Short ‘n’ Sweet Carrot Seeds

Short N Sweet carrots live up to their name, offering a delightful combination of super sweetness, bright orange skin, and flesh. Tailored for cultivation in challenging soil conditions such as heavy clay or compacted top layers, as well as pots and limited spaces, this variety is a versatile choice.

With an average length of 4-5 inches, these carrots are ideal for juicing, thanks to their compact size and naturally sweet flavor. For a consistent year-round supply, sow the seeds directly in the soil or in containers regularly. Notably, Short N Sweet is gradually becoming a preferred option, gradually replacing our longstanding favorite, Chantenay Red Core!

Carrot Tips

Carrot seeds are very small and light so avoid sowing on windy days. Sow thinly to avoid waste, which can be difficult for less experienced growers – mixing the seed with fine horticultural sand for sowing can help avoid over-sowing.

Keep seeds damp after sowing by misting or watering with a very fine rose.

Some growers like to cover rows with a plank for a week after direct sowing to avoid drying out whilst the seed germinates but beware of slugs and snails.

Chitting, pre-germination, will give your carrots a great start. Take a clean piece of flat boarding and moisten it. Now spread out the Carrot seed on this, making sure, as far as possible, that one seed does not touch another, A large darning needle is an ideal tool for separating them when you have laid them out on the board.

Now set the board on a sunny window-ledge or in some similar position. See that the board is kept damp but never too wet. A mister spray is useful for this. After a few days you will see the seed beginning to germinate and can sow.

Germination will be slow at low temperatures and may take as long as 21 days. Covering with horticultural fleece or cloche will improve germination by increasing the temperature. Optimum germination temperatures over 10ºC but warmer is better.

I wouldn’t recommend starting in modules or pots and transplanting. Most often this results in distorted, multi-legged carrots.

There’s more on Growing Carrots here