White Fodder Carrot with green collar - Vilmorin seeds - Daucus carota

The White Fodder Carrot with and above-ground green collar produces long and white carrots. This variety is well-suited for small-scale farming and is suitable for winter storage. It is highly productive. Sow from April to June for a harvest from August to December.

The Carrot is a biennial herbaceous plant, cultivated as an annual, belonging to the Apiaceae family (formerly Umbelliferae). This vegetable with finely cut leaves is grown for its fleshy roots. Depending on the variety, they can be long, medium-length, or sometimes round. Carrots are usually orange in colour but can also be yellow, white, or purple. Some carrots are grown for human consumption, while others are used as fodder crops for small-scale farming.

In the vegetable garden, sow in a sunny or partially shaded area. Carrots are not demanding when it comes to soil type. However, the best roots will be harvested from a rich, light, sandy soil. It is advisable to prepare the soil by deep digging (30 cm (12in)) in autumn, incorporating 2 to 3 kg of well-decomposed manure or compost. Remove any stones during this process. Sowing takes place from February (under cover) to July.

Harvesting : Depending on the variety, carrots can be harvested 3 to 6 months after sowing. During the growing season, harvest carrots as needed. To extract the roots from the soil, use a garden fork, taking care not to damage the root. Injuries to the roots can lead to carrot rot during storage. Let the roots dry on the ground and in the sun for half a day.

Storage : In regions with mild winters, carrots can be stored in the ground, on the cultivation site, but this occupies valuable space in the vegetable garden. In this case, protect the roots from frost with a thick layer of dead leaves. The simplest method is indoor storage. After harvesting, cut the foliage at ground level. In a frost-free and well-ventilated location, place the roots next to each other on a bed of sand. Cover them with a 2 cm (1in) layer of sand and place the next row.

Gardener's Tip: 
Two tips to limit weed growth:

- Use a false sowing: approximately 2 to 3 weeks before sowing, prepare the soil finely. Wait for the weed seeds present in the soil to start germinating. As soon as they appear, rake the surface in a crisscross pattern to eliminate these seedlings. You can then start sowing.

- Sow radishes and carrots in the same row and at the same time. Once the radishes are harvested, it will create space for the carrots to grow.