Root vegetable seeds

Carrots for the whole winter – without cellar drama. Berlikumer 2 Perfekcja is a late, high-yielding variety from the Berlikumer group: the root is cylindrical, blunt-ended, with dark orange flesh and skin, and is not prone to cracking. It grows for 140–160 days, which is why it stores so well – in a cool cellar, it remains firm and juicy until spring.In brief Type: late carrot, Berlikumer type Root: cylindrical, dark orange, non-cracking Direct sowing: April (for summer and autumn), May (for storage) Harvest: September – October Position: sunny, light and deeply loosened soil Difficulty: easy – a vegetable garden classic Seeds per packet: approx. 4000 (5 g) What makes this variety stand outPerfekcja is one of the most reliable late carrots in Polish gardens. The Berlikumer type produces long, uniform, cylindrical roots with a small core that peel neatly and cut evenly – they look good both on the plate and in a jar. The variety is high-yielding, uniform and relatively resistant to cracking after heavy rain, which is especially important for late carrots harvested in October.Its greatest advantage is its storage life: roots harvested in autumn keep for many months in a cellar or clamp without wilting or losing their flavour. They can also withstand brief frosts down to –2/–3°C while still in the ground.Growing step by stepSowing (April – May, directly into the ground): sow in April for a summer and autumn harvest, and in May for winter storage. Sow the seeds thinly in rows 30–40 cm apart, 1–2 cm deep, in light soil that was deeply dug over in autumn (fresh manure in spring causes forked roots). Seedlings emerge after 2–3 weeks – during this time, do not allow the soil to crust over.Thinning: when the seedlings are 2–3 cm tall, thin them to 5–8 cm apart within the row. Do this in the evening or after rain, and immediately cover the row with soil so that the smell of crushed leaves does not attract the carrot rust fly.Care during the season: weed regularly (carrots grow slowly in the first weeks and are easily outcompeted), loosen the soil between rows and water evenly – alternating drought and heavy rain is the most common cause of cracked roots. Cover any green shoulders with soil.Harvesting and storage: for storage, harvest late, in October, on a dry day, preferably after light frosts, which increase sweetness. Cut off the foliage right at the crown, do not wash the roots, and place them in boxes of damp sand at a temperature of 0–4°C.UsesThis carrot is ideal for winter storage and everyday cooking: soups, salads, slaws, roasted vegetables and preserving in jars. Its dark flesh produces an intensely coloured juice, while the large, uniform roots are easy to peel and grate. In the garden, it grows well alongside onions and leeks – their scent discourages the carrot rust fly, while the carrots deter onion thrips in return.Gardener’s tipCarrot seeds are tiny and take a long time to emerge. Mix them with a little dry sand or radish seeds – the radishes will emerge after a few days, mark the rows (so you can weed them earlier) and will be harvested before the carrots need the space.Specifications Botanical name Daucus carota subsp. sativus Variety Berlikumer 2 Perfekcja Root colour dark orange Position sunny Seasonality biennial plant grown as an annual Direct sowing period April – May Harvest period September – October Spacing 30–40 × 5–8 cm Net weight 5 g (~4000 seeds) Series Traditional Producer W. Legutko EAN code 5903837446308

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Polish carrot for juicing and winter storage. Koral is a late Polish variety with a long, uniform root in a consistent orange-red color – equally intense in the skin, flesh and core. The growing period lasts 130–150 days, and the reward for your patience is roots with a high carotene and sugar content that will keep until spring in a cool cellar.At a glance Type: late carrot, long root Root: orange-red, uniformly colored Sowing outdoors: April (for summer and autumn harvest), first half of May (for storage) Harvest: September – October Position: sunny, light, well-prepared soil Difficulty: easy Number of seeds per packet: approx. 4,000 (5 g) What makes this variety stand outFor decades, Koral has been one of the most popular late carrots in Poland – and for good reason. The roots are long (up to 20 cm in good conditions), conical-cylindrical, smooth and deeply colored, with no green or pale shoulders. The variety has a low tendency to accumulate nitrates, while its high dry matter content results in an intense flavor and a thick, sweet juice.When it comes to storage, Koral is one of the most durable amateur varieties: in a box of sand, at a temperature close to 0°C, it stays firm throughout the winter. It also freezes well – after blanching, it does not become soft.Growing step by stepSowing (April – first half of May, directly outdoors): sow in April for summer and autumn consumption, and by mid-May for winter supplies. Space rows 30–40 cm apart, sow at a depth of 1–2 cm, in light, deeply loosened soil without fresh manure. Lightly firm the bed after sowing and keep it moist until emergence (2–3 weeks).Thinning: when the seedlings are 2–3 cm tall, thin them to 5–8 cm apart; repeat after a month if necessary. Koral’s long roots need space – overcrowded plants will produce thin, crooked carrots.Care during the season: weed and loosen the soil regularly, and water evenly, especially in July and August, when the roots thicken most rapidly. Potassium fertilization improves flavor and storage life; excess nitrogen has the opposite effect.Harvesting and storage: harvest in October on a dry day, loosening the roots with a garden fork (long roots can easily break when pulled by the foliage). Cut off the foliage, do not wash the roots, and store them in sand or perforated bags at 0–2°C and high humidity.UsesKoral is a carrot for juicing – its intense color and high carotene content produce a thick, sweet juice without a watery aftertaste. It is also excellent for freezing in cubes, for jars and preserves, in salads and for long-term winter storage. In the garden, sow it near onions, leeks or garlic – they protect one another from carrot fly and thrips.Gardener’s tipDelay the storage harvest until the first light frosts, but do not wait for temperatures below –3°C. The cold in the final weeks of the growing season converts some of the starch into sugars – the roots become noticeably sweeter and overwinter better.Specifications Latin name Daucus carota subsp. sativus Variety Koral Root color orange-red Position sunny Seasonality biennial plant grown as an annual Outdoor sowing period April – first half of May Harvest period September – October Spacing 30–40 × 5–8 cm Net weight 5 g (~4,000 seeds) Series Traditional Producer W. Legutko EAN code 5903837446209

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Ball-sized carrot – the first of the season. Parijse Markt 4 (Paris Market) is an old French variety with short, almost spherical roots measuring 3–5 cm in diameter. It is very early, and thanks to its shallow root, it grows where long carrots have no chance: in heavy, stony soil, in a balcony planter and under cover. Delicate and sweet, it is excellent for eating raw and crunchy.At a glance Type: very early carrot, spherical root Root: orange, round, 3–5 cm Sowing outdoors: March–April; under cover from February; also in autumn Harvest: June–July (for spring sowing) Position: sunny; tolerates shallow and heavy soil Difficulty: very easy – also suitable for pots Number of seeds per packet: approx. 2,400 (3 g) What makes this variety specialParis Market is an unusual carrot: instead of a long root, it produces a round, orange ball that can be harvested just 50–60 days after emergence. The roots have smooth skin, a small core and pronounced sweetness – this is a vegetable to eat whole, without peeling or cutting. The variety copes well with soils where ordinary carrots grow crooked and forked, which is why it is recommended for new allotments and container growing.It is also suitable for the earliest harvest: sown under cover in February or outdoors in autumn (October–November), it starts growing with the first warmth and produces young carrots before long varieties have time to develop a root.Growing step by stepSowing (March–April outdoors, from February under cover): sow the seeds shallowly, at a depth of 1 cm, in rows 20–25 cm apart. For the earliest harvest, sow under a tunnel or fleece, or already in autumn – the seeds will overwinter in the soil and emerge in early spring. Sowing can be repeated every 3–4 weeks until July to enjoy young carrots throughout the season.Thinning: thin the seedlings to 3–4 cm apart in the row – spherical roots need less space than long ones. In a balcony planter 15 cm deep, a spacing of 5 × 5 cm is sufficient.Care during the season: even watering and weeding – that is all there is to it. The soil does not need to be deeply loosened, but it should be well drained. It is worth covering the bed with fleece: this speeds up emergence and protects against carrot fly.Harvest: pull up the roots when they are 3–4 cm in diameter; overgrown roots become woody and lose their sweetness. Harvest successively while young – these carrots are ready to eat immediately, although they will also keep for several weeks in a cellar.UsesParijse Markt is a carrot for eating raw – perfect for crunchy snacking whole, in salads, as a snack for children or for juicing. The small roots are ideal for boiling and roasting whole, glazing and freezing without cutting. The best choice for balconies and planters, as well as for heavy, clay soil where long carrots refuse to grow.Gardener’s tipOn a balcony, sow it in a planter 15–20 cm deep, using a mixture of universal potting soil and sand (3:1). Water less often but thoroughly – the balls like moisture, but they rot in standing water. After six weeks, you will have home-grown carrots within easy reach.Specifications Latin name Daucus carota subsp. sativus Variety Parijse Markt 4 Root colour orange Position sunny Seasonality biennial plant grown as an annual Sowing period under cover February–March Outdoor sowing period March–July and in autumn (X–XI) Harvest period June–September (depending on sowing date) Spacing 20–25 × 3 cm Net weight 3 g (~2,400 seeds) Series Traditional Manufacturer W. Legutko EAN code 5903837444502

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Cylindrical beetroot – even slices from top to bottom. Cylindra is an early beetroot variety with long, cylindrical roots and intensely red, uniformly coloured flesh without light rings. Its cylindrical shape means more beetroots from the same bed and identical slices for jars, while its high sugar and betanin content provides a deep, sweet flavour. Ideal for eating fresh, preserving and winter storage.At a glance Type: early variety, cylindrical roots Roots: cylindrical, 15–20 cm long, dark red flesh without rings Sowing outdoors: mid-April – end of June Harvest: July – October Position: sunny, fertile, not too heavy soil Difficulty: very easy – a vegetable for beginners Seeds per pack: approx. 1,300 seed clusters (25 g) What makes this variety stand outCylindra is a Danish variety whose shape changed the way people think about beetroot: instead of a sphere, it produces a smooth cylinder 15–20 cm long and 5–6 cm in diameter, partly protruding above the soil. The roots grow close together without interfering with one another, so you can harvest significantly more per metre of row than with round varieties. Its small leaf rosette makes dense cultivation and weeding easier.The flesh is dark red and fine-grained, without lighter rings, with a high dry-matter, sugar and betanin content – ideal for horseradish beetroot, juices and pickles, where colour and sweetness matter. The variety is early, but sowing from mid-May to the end of June produces firm, well-storing roots for an autumn and winter harvest.Step-by-step cultivationSowing (mid-April – end of June, directly outdoors): sow the seeds (clusters from which several seedlings emerge) in rows 30–40 cm apart, every 3–5 cm within the row, at a depth of 2–3 cm. The soil should be at least 8–10°C; seedlings emerge after 10–14 days. For an autumn and winter harvest, sow from mid-May to the end of June.Thinning: when the seedlings have 2–3 leaves, thin them so that the plants are 8–10 cm apart. The young beetroots you pull out, including their leaves, are suitable for salads and beet greens – nothing goes to waste.Cultivation: beetroot prefers fertile, deeply cultivated, not-too-heavy soil, ideally in the second year after manure (fresh manure causes the roots to fork). A near-neutral pH of around 6.5–7 is best; on acidic soils, liming in autumn is recommended. It does not tolerate shade.Care and harvest: weed regularly and water during dry spells – even moisture produces smooth roots that do not become woody. Harvest for immediate use from July; for storage, dig up the beetroots in October, before severe frosts, twist off the leaves and store them in a cellar in damp sand at 1–4°C.UsesCylindra is a beetroot for preserving par excellence: even slices for jars, horseradish beetroot, pickled beetroot, beet kvass and borscht with a deep colour. It is also excellent raw (juice, carpaccio, salads), roasted whole and for storage throughout the winter. The young leaves can be used as beet greens. In the vegetable garden, it grows well alongside onions, lettuce, dill and dwarf beans.Gardener’s tipCylindra “emerges” from the soil – the upper part of the cylinder may stick several centimetres above the bed. This is normal, but in full sun the root’s exposed shoulder can become hard and turn grey. Simply earth up the plants lightly once or twice during the season, using soil or mulch, and the entire root will remain smooth and juicy.Specifications Latin name Beta vulgaris var. conditiva Variety Cylindra Root colour dark red Position sunny Seasonality biennial plant, grown as an annual Sowing outdoors mid-April – end of June (for storage: mid-May – end of June) Harvest period July – October Spacing 30–40 × 8–10 cm Sowing depth 2–3 cm Net weight 25 g (20 g + 5 g free, ~1,300 seed clusters) Series Traditional Manufacturer W. Legutko EAN code 5903837407903

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Carrots you sow once and eat until spring. Opus F1 is a hybrid carrot variety intended for storage: the roots are intensely orange, uniform, with smooth skin and a small core, and are rich in carotene and sugars. Sown in April or May, it matures in autumn and stores easily in the cellar until spring without losing its juiciness.In brief Type: late hybrid variety (F1), suitable for storage Roots: orange, smooth, uniform Direct sowing: April–May Harvest: September–October Position: sunny, light, deeply loosened soil Difficulty: easy – a variety for beginners Number of seeds per packet: approx. 2,400 (3 g) What makes this variety stand outHybrid carrot varieties such as Opus F1 offer what old open-pollinated varieties lack: uniformity. The roots are similar in length and thickness, smooth, without forking or green shoulders, making them easier to wash, peel and sort for storage. The skin is thin, while the flesh is uniformly orange all the way to the centre, sweet and juicy – excellent both raw in salads and for juicing.The producer recommends Opus as a storage carrot, meaning a variety from the later group: it takes longer to mature, but develops a firm, well-coloured root that keeps for many months in a cool cellar or clamp without wilting or rotting.Growing step by stepSowing (April–May, directly outdoors): sow storage carrots from mid-April to mid-May – later sowing produces roots that do not become overgrown and keep better through winter. Sow the seeds in rows 25–30 cm apart, 1–1.5 cm deep, in deeply loosened soil free of stones and fresh manure. Germination takes 2–3 weeks; keep the soil moist until emergence.Thinning: when the seedlings are 3–4 cm tall, thin them to 3–5 cm apart in the row; repeat after 3–4 weeks, leaving the final spacing of 5–7 cm. Thin in the evening or after rain, and immediately cover the rows with soil – the scent of disturbed foliage attracts the carrot fly.Care between the rows: weed by hand and shallowly loosen the soil between the rows until the foliage closes over. Water evenly, especially in July and August, when the root grows rapidly – irregular watering causes splitting. Cover any shoulders protruding above the soil so they do not turn green.Harvesting and storage (September–October): dig up the carrots on a dry day before severe frosts, cut off the foliage just above the shoulder and do not wash them. Store them in crates filled with damp sand, in a cellar at 0–4°C with high humidity, or in a clamp. Properly stored carrots keep until March or April.UsesA versatile kitchen carrot: for salads (sweet, crunchy and easy to grate), for juicing (plenty of juice and an intense colour), as well as for cooking, soups, roasting and preserving – pickles, jarred salads and pasteurised juices. Its main advantage, however, is storage: the autumn harvest lasts throughout the winter. In the garden, carrots are good companions for onions and leeks – they help repel each other’s pests.Gardener’s tipCarrot seeds take a long time to germinate, and the row is easily lost among the weeds. Sow a few radish seeds in the same row: they will emerge within a week, mark the row, loosen the soil crust and be harvested before the carrots need the space. To grow straight carrots, do not sow them in freshly manured soil – the roots fork as they search for nutrients.Specifications Botanical name Daucus carota subsp. sativus Variety Opus F1 Root colour orange Position sunny, light, deeply cultivated soil Seasonality biennial plant grown as an annual Direct sowing period April–May Harvest period September–October Spacing 25–30 × 5–7 cm Net weight 3 g (~2,400 seeds) Series Traditional Producer W. Legutko EAN code 5903837934737

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