Yellowstone

Family: Apiaceae Root Vegetable

Sweet, sun-warmed flavor leads the way with Yellowstone, a Nantes carrot that ripens to a vivid, golden-orange core and a tender, crisp bite.

The roots are delightfully uniform and slender-cylindrical, with a smooth skin and a fine-grained texture that stays pleasantly snappy from harvest through storage. Ideal for fresh salads, roasting trays, and brightening sauces with its naturally mellow sweetness—grow Yellowstone for a harvest that looks as radiant as it tastes.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Taproot

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jul 9th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

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)	35
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Yellowstone’s Nantes form gives you a crisp, even bite—no fibrous meander—so it holds up under salt and acid instead of turning fluffy. Roast it hot for caramel edges, then finish with something zingy (lime or yogurt) to keep that golden sweetness bright.

Best Uses

thin ribbons or batons in dressed salads where the crunch stays intact
high-heat roasting to caramelize the sugars without going woody
quick-blend carrot purée/sauce for a silky, lightly sweet coating
grating into slaws or grain bowls for a clean, bright crunch

Flavor Profile

sun-warmed sweetness tender-crisp snap fine-grained, evenly textured bite mellow, carrot-forward earthiness

Kitchen Pairings

ginger cumin honey olive oil yogurt lime

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease issue most commonly affects carrots (Daucus carota var. sativus), and how can I control it?

Carrot rust fly larvae tunnel into roots, often showing as holes and corky damage near the crown. Cover beds with fine insect mesh as soon as seedlings emerge, keep weeds down, and rotate crops so carrots aren’t grown in the same spot the next season. If you see ongoing damage, remove the worst roots promptly to reduce breeding habitat.

How often should I water carrots during the main growing phase, and what soil moisture level do they need?

During active root bulking (roughly weeks 4–10), keep the top 1–2 inches of soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. In home gardens this usually means watering deeply 1–2 times per week, then adjusting to weather so the soil never dries out completely—especially after germination. Avoid letting the soil swing between dry and soaked, because it can trigger cracking and misshapen roots.

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

Start checking around 70–75 days from sowing by gently brushing soil away at the shoulder of the root. Harvest when the top of the carrot is thick enough for your desired size and the root is firm, with good color, not shriveled. For best flavor, pull in cool weather and leave them in the ground only as long as needed because they can become woody if held too long after peak size.