks and hard clods so they can grow down straight. Raised beds or deeply dug rows work well. Sow the seeds about 1/4" deep and keep the soil surface consistently moist until germination. Be patient since carrot seeds can be slow to sprout (1–3 weeks). Once seedlings are a couple inches tall, thin them out to about 2 inches apart to give each root room to develop without competition. Full sun is ideal, though in very hot climates like Florida a bit of afternoon shade can prevent the roots from getting heat-stressed. Consistent moisture prevents the carrots from becoming bitter or splitting.

Harvest, Storage, and Use

Romance carrots generally mature in about 70-80 days, but you can harvest them at whatever size you desire. For baby carrots, you might start pulling some earlier. For full-size carrots, wait until the top of the carrot root are about 1"-1.5" across and a deep orange. To harvest, loosen the soil around the carrot, then grasp the foliage at the base and pull straight up. Once harvested, cut off the greens a half inch from the top as soon as possible. The greens draw moisture out of the root, so removing them helps the carrots stay crisp. If storing the roots, don’t wash them until use. Carrots can be kept in the fridge crisper drawer for several weeks. You can also blanch slices and freeze them or can them.

These carrots really shine when eaten raw! Slice or grate them into salads, or cut them into sticks for dipping. They’re also excellent roasted in the oven with a bit of olive oil and salt, glazed with honey, or added to soups and stews where they hold shape and add sweetness. Romance’s coreless nature means even large carrots remain tender, so they’re great for juicing or pureeing into carrot soup without any woody center. Don’t forget the carrot tops are edible, too! They have a parsley-like flavor and can be used to make a tasty pesto or sauce.