Flyaway

Family: Apiaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Sweet, carrot-smooth flavor opens with a bright, honeyed snap—then settles into a tender, fine-grained bite that feels almost silky.

Flyaway Nantes Carrot forms slender, true Nantes roots with a clean, tapered shoulder and a vivid orange core, ideal for gardeners who want reliable, elegant harvests at about 78 days. Grow Flyaway for fresh pull-and-enjoy appeal, and for vibrant color and sweetness in salads, roasts, and quick pickles that showcase its naturally balanced taste.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 78 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Flyaway Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Aug 11th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Aug 1st – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Aug 1st – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Aug 5th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Aug 1st – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 30th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 25th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jul 21st – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jul 18th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jul 12th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jul 7th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 27th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Jun 18th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	Jun 9th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	May 23rd – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 28th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 18th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 18th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 18th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 18th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 18th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 18th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 18th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 18th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	78
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	50
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

A slender Nantes type with a honeyed hit and a fine, tender texture—Flyaway stays crisp long enough for raw shaving, then turns buttery-soft at the edges when roasted. Its natural sweetness makes it a standout for quick pickles and fast high-heat cooking, where it caramelizes without going hollow or woody.

Best Uses

quick pickle slices or batons where the sweetness balances vinegar
hot blister-roast on high heat to caramelize the slender root edges
shaving raw into salads for snap that doesn’t get fibrous
glossy glaze roasting (maple or brown sugar) to amplify the orange-core sweetness

Flavor Profile

bright, honeyed sweetness clean carrot crunch that quickly turns tender fine-grained, almost silky bite fresh, mildly earthy carrot finish

Kitchen Pairings

ginger lime chili honey butter feta

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects carrots (Daucus carota var. sativus), and what can I do about it?

Carrot root flies and early “damping-off” can be major issues, especially in cool, wet sowing beds. Cover seedlings with a fine insect net or row cover to block carrot root flies, and avoid overwatering so the soil stays evenly moist but not soggy to reduce damping-off. If seedlings collapse, remove affected plants and re-sow into fresh, well-drained soil rather than keeping the same bed wet.

How often should I water during the main growing phase of carrots, and how do I keep the soil at the right moisture level?

During active root growth (roughly mid-season through about 2–3 weeks before harvest), water deeply about 1–2 times per week to keep the top 6–8 in (15–20 cm) consistently moist. Aim for a damp, crumbly soil—not dry-cracking and not waterlogged—because irregular moisture leads to forked, split, or misshapen roots. If rains are light, check moisture by feel: the soil should be moist a finger’s depth down, not dusty or muddy.

How can I tell when carrots (Daucus carota var. sativus) are ready to harvest?

Start checking around your stated maturity window (about 78 days from sowing), and harvest when the roots are thick enough for the size you want. A good sign is the “shoulder” of the root bulging at the soil surface and reaching the typical diameter for your variety; if you see a lot of taper, it’s still underfilled. Pull one as a test—if the core is firm and not woody, you’re ready to harvest; if it’s very small and thin, wait about a week and re-check.