Crop type: Carrots
Daucus carota ‘Deep Purple’
Common name: Carrot ‘Deep Purple’
Crop slug: carrots
This Allotment Pro editorial draft summarises the cited RHS cultivar profile. Check the source and adjust cultivation decisions for local conditions.RHS cultivar profile
1 - Overview
‘Deep Purple’ is an annual carrot with long, slender purple roots and feathery green foliage described as particularly ornamental. The striking contrast between its dark edible root and finely divided leaves makes it immediately distinct from conventional orange cultivars.
The parent crop guide identifies it as a main-season carrot and notes that the purple root retains its colour when cooked. It therefore offers both a strong visual feature in the plot and a distinctive harvested crop.
2 - Size
- Ultimate height
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- Ultimate spread
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- Time to ultimate size
- 1 year
The foliage and root crop reach useful size in one season. The profile does not give a separate root length, but explicitly describes the purple root form as long and slender.
3 - Growing conditions
- Suitable soils
- Chalk, clay, loam and sand
- Moisture
- Moist but well-drained or well-drained
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral or alkaline
‘Deep Purple’ accepts every listed soil texture and pH range when drainage is reliable. Deeply prepare clay and stony ground so its long roots can extend straight without branching around obstructions.
4 - Position and hardiness
- Light
- Full sun
- Aspect
- East-, north-, south- or west-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed or sheltered
- Hardiness
- H7 — very hardy in UK conditions, although grown and harvested as an annual root vegetable
The profile permits every aspect and both exposed and sheltered conditions, but still specifies full sun. Its hardiness exceeds what is normally required for a carrot harvested in the first season.
5 - Colour and seasonal interest
The seasonal table has no assigned entries, but the cultivar description provides its defining palette: long deep-purple roots beneath ornamental feathery green leaves. The parent guide records that the purple colour remains after cooking.
6 - Botanical details
- Family
- Apiaceae
- Native to Great Britain and Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Tufted
- Name status
- Accepted
Genus
Daucus contains mainly biennial herbaceous plants commonly known as wild carrots. Their triangular leaves are tripinnate, divided and lacy. Pink buds open into small white flowers clustered in dense umbels, followed by small, hairy and uneven fruits.
7 - How to grow
Cultivation
Grow ‘Deep Purple’ in full sun in well-drained soil. Prepare a deep, fine seedbed free of stones so the cultivar can form its characteristic long slender roots without forking. Maintain even growth and lift roots at main-season maturity.
Propagation
Propagate by seed, sown directly into its final position to avoid disturbing the developing taproot.
Suggested locations
- Cottage and informal gardens
- Wildlife gardens
Pruning
No pruning is required.
Pests
The profile records possible susceptibility to carrot fly. Cover the crop completely with fine insect-proof mesh and rotate carrots away from recently used ground.
Diseases
‘Deep Purple’ is described as generally disease-free.