Our 9 Favorite Carrots For Fresh Eating

The nutritional richness and sweet crunch of garden-fresh carrots are within reach. The compact root vegetables take up little space and do well with simple direct sowing. Tuck some into the vegetable bed this spring with selections prime for fresh eating. Garden expert Katherine Rowe explores top carrot varieties to sow now for that unmatched homegrown carrot appeal.

Written by Katherine Rowe Horticulture review by Sarah Jay Last updated: March 28, 2025 | 4 min read

Close up of bunch of freshly picked fresh eating carrots with elongated tapered bright orange roots with bright green tufts of feathery leaves on top, in hand of gardener, against green garden background.

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Carrots are nutritious garden additions for their high levels of vitamin A (among others) and antioxidants. They tuck in easily in raised beds, pots, or in a patch with companion plantings, taking up little space. Frost-tolerant, they thrive in cool, mild temperatures and in loose, organic soils where their flavorful taproots are free to develop unencumbered.

Early spring is the prime time for direct sowing carrot seeds, leading to crisp yields in early summer. Gardeners with cool, mild summers can enjoy successional rounds all season long until fall’s first frost. For those of us with hot summers, sow seeds in early fall for a cool-season crop. Picked and enjoyed fresh from the garden, homegrown carrots offer a sweet reward unmatched in grocery store selections.

There is no shortage of worthy contenders for carrot varieties to enjoy for fresh eating. In varying lengths, thicknesses, and colors, the sweetness prevails for those best served raw. From baby carrots to full-sized, we’ve got your picks to grow for fresh eating at the ready.

Tendersweet

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Tendersweet Carrot Seeds

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Scarlet Nantes

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Scarlet Nantes Carrot Seeds

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Little Finger

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Little Finger Carrot Seeds

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‘Tendersweet’

Bright orange, smooth, cylindrical roots with a uniform texture, topped with feathery green leaves with finely divided, serrated edges, gathered in a bunch on a gray fabric on a wooden table. — Harvest young for the best taste and texture.

	botanical name Daucus carota ‘Tendersweet’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 8-10” roots

‘Tendersweet’ is a classic in rich, pigmented red-orange. Maybe the closest carrot to candy, they’re as pretty as they are flavorful, wonderfully sweet and with long, slender roots. Fresh or cooked, they hold their color and taste.

Carrot seeds do best with direct sowing to avoid disturbing the taproot at transplanting. Aim to sow two to four weeks before the final frost, with soil temperatures above 45°F (7°C). Scatter seeds on the soil surface and spread lightly to ensure soil contact, about ¼ inch deep.

Harvest carrots at any time up until peak size for the best flavor and tender crunch. They’ll continue to grow but become coarse and fibrous with decreased flavor as they age.

‘Scarlet Nantes’

Vibrant orange roots with blunt ends and a firm texture, supported by light green stems with feathery foliage, lie in a row on green grass. — Deep orange carrots store well and taste even better.

	botanical name Daucus carota ‘Scarlet Nantes’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-7” roots

‘Scarlet Nantes’ is an 1850s French heirloom that remains popular today for its sweet flavor, moisture content, and classic crispness. Nantes types have uniform roots, cylindrical from end to end with blunt tips. Smooth and nearly coreless, the fine-grained carrots are suitable for fresh eating and cooking alike.

‘Scarlet Nantes’ is one of the oldest among the group. Mature taproots reach six to seven inches long in 65-75 days. Harvest them early to enjoy as baby carrots for fresh snacking.

The heirloom is vigorous and performs well across varying climate conditions and soils. Amend poor compositions with organic compost for the best development and the least impediment to the taproots. Their deep orange, flavorful roots that store well are the reward.

‘Little Finger’

Small, slender, orange roots with smooth skin, crowned by delicate green leaves with finely divided, serrated edges, lie on a wooden surface. — Enjoy early harvests of rich, orange, snack-sized carrots.

	botanical name Daucus carota ‘Little Finger’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3” roots

‘Little Finger’ brings Nantes characteristics to a petite form perfect for enjoying fresh from the garden. While most baby carrots are larger varieties picked early, ‘Little Finger’ is a true miniature that peaks at three to four inches. Roots are cylindrical, uniform in diameter from tip to toe, and with blunt tips.

‘Little Finger’ develops a rich orange coloration, even as a young root. It has a tender core and a sweetness that is perfect for snacking right after harvest or adding to the veggie platter. These mature slightly earlier than larger varieties, ready in about 57 days. With their short roots, they do well in shallow soils and pots and containers.

‘Shin Kuroda’

Deep orange, firm roots with a tapered shape, topped by rich green, feathery leaves with finely serrated edges, on a dark wooden surface. — Plump, deep-colored roots are ready in just 75 days.

	botanical name Daucus carota ‘Shin Kuroda’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5″ roots

‘Shin Kuroda’ is a Japanese variety in deep and vibrant red-orange. The plump roots peak at five inches long and are stout and sturdy.

In addition to its saturated pigments, ‘Shin Kuroda’ is heat-tolerant. A high moisture content gives them a superior sweet flavor. Carrots do best in organically rich, sandy loams, but ‘Shin Kuroda’ tolerates lesser compositions. With sturdy taproots, they navigate dense soils as long as they’re well-draining. Allow 75 days to fully develop, or pluck them young.

‘Danvers 126’

Freshly picked dark orange, conical roots with a smooth texture, with large green leaves with deeply divided, serrated edges, lie in the grass in the garden bed. — Hearty, uniform roots store well and resist cracking.

	botanical name Daucus carota ‘Danvers 126’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-7″ roots

‘Danvers 126’ is a late 1800s heirloom out of Danvers, Massachusetts, and is a carrot’s carrot. No frills, it reliably produces the classic orange carrots we conjure when we picture the root vegetables. Developed for its yield, color, uniformity, and storage, ‘Danvers 126’ is crisp and sweet when fresh and adds savory goodness during cooking.

Danvers-type carrots have broad shoulders and taper to a point. The sturdy, fibrous roots perform well in heavier soil compositions and show good heat tolerance. They resist cracking, splitting, and other root disorders common among the genus.

‘Danvers 126’ peaks at six to seven inches long in around 65 days. The strong, leafy tops make for easy pulling. Use carrot tops to make pesto, chimichurri, or flavor soups and stews.

‘Rainbow’

Mixed-color roots, ranging from white, to yellow, to orange to purple, with smooth skin and crisp texture, topped by feathery green leaves. — Sweet, crunchy carrots add color to every dish.

	botanical name Daucus carota ‘Rainbow’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 7-9″ roots

‘Rainbow’ offers color variation among the platter or salad bowl with soft analogous shades from coral to orange to yellow. The variation stems from a single cultivar (and not a seed blend) derived from a cross between Nantes and Imperator types. Uniform roots peak simultaneously, maturing at seven to nine inches long.

The snackable roots are crisp, crunchy, and sugary and may present flavor variations according to color. The warm tones are pretty on the plate or pickled in a jar. ‘Rainbow’ reaches full size in 67 days.

‘Tonda di Parigi’

Small, round, orange roots with smooth skin, accompanied by bright green, finely divided leaves with slightly serrated edges lie on a wooden pallet on green grass in a sunny garden. — Perfectly round roots bring a sweet touch to meals.

	botanical name Daucus carota ‘Tonda di Parigi’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-2″ roots

‘Tonda di Parigi’ shakes up the arrangement with sweet, tender little rounds of carrots for fresh eating. The 19th-century French heirlooms translate from Italian to ‘Round of Paris’ and are unique in their shape and deep orange globes.

‘Tonda di Parigi’ has small roots that are best at one to two inches long. Not falling under any of the traditional carrot types, the variety stands on its own. The petite roots are a good fit for shallow soils and heavy compositions. They perform well in containers, small space areas, and raised beds.

‘Lunar White’

White, smooth-skinned roots with a crunchy texture, supported by green, feathery leaves, lie on a market counter. — They yield a creamy white treat that stores well and tastes sweet.

	botanical name Daucus carota ‘Lunar White’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 8-12″ roots

‘Lunar White’ is a creamy white variety with gently brushed green shoulders. White carrots have been in cultivation since the 1600s, stemming from wild carrots, and growing these brings historical notes into the modern garden. They have a sweet, mild flavor and good crispness.

‘Lunar White’s’ sweetness intensifies with cooking, but it’s also good for fresh eating, especially as baby carrots. Mature, cylindrical roots peak at 8 to 12 inches long after 75 days. Pick them when young to enjoy raw. ‘Lunar White’ stores well and adapts to various conditions.

‘Sugarsnax 54’

Long, orange roots with a firm texture, topped by dark green, feathery leaves tied with rope, on a wooden table. — There is beta carotene-rich, sweet flavor in every crunchy bite.

	botanical name Daucus carota ‘Sugarsnax 54’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 9-10″ roots

‘Sugarsnax 54’ packs beta carotene with an exceptionally sweet flavor. The hybrids develop their deep orange color early, and the long, slender, smooth roots bring a satisfying crunch to accompany their superior taste.

The refined Imperator type grows 9 to 10 inches long. Loosen the soil around the roots before pulling, or dig them up to best protect them during harvest. They have strong, medium-tall tops. ‘Sugarsnax 54’ resists common fungal diseases like leaf spot, Alternaria, and Pythium.