Atomic Red Carrot
Atomic Red Carrot: 70-75 days to harvest, 14-21 days to germinate, 2-3 inches apart, rows 12-18 inches apart between plants, pH 6.0-6.8, hardy in zones 4-11. Fruit runs to about 7-8 inches long, 1-1.5 inches diameter. Give it full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours) and 1 inch per week, consistent moisture water. It will crop in a container. Because this is a hybrid, seed saved from it will not repeat the parent — plan on fresh seed each year.
Sowing
Direct sow seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, 2-3 weeks before last frost. Succession plant every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours)
- Water
- 1 inch per week, consistent moisture
- Soil
- Deep, loose, sandy loam free of rocks and debris
- Soil pH
- 6.0-6.8
- Spacing
- 2-3 inches apart, rows 12-18 inches apart
- Season
- Cool season
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Brilliant red-orange exterior with bright orange interior
- Size
- 7-8 inches long, 1-1.5 inches diameter
- Shape
- Cylindrical, blunt-tipped with smooth shoulders
- Flavour
- Sweet and crisp with classic carrot flavor and minimal core
In the kitchen
Fresh eating, salads, roasting, juicing, garnishes. Retains color when cooked.
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Carrot rust fly, wireworms, flea beetles, aphids
- Diseases
- Alternaria leaf blight, bacterial soft rot, cavity spot
- Resistance
- Good resistance to Alternaria leaf blight and cavity spot
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | — | June – July | August – September |
| 2 | — | — | May – July | July – September |
| 3 | — | — | May – June | July – October |
| 4 | — | — | April – June | July – October |
| 5 | — | — | April – May | June – November |
| 6 | — | — | April – May | June – November |
| 7 | — | — | March – May | May – November |
| 8 | — | — | March – April | May – December |
| 9 | — | — | February – March | April – December |
| 10 | — | — | January – March | March – December |
| 11 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| 12 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| 13 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Calories (per 100 g)
- 41
- Protein (g)
- 0.93
- Fat (g)
- 0.24
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 9.58
- Fibre (g)
- 2.8
- Sugars (g)
- 4.74
- Vitamin A (µg)
- 835
- Vitamin C (mg)
- 5.9
- Vitamin E (mg)
- 0.66
- Vitamin K (µg)
- 13.2
- Vitamin B6 (mg)
- 0.138
- Folate (µg)
- 19
- Calcium (mg)
- 33
- Iron (mg)
- 0.3
- Magnesium (mg)
- 12
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 35
- Potassium (mg)
- 320
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.24
- Selenium (µg)
- 0.1
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Atomic Red Carrot?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other root vegetables with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Atomic Red Carrot suits these too.
- Imperator 58 Carrot 70 days
- Purple Carrot Cosmic Purple 70 days
- Yukon Gold Potato 70 days
- Cosmic Purple Carrot 70 days
- Tendersweet Orange Carrot 75 days
- Chantenay Red Core Carrot 65 days