VAMPIRE CARROT – LONGUE ROUGE SANG, FRENCH HEIRLOOM CARROT (CERTIFIED ORGANIC)

A spectacular French heirloom carrot, developing a purplish-red hue on its classic orange root. Sweet, crisp, and perfect for the modern garden.

Description

Nicknamed "Vampire Carrot" on our farm, this traditional French variety (Longue Rouge Sang) reveals intense purplish-red pigmentation as it matures—a stunning visual effect in the garden. Its sweet flavor and crisp texture make it an excellent choice for fresh snacks, juicing, or cooking. It grows particularly well in deep, loose soil.

To avoid over-seeding, we recommend mixing the small seeds with fine sand or radish seeds: sand improves spacing, and radishes mark the row by germinating quickly.

Where to grow Vampire Carrot

Suitable for zones 3 to 9, it prefers full sun and loose, deep, well-drained soil. Best results are obtained in deep raised beds or containers.

History & Traditional Uses

Longue Rouge Sang is a French heirloom variety cultivated since at least 1897. Its distinctive purplish-red color earned it the modern nickname "Vampire Carrot," combining historical charm with contemporary garden delight.

Information for Canadian climate

• Zones 8-9: direct sow from February and again in mid-summer.
• Zones 5-7: sow 2–4 weeks before last frost; successive plantings recommended.
• Zones 3-4: early sowing under cover or cold frame; mulch to retain heat.

How to grow and harvest Vampire Carrot

• Sowing: 0.5 cm deep; 2.5 cm spacing; rows 30 cm apart. Mix seeds with sand or radishes.
• Watering: keep soil consistently moist during germination.
• Harvest: harvest at full size or earlier for tender mini carrots.
• Maintenance: thin early; mulch to retain moisture and control weeds.

Tips for saving your seeds

• Biennial crop: leave some roots overwinter to flower the following year.
• Isolate carrot varieties by at least 1 km to prevent cross-pollination.
• Harvest seeds when dry and brown.
• Store in a cool, dark place; viability 3 to 4 years.

Organic Certification

Certified organic by: Islands Organics Producers Association (Cert#1962)