Nantes

Family: Apiaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Sweet as fresh honey with a bright, carrot-top fragrance, Nantes delivers a smooth, tender bite and a pleasantly crisp snap from garden to table.

This Danvers-class selection forms uniform, medium-long roots with a classic tapered silhouette—deep orange through the core—ideal for roasting to caramelized sweetness, steaming for clean, garden-fresh flavor, and grating into vibrant salads and slaws. At about 75 days, it’s a reliable cool-season favorite for growers who want dependable size and a beautifully even harvest.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Taproot

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Nantes 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 8th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 29th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 29th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Aug 2nd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 29th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 27th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 22nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jul 18th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jul 15th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jul 9th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jul 4th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 24th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Jun 15th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	Jun 6th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	May 20th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 25th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Taproot
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Nantes is the kind of carrot you can eat raw and still feel a juicy snap—its sweetness hangs on without turning flabby. Roast it hot for real caramel edges, or steam and glaze so it keeps that garden-fresh, carrot-top perfume.

Best Uses

roast until lacquered and caramel-edged
steam and glaze with butter for a glossy, sweet bite
grate into apple-cabbage style slaw with a sharp vinegar dressing
cut into batons and quick-cook for snappy-tender texture

Flavor Profile

honeyed sweetness crisp, tender snap bright green carrot-top fragrance clean, lightly earthy core

Kitchen Pairings

ginger orange butter honey cumin feta

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Spinacia oleracea (Nantes spinach), and how can I prevent it?

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is especially prone to downy mildew, which shows up as pale yellow patches on leaves with a gray-violet growth underneath. Keep the canopy drier by watering at the soil line, spacing plants to improve airflow, and removing infected leaves right away. If you see a new spot spreading, stop overhead watering and restart with fresh, untreated seed once conditions cool, since mildew can build quickly in damp weather.

How often should I water Nantes spinach during its main growth phase (around the 3–6 weeks after germination)?

During active leaf growth, keep the top 1–2 inches of soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—typically about 1 inch of water per week, adjusted for heat and wind. Water deeply in the morning and aim for steady moisture because fluctuating dryness followed by heavy watering can stress plants and slow leaf expansion. If leaves start to look dull or wilt in mid-day, increase frequency slightly rather than giving a large soaking at longer intervals.

How do I know when to harvest Nantes spinach (Spinacia oleracea)?

Harvest when leaves are fully expanded and tender, usually about 40–60 days from sowing for baby leaves, and closer to ~75 days for larger heads/leaf clusters. Pick outer leaves first (snip at the base) when they’re about palm-sized, or harvest the whole plant if it reaches its full, vigorous rosette. Avoid waiting until the plant bolts—once flowering stems start, leaves turn tougher and more bitter.