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The basics of growing perfect carrots| A guide to onion production

The basics of growing perfect carrots

Carrots are a major staple vegetable in South Africa, and are highly nutritious. In this article, we look at the basics of carrot planting and irrigation.

Carrots (Daucus carota) have a long history of cultivation, and their origins can be traced back to ancient civilisations. It is believed that the wild ancestor to the modern carrot originated in present-day Iran and Afghanistan. While a root vegetable, carrots were not originally grown for their roots, but rather for their aromatic leaves and seeds. Early carrots had a thin, white root and were quite different from the orange varieties we are familiar with today.

Ancient Greeks and Romans were among the first civilisations to cultivate carrots as food. However, the early cultivated carrots still had a variety of colours, including purple, white and yellow, but not the characteristic orange. By the Middle Ages, carrots had spread throughout Europe.

Carrots with orange roots began to appear in Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries, primarily in the Netherlands. Dutch growers selectively bred carrots to enhance the orange colour as a tribute to the Dutch royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau. Over time, orange carrots became popular throughout Europe, replacing the other coloured varieties. Their appeal was not just due to their colour but also because they were sweet and nutritious. By the 17th century, orange carrots had become widely cultivated.

Over the years, carrots have undergone extensive breeding to develop various sizes, shapes and flavours. Today, there are numerous carrot varieties, including the traditional orange types as well as purple, white, yellow, and even multi-coloured cultivars.

Carrots are known for their high beta-carotene content, which the human body converts into vitamin A. They are also rich in vitamins C, B1 and B2.