Carrot, Thumbelina
75 in stock
Quick Overview
CARROT, Thumbelina –
Daucus carota sativa
FULL SUN Native to the Mediterranean and parts of Asia, wild carrots which come in a variety of colors have been foraged by indigenous peoples for millennia. The carrot did not become popular in America until the French introduced sweet, orange carrots in the 1860s. Thumbelina, a popular, small round carrot was developed from a 19th century French carrot.The 2 in. round roots possess good flavor and are well suited for heavier soils.
Thumbelina can be sown in the early spring for a summer crop and in early summer for a fall crop. Soak seed for 12 hours before planting. Mix seed with soil or wood ashes before planting to allow for better distribution. In the spring, plant as soon as the ground can be worked. Soil should be deeply spaded before planting and amended with bone meal for stronger root development and lime to sweeten the carrots. Rows should be 6 in. apart.
When seedlings are 2 in. high, thin, leaving 3 in. between plants.
| Type | Spacing | Planting Depth | Days to Germination | Maturity |
| Carrots | 3 in. | 1/2 in. | 14-21 | 60 |
Carrot, Thumbelina
The carrot grows wild throughout the Mediterranean and as far east as the Orient. The region around Afghanistan may have been where the first carrots, which were purple, red or white, originated. Yellow carrots were first recorded in Turkey in the 900s. However, it was not until the 1600s that the first orange carrot was developed by the Dutch in Holland. In the United States, there appears to have been little interest in the root. The French became passionate about the orange vegetable and in the second half of the 19th century, the famous French seedhouse, Vilmorin-Andrieux, initiated a vigorous development program for carrots. Many of today’s varieties were developed during that time including Chantenay and Nantes. In North America, Queen Anne’s Lace is the carrot’s closest relative. Queen Anne’s Lace is actually a form of wild carrot, but the root has a woody core and there is almost no tender flesh that could be edible.
