Carrot Nandor F1 coated Seeds - Vilmorin seeds - Daucus carota

The Nandor Carrot is a variety that produces fine, cylindrical roots. It is well-suited for freezing. The seeds are coated to allow for better germination and easier handling during sowing. Sow from March to July for a harvest from June to November. The carrot is appreciated for its sweet and sugary flavour as well as its multiple uses: grated, in soups, or as an accompaniment to meats and fish.

The Carrot is a biennial herbaceous plant, cultivated as an annual, belonging to the Apiaceae family (formerly Umbelliferae). This vegetable with highly divided leaves is grown for its fleshy roots. Depending on the variety, they can be long, medium-sized, or sometimes round. Carrots are generally orange in colour but can also be yellow, white, or purple. Carrots, rich in carotene, can be consumed both raw and cooked. Their leaves are delicious in soups.

In the vegetable garden, sow them in a sunny or partially shaded spot. Carrots are not very demanding when it comes to soil type. However, the best roots will be harvested in a rich, light, sandy soil. It is important to prepare the soil well by deep digging (30 cm (12in)) in autumn, during which 2 to 3 kg of well-decomposed manure or compost will be incorporated. All stones should be removed during this operation. Sowing takes place from February (under cover) to July.

Harvesting: Depending on the variety, carrots are harvested 3 to 6 months after sowing. During the season, harvest carrots as needed. To extract the roots from the soil, use a garden fork, taking care not to damage the root. Injuries to the roots can cause carrots to rot during storage. Let the roots dry on the ground and in the sun for half a day.

Storage: In regions with mild winters, they can be stored in the ground, in the growing area, but this ties up space in the vegetable garden. In this case, protect the roots from frost with a thick layer of dead leaves. The simplest method is indoor storage. After harvesting, cut the foliage at the base. In a frost-free and well-ventilated place, place the roots next to each other on a bed of sand. Cover them with a 2 cm (1in) layer of sand and place the next row.

Gardening Tip: 
Two tips to limit weed growth:

- Do a false sowing: about 2 to 3 weeks before sowing, prepare the soil finely. Wait for any adventive weed seeds in the soil to start germinating. As soon as they appear, rake the surface in a crisscross pattern to remove these seedlings. You can then start sowing.

- Sow radishes and carrots on the same row and at the same time. Once the radishes are harvested, it will leave space for the carrots to grow.