Carrots, Purple Haze

   Carrots, Purple Haze

Hybrid. Organic. 70 days. This 2006 AAS winner is the first Imperator-shaped purple carrot. Sure to be the talk of the table, Purple Haze has a sweet flavor with a tender yet snappy crunch. The 10-12 inch purple-skinned roots have vivid orange centers, which make quite an eye sensation when sliced on a relish tray. Purple color will fade when cooked. Purple is a very trendy color and gourmet chefs are always looking for a new vegetable color. 'Purple Haze' has a purple exterior and orange interior. Circles of cut 'Purple Haze' carrots have two distinct colors: a halo of purple with a bright orange center. The best appearance of 'Purple Haze' will be raw in salads or cole slaw. When cooked in water, the purple color will fade. When carrots are cooked quickly, as in a stir-fry, the purple color will remain. Best of all, 'Purple Haze' tastes great. It has a sweet flavor no matter what color.

Planting Purple Haze Carrots While starting seeds of the Purple Haze Carrots is not necessarily difficult, the right conditions will make the process successful.  Most gardeners sow Purple Haze Carrots Seeds directly in the ground in the spring when the threat of frost has passed. Keep the ground moist but not wet for the first couple of weeks. Pick a sunny, well-drained spot for planting for the best performance. Prefers a well-drained fertile soil in a sunny position.  Heirloom / Open Pollinated Purple Haze Carrots are cool weather loving plants that prefer well drained loose soil and an even amount of water. Plant heirloom Purple Haze Carrots in rows or hills but make sure the soil is well warmed. Plant seeds 1/4" deep. Plant Purple Haze Carrots in full sun. Germination should occur in 5-10 days in soil 70-85°F. 

In rows thin plants to 3-5" apart. Height: 5”   Spacing: 12-18 inches between rows Depth: 1/4  inch Germination: 5-10 days

Starting from Seed Indoors

Generally, carrots are sown directly into the soil.  I have never started carrots indoors because the harvest will be short so there is no need to start the seeds indoors. You can grow several crops during a season.

Direct-seeding into the Garden

Turn over the area you've selected to a depth of approximately 2 inches. Rake the area until it's level and smooth. Water the area until the soil is damp but not saturated. Scatter the seeds in the row. Gently rake the area to distribute the seeds further and protect them from birds. Or, press the seeds into the soil and cover with no more than 1/4 inches of soil. You can also place 2 to 3 seeds every 3 to 4 inches in rows approximately 12-18 inches apart, and cover seeds with 1/4 inches of soil. Place planting stakes around the area so you will know where to water. Check on your seeds about once a day. Make sure to mist the soil whenever it appears dry. Germination for the Carrots is approximately 5 to 10 days, depending on the warmth of the soil. Some gardeners like to plant the Carrots in small hills (down a row). 

Germination Problems

Growing plants from seeds successfully depends on a lot of factors and this makes it impossible to guarantee success on every batch of seeds planted.  Factors include, soil composition, PH, temperature, moisture levels, seed depth, soil density, seed viability, seed storage and many others.  We tested the germination of all our seeds and this seed variety is around 80%, but your results may vary based on exactly how you plant and all the environmental factors.  Good luck.