These carrots come in shades of cream, yellow, orange, red, magenta and purple, so they are a great way to jazz up the dinner plate or salad bowl. Because they are so colourful (and because they are crunchy and have a good flavour), they seem to be particularly popular with children.
Sowing instructions:
Sow carrot seeds thinly in shallow drills, covering lightly with soil or compost. For early or late crops, use cloches or grow under cover to protect seedlings from the cold. Thin gradually to final spacing of around 5cm (2in), ideally in the evening to reduce the risk of carrot fly. Water before thinning to minimise root disturbance.
Avoid sowing in freshly manured soil, which can cause roots to fork. Grow under horticultural fleece or surround crops with a 60cm (2ft) high barrier to deter carrot fly. Sow small batches every few weeks for a continuous harvest from early summer to autumn. Harvest when roots reach a usable size, around 4–5cm (2in) wide.