Carrots
Seed # 149
Basic Information
- Seed Number
- 149
- Seed Name
- Carrots
- Variety
- Rainbow Mix
- Category
- Vegetable
- Plant Family
- Apiaceae
- Plant Type
- Mixed-color carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus)
- Planting Method
- Direct Sow
- Seed Status
- In Seed Bank
- Created
- 2026-08-14 00:50:34
- Updated
- 2026-08-19 15:35:29
Planting Information
- Start Planting Date
- Apr 1
- Last Recommended Planting Date
- Aug 15
- Plantable Months
- April, May, June, July, August
- Indoor Start
- Not recorded
- Direct Sow
- Apr 1 – Aug 15
- Transplant
- Not Recommended
- Indoor Start Weeks Before Frost
- Not Recommended
- Transplant Weeks After Frost
- Not Recommended
- Germination Days
- 14–21 days
- Harvest/Maturity
- Not recorded
- Succession Planting
- 14 days
Growing Conditions
- Ideal Soil Temperature
- Not recorded
- Planting Depth
- 1/4 in
- Plant Spacing
- 2-3 in
- Row Spacing
- 12-18 in
- Thin-To Spacing
- 2-3 in
- Sun Requirements
- Full sun
- Water Needs
- Keep soil surface consistently moist during germination; thereafter maintain even moisture
- Soil Preference
- Deep, loose, stone-free, well-drained soil
- Minimum Container Size
- 12 in deep
- Plant Height
- Not recorded
- Perennial/Biennial Status
- Biennial
- Container Friendly
- Yes
- Trellis/Support Needed
- No
- Frost Tolerant
- Yes
- Heat Tolerant
- No
- Drought Tolerant
- No
- Pollinator Friendly
- Yes
- Medicinal
- No
Garden Uses
Container Culinary PollinatorCompanion Planting
| Plant | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lettuce | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Lettuce | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Lettuce | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Onion | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Onion | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Onion | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Onion | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Peas | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Radish | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Radish | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Radish | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Radish | Good Companion | Not recorded |
Storage
- Seed Source/Brand
- Sow Right Seeds; Urban Farmer; UMN Extension
- Packet Year
- Not recorded
- Quantity Notes
- Not recorded
- Purchase Date
- Not recorded
- Expiration Year
- Not recorded
- Storage Box
- Not recorded
- Container
- Not recorded
- Envelope
- Not recorded
- Row
- Not recorded
- Slot
- Not recorded
- Storage Notes
- Not recorded
Notes
Original Planting Method: Direct sow only. Keep seedbed evenly moist during relatively slow germination.
Original Start Planting Date: Apr 1 or as soon as soil can be prepared
Original Last Suggested Planting Date: ~Jul 25 for full fall crop
Outdoor / Direct Sow / Transplant Window: Direct sow ~Apr 1 – Jul 25; later sowings can be harvested as baby carrots.
Days to Harvest / Bloom: ~65–70 days
Container Friendly: Yes; ~10–12+ in deep container
Pollinator Friendly: Low normally; second-year flowers attract beneficial insects
Medicinal / Herbal Use: Culinary/nutritious root
Perennial?: Biennial botanically; grown as annual vegetable
Succession / Reusable Notes: Repeat sow every 2–3 weeks through late Jul for a longer harvest season.
Zone 6B Notes: Dependable Zone 6B spring/fall crop. Colors can mature at slightly different rates; harvest by root size rather than one exact date.
Companion Plants: Peas, lettuce, onions/leeks, radishes, other low-growing garden crops
Avoid Planting Near / Watch Outs: Avoid rocky/compacted soil and fresh manure. Do not transplant. Keep soil evenly moist so roots develop smoothly.
Sources: Sow Right Seeds: https://sowrightseeds.com/products/rainbow-mix-carrot-seeds | Urban Farmer: https://www.ufseeds.com/product/rainbow-mix-carrot-seeds/CARM.html | UMN Extension: https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-carrots
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Zone 6B: Direct sow in spring and repeat every 2 weeks through early summer. Sow again in midsummer for colorful fall roots.
Germination: Because Rainbow Mix contains multiple carrot cultivars, germination timing can vary somewhat among components.
Harvest: Harvest when roots reach useful size. The documented Ferry-Morse Rainbow Mix contains red, purple, white, yellow, black and orange carrots with roots approximately 8-10 inches long.
Seed Saving: Saving the mixture intact is difficult because the included cultivars can cross and mature at different rates. Saved seed will not reliably recreate the original commercial color proportions.
Special Care: Commercial Rainbow Mix packets vary by supplier. Exact germination and maturity values are intentionally left null because the packet composition was not identified.
Research Source: Ferry-Morse — https://ferrymorse.com/products/carrot-rainbow-mix-organic-seeds — Daucus carota identity, mixed red/purple/white/yellow/black/orange roots, 8-10 inch root length and 2-week succession sowing
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