Hercules – (F1) Carrot Seed

Widely adaptable. Conventional seed with NOP-compliant pelleting.
Cone-shaped, 6 1/2–7" long roots with good eating quality from summer or fall harvest. Stores well. Performs especially well in shallow, heavy, or rocky soils where growing longer carrots can be challenging. Strong, medium-tall tops. Chantenay type. Avg. 28,400 seeds/lb. Packet: 250 seeds.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Daucus carota var. sativus
CULTURE: Carrots require well-drained soils, with a pH range of 6.0–6.8. Deep, loose, and fertile sandy loams and peat soils with good moisture-holding capacity grow the straightest and smoothest roots. seed requires a little extra attention when it comes to watering, as it performs best with consistent, moderate soil moisture throughout the germination period. An initial watering will split or dissolve the pellet, but if the soil is allowed to dry out before the germination period is over, the seed may receive insufficient moisture for optimal germination.
PLANTING: Sow from early spring to midsummer, ¾" apart , ¼– ½" deep, in 2" wide band (about 16 pellets/ft.), or single rows 16–24" apart. For minimum soil compaction, use raised beds with 2 or 3 rows 16–24" apart, beds 5–6′ on center. Sprinkle the soil surface to keep moist. Don’t allow soil to crust before the emergence of seedlings which takes 1–3 weeks, depending on temperature and moisture. If necessary, thin young seedlings to ¾–2" apart, depending on type or root size desired. Keep weed-free by tine weeding and shallow hoeing. To prevent greening, cover exposed crowns.
DISEASES: Blights can reduce yield and quality. Alternaria blight shows as brown-black lesions edged with yellow on leaf margins beginning on oldest leaves. Leaflets may shrivel and die. Cercospora blight first appears as small dark spots with yellow margins on the younger leaves and stems. To prevent blights, practice a 3-year crop rotation. Copper fungicides can be employed as a preventive measure or control.
INSECT PESTS: Carrot rust flies and wireworms. Provide fertile growing conditions and avoid ground recently in sod if possible. Exclude adult insects with fabric row covers.
HARVEST: Carrots may be dug any time after they reach the desired size. Generally the best harvest period lasts about 3 weeks (longer in cool, fall weather), after which time the roots may crack or the taste and appearance may decline. Make a few sowings at 3 week intervals for a continuous supply of tender carrots at their prime.
STORAGE: Plant carrots intended for winter storage about 100 days before expected fall frost. Carrots store best at 32°F (0°C) and 95% relative humidity.
CARROT TYPE: Each type is identified in the description. Nantes are medium length and cylindrical. The Shipping/Imperator types have the extra length and durability required in conventional packaged carrots, and perform the best in deeply worked soil. Chantenays are top-shaped and suitable for shallow or heavy soil. Kuroda types have thick, tapered roots and can be darker than average in color. They are suitable for tropical winter production (CA, TX, FL) or temperate summer production (where winters get below 45–50°F [7–13°C]).
PELLET STORAGE: Pelleting offers many advantages, but the pelleting process also shortens the shelf life of the seed. We recommend usingseed within one year of purchase. If you need to storeseeds until planting, protect them from heat and humidity in a cool, dark, dry place. If you prefer to store your seed in the refrigerator, be sure to place the seed in an air-tight container to protect it from fluctuations in humidity.
AVG. SEEDING RATE: 348,480 pellets/acre at 16 pellets/foot, ¾" spacing in rows 24" apart, or 16,000 pellets/1,000 foot row.
PELLET SIZE: 11.5 or 13.0.
SEED SPECS: PELLETS/LB.: 16,700–29,200 (avg. 22,600).
PACKET: 250 pellets sows 15′ at 16 pellets/ft.