UNIQUE CREEK HOMESTEAD SEEDS: All of our seeds are grown right here on our Unique Creek Homestead and not sourced from elsewhere. All seeds are collected each growing season and are 1-year old or less, stored in air-tight Mason jars. Seeds are harvested and labeled for storage each season, one plant/seed type at a time so seeds do not get mixed by accident during the process! The seeds we use at the start of each growing season come from the exact same seeds we sell.
ABOUT THESE SEEDS: Tendersweet carrots (Daucus carota 'Tendersweet') are widely considered the sweetest heirloom carrots on the market. First introduced by Peter Henderson & Co. in 1928, this century-old American favorite produces uniform, deep orange-red roots that are virtually coreless. They boast a crisp, fine-grained texture and famously retain their vibrant color and sweet flavor even after being cooked or frozen.
Key Plant Characteristics
Root Dimensions: Slender, tapered roots growing 9 to 10 inches long with a 1.5-inch shoulder.
Foliage Height: Distinct, vigorous dark-green tops reaching 12 to 20 inches high.
Texture & Core: Fine-grained, crisp, and nearly coreless.
Flavor Profile: Exceptionally sugary, often described as "like eating candy for supper".
Growing Requirements
Sunlight: Requires full sun for optimal root production (at least 6 hours daily).
Soil Type: Thrives best in deep, light, fertile, and stone-free sandy loam soil. Rocks and heavy clay will cause crooked or split roots.
Hardiness Zones: Highly adaptable, growing reliably across USDA zones 3 through 9.
Watering: Needs a steady, even supply of moisture. Uneven watering or extreme dry-to-wet fluctuations cause root splitting and cracking.
Planting and Harvesting Timeline
Days to Maturity: Typically ready to harvest in 75 days from sowing.
Planting Depth: Plant seeds shallowly, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep (or up to 1/16 inch for organic cultivars).
Spacing: Space seeds or thin seedlings to 2 to 3 inches apart in rows spaced 12 to 14 inches apart.
Fall Gardening: For a fall harvest, sow seeds 10 to 12 weeks before your area's first expected hard frost. The roots can withstand light frosts and will actually sweeten further as temperatures drop.
Usage and Availability
Because they maintain their firmness and structural integrity, Tendersweet carrots are highly versatile. They are ideal for raw snacking, juicing, roasting, canning, and winter storage.
Sow directly into loose, stone-free soil about 1/4 inch deep, spacing them 1/2 to 1 inch apart in rows spaced 12 inches apart. Keep the soil surface consistently moist during the 6 to 21 day germination period.
Sincerely,
Scott & Melissa
Unique Primtiques Custom Woodworking
Unique Creek Homestead
ABOUT OUR UNIQUE CREEK HOMESTEAD: Our woodworking business is located on our Unique Creek Homestead, a Certified National Wildlife Sanctuary & Certified Indiana Wildlife Sanctuary located in southern Indiana, where we grow our own organic foods, gourmet mushrooms, exotic gourmet organic peppers, organic seeds, organically grown flowers, 100% pure organic Unique Creek Maple Syrup and more!
Your purchase helps us to maintain a beautiful habitat for a WIDE range of wildlife including deer herds, wild turkey, quail, pheasant, fox, opossum, raccoon, fish (bass, crappie, catfish, bluegill, rock bass, sunfish and more), Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, a wide range of song birds, hummingbirds, nesting red-winged black birds, tree swallows, a variety of Owl & Hawk species, box turtles, water turtles/snapping turtles, frogs, Golden & Blue-Tail Skinks and MANY MORE wonderful creatures that visit our homestead day and night! We are officially a LICENSED NURSERY DEALER IN INDIANA.
