This is a well-known, rich, orange-red fleshed carrot that is crisp, sweet and high in Vitamin C. It can be sown earlier than many other carrots, which extends the season, and it is particularly good for successional sowing - sow at 4 weekly intervals for a continuous crop.

Sow outdoors in an open sunny position. Prepare the soil by raking until it is fine and crumbly, removing any large stones. Sow very thinly, 1cm deep in drills 30cm. Water well to encourage germination. Once germinated, carrots should be watered only when necessary to keep the soil moist as excessive water may encourage leaf growth instead of roots. Cover with fine mesh netting to prevent carrot fly attacks. Thin seedlings to 2.5cm apart when large enough to hand for small roots, or 5cm (2in) for larger roots. To harvest, pull a single carrot first to assess the size of the roots. If the soil is dry, lifting carrots can be made easier by watering beforehand.