Organic - Carrots - Autumn King

Seeds:  1000  / Botanical name:  Daucus carota subsp. sativus

Late carrots for warming winter soups

The 'Herbstkönig' variety ripens in autumn but can be left in the ground and, if necessary, pulled through most of the winter. It also stores very well.

Natural habitat:  The wild carrot is believed to have originated in North Africa, Western Asia, and Southern Europe.

In the kitchen:  Leave the carrots in the ground as long as possible and harvest them when the leaf tips turn yellow or red. Only healthy, fully ripe carrots should be stored. Twist off the leaves or cut them back three to five centimeters, then pack the unwashed carrots in sand and store them in a cool, humid cellar. Carrots are best cut into pieces, rounds, or strips and used raw in dips or grated into salads. They are also delicious fried or roasted. They make an ideal base for soups and stews. Dried carrots are also a healthy snack. Slice washed carrots and then place them in the sun or on a baking sheet in the oven to dry. They are also ideal as food for rodents and other pets.