Royal Chantenay

Family: Apiaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Sweet and richly aromatic, Royal Chantenay delivers a deep, carrot-orange harvest with a pleasantly crisp bite and fine-grained tenderness.

The roots are characteristically short and stout for the Chantenay class—ideal for roasting, fresh snacking, and vibrant mashes, while their naturally sweet flavor shines in glazed sides and pickled preparations. Garden to table in about 80 days, with a steady, dependable crop that rewards even small spaces with bold color and clean, uniform roots.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 80 DaysHabit: Taproot

Botanical illustration of Royal Chantenay

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

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	80
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Taproot
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Royal Chantenay’s short-stout build caramelizes quickly and stays sweet without turning woody, giving you a crisp exterior and tender interior in the same bite. It’s the kind of carrot that holds its own with butter-glaze and warm spices, rather than needing heavy sauce to taste like something.

Best Uses

sheet-pan roasting with a glossy glaze—short stout roots caramelize fast without drying out
fresh snacking sticks or shaved ribbons under a squeeze of citrus
glazed side dishes (honey/butter or brown sugar) that cling to the root’s crisp surface
mashes or purées where the texture stays silky instead of watery

Flavor Profile

naturally sweet carrot-orange flavor crisp snap with fine-grained tenderness warm, richly aromatic earthiness

Kitchen Pairings

brown butter honey ginger cumin orange zest feta

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Daucus carota (carrots) like Royal Chantenay, and how can I manage it?

Carrot rust fly maggots can tunnel into roots, often showing as weakened plants and “maggoty” scars near the crown. Cover beds with fine mesh row cover after sowing and keep it in place until the roots are well established, then thin seedlings so you don’t leave overcrowded clumps that attract egg-laying. If you see damage, remove affected roots and don’t reuse that soil immediately for carrots the next season to reduce carryover of pests.

How often should I water Royal Chantenay during the main growing phase to keep roots growing well?

From emergence through root bulking (roughly weeks 4–10), keep the top 1–2 inches of soil consistently moist with light, frequent watering—usually about 1 inch per week total, adjusted for rainfall. Avoid letting the bed dry out completely and then soaking, because carrots are prone to splitting and forking when moisture swings. Mulch lightly after seedlings establish to stabilize moisture and reduce surface crusting.

How do I tell when Royal Chantenay is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the roots have reached the expected shoulder size for the variety and you can see the top of the carrot well above the soil surface, typically around 80 days from sowing. Gently pull one or two test roots: they should be firm, brightly colored, and uniform in thickness without overly small tips. If tops are still very small at day 80, wait another 1–2 weeks, but don’t leave them too long past maturity because growth slows and can become woody.