Harrowsmith – June 2019

GARDENING: RAINBOW CARROTS

R

ainbowcarrotsarepopularatfarmers’markets,butyou

cangrowthesebeautiesinyourgardentoo.Andwith

rootsinrichshadesofpurple,red,yellowandpurewhite,

why wouldn’t you? They’re just as easy to grow as orange

carrots and add fun and flavour to the garden. Growing brightly

coloured carrots comes with another benefit—your kids might

actually eat their vegetables!

Carrots aren’t difficult to grow but can take several weeks to

germinate. To encourage high germination rates, sow seed shallowly

and keep the bed well watered until you see the green sprouts

emerging. When the plants are growing well, thin to 5 cm (two

inches) apart and keep an eye on the roots, covering with soil if their

shoulders push out of the earth.

You can harvest carrots at any size, but our super-sweet fall and

winter crop is my favourite. The seed is sown in late July and the

harvest runs from November through March. Winter roots pack extra

sweetness as their starches convert to sugar in cold weather.

Enjoy rainbow carrots in a shredded carrot salad with purple or

yellow carrots as the star ingredient. Or roast the roots in the oven,

savouring the caramelized sweetness.

JAMES INGRAM/JIVE PHOTOGRAPHIC INC. (CARROTS, JABBOUR)

‘YELLOWSTONE’