The carrots are making a comeback
3rd Nov 2011

This year’s British Carrot Growers Association show saw 6 major seed companies present 47 varieties of carrot all expertly grown by Roger Hobson, who is one of our main carrot growers.  The seeds were sown in April and despite the driest spring on record which Roger combated with low quantities of irrigation, all varieties sown saw good seedling emergence. Summer brought with it some significant levels of rainfall which together with the perfect sandy land of North Yorkshire the result was an abundance of carrots to exhibit.

One particular variety on show was the Nairobi F1, this is the carrot of choice here at Hartley’s due to the large size, strong yields and a blunt end that make it perfect for processing. This variety is available to use throughout the winter too as it will grow well under straw which protects it from the frost. When selecting carrots, Hartley’s look for a diameter equal to or greater than 40 mm so that more dices and batons can be cut from it. Interestingly, the size of the carrot doesn’t just depend on the variety but also how many seeds are sown per acre. Sowing a smaller amount of seeds per acre means that the carrots have more room to grow and are therefore larger in size.

The Stamford variety of carrot stood out as seed experts claim that this particular carrot could prove to be just as frost hardy as the Nairobi. The reddish core of the carrot makes it good for processing as the bright colour is retained even after blanching and freezing.

The high levels of the antioxidant beta-carotene in carrots means that this veg is having a moment right now in the press. With links being made between what we eat now and certain illnesses we may get in the future, including this vegetable in your diet will help your body fight disease.

Not only has interest been sparked in the health benefits of carrots but also in the colour. Major supermarkets have launched packs of ‘Rainbow Carrots’ which contain colours such as purple, white, yellow and red. The hope is that these varieties, which haven’t been grown for decades, will persuade children and adults alike to eat more vegetables. If popular, we could see this trend continuing and different coloured carrots may start appearing in our ready meals and soups. After finding this yellow carrot sneakily growing in one of Roger Hobson’s fields this might be sooner than you think.

With thanks to:

British Carrot Growers Association

Roger Hobson, Naburn Hill Farm, York

www.hortweek.com