Purple Dragon

Family: Apiaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Purple Dragon to a garden.

Sink your fingers into Purple Dragon’s velvety, ink-purple shoulders and watch the color fade to a luminous orange core as the roots mature.

Sweet and earthy with a crisp, fine-grained bite, these Danvers-shaped carrots roast to caramelized depth while staying tender—ideal for brightening fresh platters, silky purées, and vivid pickled accents.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Taproot

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Purple Dragon 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)	60
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Purple Dragon’s Danvers shape and fine-grained crunch make it hold up under heat without going woody—roast it hot for caramelized shoulders and a tender center. The purple skin fades, but the sweetness and earthy snap stay, so it’s built for both bright fresh platters and orange-kissed purées.

Best Uses

hot-sheet roasting until edges lacquer and centers stay tender
silky purée or soup where the sweetness doesn’t turn cloying
quick-pickle ribbons for sharp, vividly colored crunch
raw shaved salads where the bite stays snappy

Flavor Profile

sweet, earthy carrot core crisp, fine-grained bite roasty, caramel-leaning sugars mild peppery finish

Kitchen Pairings

lime ginger honey cumin feta butter

Frequently Asked Questions

What pests or diseases commonly affect Daucus carota (Purple Dragon carrot), and how do I treat them?

Carrots commonly suffer from carrot rust fly, which causes tunneling near the crown and small, stunted roots. Use a fine insect net over the bed from just after sowing until plants are established, and pull and compost any badly tunneled roots early to break the life cycle. If you see white, powdery growth, thin plants for airflow and avoid wetting foliage; severe infections can be reduced by removing heavily affected leaves so the roots can continue developing.

How often should I water Purple Dragon carrots during the main growing phase?

After germination, keep the top 2–3 inches of soil evenly moist so roots develop straight; aim for light, frequent watering in warm weather rather than soaking then drying out. Once plants are established, water about 1 inch per week total (from rain plus irrigation), adjusting so the soil never dries out completely or stays waterlogged. Uneven moisture encourages cracking and forked roots in carrots.

How can I tell when Purple Dragon carrots are ready to harvest?

Start checking around 70–75 days: look for shoulders pushing up at the soil line and size the roots reach the variety’s expected diameter (often 1/2–1 inch for home plantings). Harvest when roots are firm and brightly colored; avoid leaving them in the ground too long because they can become woody. Pull one or two as test samples and harvest the rest promptly once they match the test roots’ size and firmness.