Rainbow Carrots – Growing a Colorful Veggie Garden
Isn’t it fascinating to be able to grow fruits and vegetables of all colors of the rainbow? Growing rainbow carrots is way more exciting for my daughters than growing regular carrots, but we love them all!
With rainbow ones, you can add a variety of lovely colors to your garden and your dinner plate. Many rainbow carrots keep their colors even after cooking!
Do you want to grow some with us this year? I am really looking forward to planting and harvesting this pretty veggie from our raised garden beds.
Let’s get started learning all about rainbow carrots and how to grow them!
What are rainbow carrots?
Rainbow carrots are edible root veggies that grow in beautiful colors like purple, red, yellow, white, and orange. These carrots are domesticated versions of the wild carrot, also known as Daucus carota. Expect these carrots to grow nice and long, generally between 6 and 11 inches.
What do rainbow carrots taste like?
You might be wondering, do rainbow carrots taste different? – well, most people say the taste difference is very subtle, if noticeable at all. These carrots have great similarities to traditional orange carrots, where the red may be the most similar. White carrots may be a bit sweeter with less of an earthiness.
Crunchy and sweet, carrots taste great cooked or raw. No matter what the color, carrots tend to be a favorite veggie for many people, especially kids.
We will be growing lots of these carrots this year and I can circle back with a more specific review on the taste of each. However, these seeds are generally sold in a mixed pack. You may not get to choose which ones you’re growing – it’s a random assortment – but I am sure they will be delicious.
Are rainbow carrots genetically modified?
No, rainbow carrots are not genetically modified. In a truly interesting twist, orange carrots are not the original variety. Years of careful crop selection and selective breeding helped to arrive at the delicious carrots we have today. Rainbow varieties come from the wild carrot, eventually cultivated into delicious and non-GMO veggies.
Are rainbow carrots natural?
Yes, rainbow carrots are natural. They are not dyed. In fact, you can grow them from seed yourself. These veggies will grow in the rainbow colors as part of the growing process without any human intervention.
How to Grow Carrots of All Colors
Growing rainbow carrots is just the same as growing regular orange ones. You can grow them in containers, in raised beds, or directly in the ground.
Keep in mind that the depth of your container or raised bed will impact how big your carrots can grow.
Here are a few tips to help you learn how to plant rainbow carrots:
- Prepare your garden bed or container with soil and compost as desired.
- Place rainbow carrot seeds on the surface of the soil, about 2 to 3 inches apart.
- Lightly sprinkle some soil or potting mix on top. You only want to cover the seeds about ¼ inch.
- Water the seeds lightly with the lowest setting on your hose’s spray nozzle or with a sprinkling watering can.
- Check daily to monitor moisture needs and watch for signs of growth.
How long does it take rainbow carrot seeds to germinate?
Germination may take 7 to 21 days, depending on growing conditions and seed quality. Sometimes you can plant more seeds than you need and thin them later to ensure a good crop.
How long do rainbow carrots take to reach maturity?
Rainbow carrots may take about 75 days until they reach maturity for harvest. Keep in mind that 75 days is an average and carrots from different seed companies may result in shorter or longer growing seasons. You can pick them when they are smaller or leave them to grow to their full potential.
If you do not harvest carrots and they winter over outside, you may be able to collect carrot seeds the following year!
Tips on Growing Carrots
Consider these tips to help you start growing rainbow carrots:
- Carrots are cool crops! Plant them as soon as you can work the soil in the spring. You can also plant a winter carrot crop in the late summer or fall.
- Try succession planting! Plant new carrot seeds every two weeks to enjoy a harvest later into the year.
- Ensure proper depth. Try to ensure your carrots have enough depth to reach the size the packet suggests. Some varieties of carrots end up shorter and others may be quite long.
- Watch for butterflies! The past few years, we’ve enjoyed seeing black swallowtail butterflies in our garden’s carrot patch and on our parsley. See if you get some, too!
Where to Buy Rainbow Carrots Seeds
You can buy rainbow carrot seeds from a lot of reputable seed companies. Look for them at Park Seed, Baker Creek, and Seed Needs. You can also find lots of different rainbow carrot seeds on Amazon.
Well, I hope this means you’ll be growing rainbow carrots with us from seed!
Be sure to check in and leave a comment if you have any questions or tips to share. We love hearing from you.
Happy Gardening!
