‘Danvers’ carrots are lovely, deep orange carrots that are beginner-friendly. They’re one of my favorites to grow because of their rich flavor, sweetness, and easy-to-grow nature. They’ll thrive in just about any soil type. These carrots were developed for their attractive orange color, shape, and productivity. They’re some of the most beloved carrot varieties grown in the US. They’re especially well adapted to warm regions with hot summers. If you live in places such as Southern California, you’ll want to add ‘Danvers’ to your spring gardening list.
What Is It?
A bundle of freshly harvested orange taproots with pointed tips lies on the ground, still attached to leafy green tops with delicate, fern-like leaves.
They grow like champs even when summer really sizzles. ‘Danvers’ carrots are lovely carrots with a deep orange color and moderate root size. They contain plenty of moisture and sweetness, with a distinctive carrot flavor. They’re some of the easiest root vegetables you can grow, especially in bright, sunny areas with hot summers.
Characteristics
Close-up of a gardener's hands in white gloves holding a bunch of freshly picked bright orange carrots with lush green foliage, and remnants of soil on the roots.
They yield sweet roots below and tasty greens for pesto above.
These varieties grow to be around 1 foot tall when mature. Their roots can reach up to 7 inches long. They have a beautiful orange color, with good thickness and a wider top and a narrow, tapered root tip. They thrive in areas with full sun and tolerate heat and frost. They can survive in a variety of climates and soil types. They’ll even grow well in compacted soils, unlike other carrot varieties. However, the roots can get pithy when grown in hot summers.They produce edible foliage that’s delicious in salads, soups, and pesto sauces. If left to bloom, they produce clustered white flowers. When they bloom, they’ll attract beneficial pollinators such as parasitic wasps, soldier beetles, and bees. These root vegetables are extremely high in vitamin A, fiber, and other nutrients. They contain roughly 6 grams of carbohydrates and 3 grams of sugar or more.
Native Area
Bright orange roots grow deep in the soil, crowned by delicate, fern-like foliage and upright, pale green stalks. They’re productive and loved from Europe to America’s plates. Carrots originally come from Asia, where they were hybridized from wild carrots and wild Mediterranean carrot subspecies. In the 16th century, Dutch horticulturists bred the first bright orange carrots we know and love today.
In the 17th century, Europeans brought carrots to the Americas. Soon, people started growing them throughout the colonies of North America. In the 60s and 70s, carrots became part of the staple American diet. They were also one of the most important additions to the Victory Gardens during WWI and WWII.
In the late 19th century, horticulturists in Danvers, Massachusetts, developed the first ‘Danvers’ varieties. They were developed to be a highly productive, sweet, and easy-to-grow variety. Today, you can find them sold in grocery stores and farmers’ markets throughout the US. You can find their seeds online and in many nurseries and garden supply stores.
Planting
Planting ‘Danvers’ carrots is incredibly easy. All you need are seeds, good soil, and a location with full sun. They’ll thrive in many climates throughout the US with very little maintenance.
Transplanting
Carrot seedlings with slender green cotyledons and feathery true leaves sprout upright in neat rows within a black seed tray.
Transplanting makes things tough—let them take root naturally.
Because of their long taproot, it’s best not to transplant any variety of carrot. Sow them directly in the ground outdoors or in containers like these for the best results. If you transplant your carrots, they will usually struggle.
Growing From Seed
Close-up of a man's hand in a dark blue glove sowing tiny brown seeds into loose gray-brown soil in a garden.
Successive planting will keep harvests coming all season. Start with healthy ‘Danvers’ carrot seeds that are less than a year old. Sow them outside in well-drained soil around 2 to 4 weeks before your last frost date. Check the Old Farmer’s Almanac website to get your average last frost date.
Wait until the soil temperature is at least 45°F (7°C) before sowing. Plant the seeds at a depth of ¼ inch. Space the seeds out by around 1 inch. Rows should be spaced 6 inches apart. Gently cover the seeds with loose soil and water well until the soil is moist.
Continue watering only until the soil is moist. Once your seeds are around an inch high, you can thin them to 1 plant every 3 inches. To make the most out of your seeds and enjoy bountiful harvests throughout the year, try successive planting of your seeds. This is the process of staggering your planting every 3 or 4 weeks throughout the milder growing seasons. You’ll end up with bunches of carrots well into fall or winter in mild climates.
How to Grow
These crops are incredibly easy to grow and maintain. Once they get established in your soil, you’ll have very few problems getting them to thrive. Below are some tips on how to get your carrots to grow beautifully in your garden.
Light
Carrots grow in a sunny garden bed with bushy, fern-like green leaves and sturdy stems emerging from the soil.
Sunlight is key to their best growth and flavor.While some carrot varieties can tolerate some shade, ‘Danvers’ prefer full sun. Plant them in an area that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. They can tolerate some afternoon shade, especially in hot regions. They will have trouble growing in complete shade or away from direct sunlight. Avoid planting them near sunflowers and other tall plants.
Water
Watering a garden bed with lush finely divided foliage using a metal watering can. Water evenly, avoiding overwatering to prevent root issues. Provide enough water so the soil stays moist throughout the growing season. Avoid overwatering your carrots or they’ll start to fork and lose their shape. Overwatered plants will also be more prone to diseases such as root rot. These carrot varieties respond well to drip irrigation and hose systems. They love to be evenly watered. Watering them infrequently or letting them dry can harm their structure and growth.
Soil
Close-up of bright orange carrot shoulders emerging from the soil beneath bushy green tops with fine, feathery leaves and slender green stems.
Raised beds give their roots the space they crave. Plant your carrots in well-drained, loose soil. Amend your soil with organic material, such as organic compost. The more sand in your mixture, the better. Grow these carrots in tall raised beds. Their roots need plenty of space to grow. Beds such as these by Birdies Beds work incredibly well for these varieties. After planting, add a good amount of mulch around your plants once they start to grow. This will help retain moisture in the soil. It also protects the ecosystem of microbes and beneficial insects in your garden beds.
Temperature and Humidity
Thick, pointed roots push through the earth, supporting a rosette of lacy green leaves sprouting from sturdy stems.
They grow strong through heat and light frosty conditions.These carrots can handle heat and cold extremes once they’re established. In mild climates, you can get them to grow even with mild freezes. Plant them once the soil temperature reaches 45°F (7°C) or higher. Unlike some other carrot varieties, ‘Danvers’ can withstand periods of high heat, over 80°F (27°C). This makes them ideal for warm growing environments such as Southern California and Florida. However, for all carrots, it’s best to grow them in milder seasons.
Fertilizing
A woman's hand in a dark blue glove with a handful of white granular fertilizers among the garden bed featuring lush green carrot tops with feathery leaves rising from thick stems. Fertilize only after plants grow past 4 inches tall. In the spring and fall, amend your soil with organic compost. You can also amend the soil with a high-nitrogen fertilizer such as this one once your carrots are over 4 inches tall. After you apply the fertilizer, give the soil plenty of water. This will help the plant food soak into the ground around the roots. Never add fertilizer directly to your plants, or you may see signs of fertilizer burn. Follow the instructions on your fertilizer packet. Avoid over-fertilizing your plants. Too much nutrition can damage your harvests.
Maintenance
A woman's hand is loosening the soil in a garden bed with young carrot seedlings using a rake.
Weeds are your biggest challenge—mulch helps keep them down. Once planted, these varieties are easy to maintain. Even if you’re a beginning gardener with no experience at all, you’ll be able to get them to thrive. The biggest task in maintaining your carrots will be removing weeds from their beds. Weeds will compete with your plants for nutrients and water. To help keep weeds down, mulch around your mature plants to cut the supply of sunlight to the weeds. If your carrots outgrow their soil and start rising above the soil line, cover them with soil. Keep the roots under the soil to maintain the carrot’s color.
Propagation
Brownish seed cluster forms a closed, nest-like shape atop a tall, slender stem.
Save seed heads to grow more plants next season.
There are several ways to propagate your carrots. The easiest way is to let your plants go to seed. Once they flower and produce seed heads, let them dry on the plant. Clip them off and rub the seed heads gently over a plate or paper towel to release the seeds. Store them in an envelope in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to plant them. You can also save the carrot heads after harvesting. Place the cuttings in a dish of water or above a moist paper towel. Keep adding water to the tray or paper towel. Soon, your carrot will start developing thin roots and new growth. Plant the new plant in well-drained soil. You won’t get harvestable carrot roots from plants started this way. However, you can let them go to seed and grow healthy plants from their seeds.
Harvesting and Storage
Close-up of a white-gloved male hand holding a bunch of freshly picked carrots with black soil on bright orange roots, above a black box full of harvested orange tapered roots.After a heavy rain, harvest with minimal effort. Harvest your carrots whenever they’re mature. You can harvest them when they’re young or let them grow to over 6 inches. I love harvesting young carrots and saving their greens for salads, soups, and sauces. Before harvesting, moisten the soil or wait until a heavy rain. Try pulling your carrots gently by their foliage. You can also try to use a garden fork to remove them. If the soil is moist, they should come right out with a little tug. Once you’ve harvested them, they’ll last in your refrigerator for several weeks in plastic bags. You can also store them in the freezer or pickle them for longer storage and exciting flavors. Use a mixture of vinegar, hot water, salt, herbs, and spices. Place your cut carrots in a jar, fill it with your brine, and store it away in the refrigerator.
Common Problems
‘Danvers’ carrots rarely have major growing issues. As long as you cultivate them in good soil and keep a healthy garden ecosystem, you shouldn’t have much to worry about. The most common problem when growing carrots is sunburn. This is when the carrot tops push above the soil line and expose themselves to the sun. This causes a strange flavor and greening top, which becomes hard and unappetizing.