Yaya

Family: Apiaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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

Sweet, garden-fresh flavor leads the way with Yaya—an elegant Nantes carrot that ripens to a vivid, warm orange and carries a tender, crisp bite.

The roots are smooth and finely tapered, with a satisfying, juicy texture that holds its charm from first harvest through storage. Grow Yaya for reliable, uniform roots and a classic Nantes silhouette prized for fresh bunching and vibrant color in every bed.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Taproot

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Yaya 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 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 24th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 28th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 22nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 17th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jul 13th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jul 10th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jul 4th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Jun 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	Jun 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	May 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
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

Yaya’s Nantes shape brings a juicy, tender-crisp bite—sweet without turning starchy—so it shines either raw or with quick heat. Use it where you want the carrot to taste like carrot: minimal seasoning, fast cook, and a buttery-sweet finish that won’t mute its brightness.

Best Uses

fresh bunch-slicing with flaky salt and cultured butter
shaved carrot salads that stay snappy under vinaigrette
glazed roast or pan-roasted carrots (honey-butter)
juice-forward soups where the carrot flavor reads pure

Flavor Profile

sweet, clean carrot sweetness tender-crisp juicy bite gentle herbaceous edge bright, warm orange character

Kitchen Pairings

butter honey ginger lemon thyme yogurt

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects carrot (Daucus carota var. sativus), and what should I do?

A frequent problem is carrot rust fly, whose larvae tunnel into roots, making them look swollen or bitter and often unmarketable. Use a fine mesh row cover from sowing until tops are well established, and remove any damaged roots promptly so larvae don’t spread. If you see fungal leaf spots, avoid wetting the foliage and improve airflow by thinning early to prevent crowded carrot tops.

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

During active root bulking (after seedlings are established), keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy, aiming for roughly 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week total from rain and irrigation. Water deeply so moisture reaches the developing taproot, and reduce frequency if you see cracking or splitting, which often comes from irregular watering. Mulch lightly to steady moisture, especially in warm weather.

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

Check the roots early by gently brushing aside soil at the shoulder; harvest when the shoulders are at your desired diameter, commonly around 70 days from sowing. Tops won’t always indicate maturity reliably, so use root size as your main cue. Harvest before prolonged hot weather or stress, which can reduce sweetness and cause tougher roots.