Nelson

Family: Apiaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Sweetly earthy and sun-warmed from the first bite, Nelson Nantes carrots form a smooth, tapered root with a crisp, fine-grained snap and a richly orange core.

At maturity (about 65 days), the slender shoulders and uniform length make them especially satisfying for fresh pulling, roasting, and brightening into vivid sauces—plus they’re ideal for pickling when you want color that stays bold.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 65 DaysHabit: Taproot

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Nelson 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	Jul 29th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 19th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 19th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 23rd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 19th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 17th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 12th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jul 8th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jul 5th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jun 29th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 24th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 14th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Jun 5th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	May 27th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	May 10th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 15th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	65
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

Nelson Nantes has the slender, fine-grained bite that stays crisp under minimal heat, then turns creamy and glossy when roasted or puréed. It’s built for “bright” cooking—pickle, roast, or blend—so the sweetness doesn’t flatten and the texture never gets mealy.

Best Uses

quick-roasting on high heat so the edges caramelize while the centers stay crisp-tender
raw ribbons or batons with a sharp vinaigrette (they hold crunch instead of turning limp)
bright, orange-forward carrot purée or velouté for silky body
quick pickling for jewel-toned sticks with tangy snap

Flavor Profile

sweet, sun-warmed carrot sweetness fine-grained, crisp snap sweetly earthy, not woody vivid orange sweetness that cooks down glossy

Kitchen Pairings

ginger cumin lime goat cheese butter honey

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most common on carrots (Daucus carota var. sativus) and how do I treat it?

Carrots are commonly hit by carrot rust fly larvae, which tunnel into roots and leave dark, distorted patches. Prevent it by covering beds with fine row cover as soon as seedlings emerge, then remove the cover only during feeding windows; pull and destroy any severely infested roots to reduce breeding. If you see leaf blight-like spotting on foliage, avoid overhead watering and improve airflow by thinning crowded plants.

How often should I water carrots during their main growing phase to avoid misshapen roots?

During active root bulking (roughly after thinning until harvest), keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged—about 1 inch (2.5 cm) per week in total, adjusted for rainfall and heat. Water in smaller, frequent amounts if the top few inches dry out quickly, because irregular moisture causes cracking and forking. Aim for deep moisture that reaches the full rooting zone, since carrots (Apiaceae) develop a long taproot that responds to consistent moisture.

How can I tell when my carrots are ready to harvest?

Check harvest readiness around 65 days after sowing, but verify by examining the top of the root near the soil line—most varieties are ready when the shoulder is thick enough for the variety’s typical diameter. For sweeter, tender roots, harvest earlier for baby carrots and delay only slightly for fuller roots before they become woody. Pull a sample plant first; if roots are slender and hard to break off cleanly, wait a week and recheck.