Rainbow carrots provide delightful color surprise

Published 3:15 am Thursday, January 25, 2018

magine a child’s eyes when he pulls a carrot from the garden and it is red or white or even purple. You can now find carrots in all of these colors as well as the familiar orange and tangerine. Rainbow carrots can be purchased as a blend of seeds in the same packet. These brightly colored carrots have some different antioxidants, vitamins and fiber, but the same flavor and texture of the regular orange carrot.

Carrots have a wealth of nutrients, and medium-sized sticks are only 25 calories. Standard orange carrots contain vitamin A and the other hued carrots are equally healthy. Here is a breakdown:

Orange: Beta and alpha carotene pigment. This promotes vitamin A production by the body, which is essential for healthy eyes.

Purple: Anthocyanin, beta and alpha carotene pigment. Purple carrots typically have an orange core, and their pigment-related nutrients may provide additional vitamin A and prevent heart disease.

Red: Lycopene and beta-carotene pigment. Lycopene is the same red pigment that gives tomatoes their deep color and is linked to a lower risk of certain cancers, such as prostate cancer.

Yellow: Xanthophylls and lutein. Both are linked to cancer prevention and better eye health.

White: The nutrients don’t come from the pigment but from the fiber, which promotes healthy digestion.

Begin planting carrots as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring. Use a hoe handle or stick to make one or two rows one-half inch deep on top of prepared ridges. Scatter 18 to 20 seeds per foot in the row. Because carrot seeds require 14 to 21 days to sprout, many gardeners mix a few radish seeds, which sprout quickly, with carrot seeds to mark the row. Cover the seeds lightly. Carrots grow best in cool temperatures of early spring and late fall. Night temperatures of 55 degrees and day temperatures of 75 degrees are ideal. High temperatures cause poorly colored, low-quality carrots. Spring planting dates for carrots are Feb. 1-15.

Seeds can be found in many seed and gardening catalogs available online.