{"product_id":"atomic-red-carrot-seeds","title":"Atomic Red Carrot Seeds — Heirloom High-Lycopene Red Carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus)","description":"\u003ch1\u003eAtomic Red Carrot Seeds — Heirloom | Deep Red-Orange, High Lycopene, Color Intensifies When Cooked | 65–80 Days\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAtomic Red (\u003cem\u003eDaucus carota\u003c\/em\u003e subsp. \u003cem\u003esativus\u003c\/em\u003e), also known as Red Sky Carrot, is a striking heirloom carrot with deep reddish-orange skin and a pink-to-orange core that gets its color from lycopene — the same powerful antioxidant found in tomatoes. Unlike most colored vegetables that fade with heat, Atomic Red’s color deepens and intensifies when cooked, making it as visually dramatic on the plate as it is in the garden. Sweet, tender 6-inch roots with a classic tapered carrot form. Particularly well-suited to Indian and Japanese cuisine, where red carrots have a long culinary tradition. 0.7 g \/ 500+ seeds per packet. 65–80 days to maturity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eDaucus carota\u003c\/em\u003e subsp. \u003cem\u003esativus\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAlso known as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Red Sky Carrot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 65–80 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDays to germination:\u003c\/strong\u003e 14–21 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRoot size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6 inches, tapered, classic carrot form\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRoot color:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep reddish-orange skin; pink-to-orange core\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKey nutrient:\u003c\/strong\u003e High lycopene — more bioavailable when cooked\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColor behavior:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deepens and intensifies with heat\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlavor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sweet and tender; lycopene adds sugar content\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePacket size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1 g \/ ~500+ Seeds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSowing depth:\u003c\/strong\u003e ¼–½ inch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing:\u003c\/strong\u003e Thin to 2–4 inches; rows 18–24 inches; 16 plants per sq ft\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil pH:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6.0–7.0, loose, loamy, well-drained\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Zones:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3–10\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Heirloom, open-pollinated, non-GMO, annual\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eLycopene — The Nutrient That Gets Better With Heat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost vegetables lose nutritional value when cooked. Atomic Red is an exception — lycopene becomes significantly more bioavailable when heated, meaning cooked Atomic Red carrots deliver more of the antioxidant than raw ones. Lycopene is associated with cardiovascular health, anti-inflammatory properties, and reduced oxidative stress. The same compound that makes tomatoes nutritionally valuable is present in high concentrations in Atomic Red — making it one of the most nutritionally distinctive carrot varieties available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eA Brief History of the Red Carrot\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCarrots are believed to have first been cultivated in Afghanistan, where purple and yellow were the primary varieties. Before the Dutch influence of the 16th century, orange was a mutant variation that Dutch growers deliberately isolated as a commercial cultivar. Red carrots found their niche in Indian and Japanese cuisine, where they have been grown and used for centuries — in Indian gajar ka halwa (carrot pudding), Japanese namasu (pickled carrot and daikon), and a wide range of curries and stir-fries where the red color adds visual impact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eIn the Kitchen\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStir-fry:\u003c\/strong\u003e The color deepens dramatically with high heat — slice thin and stir-fry with sesame oil, ginger, and soy sauce; the red intensifies beautifully\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRoasting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Halve lengthwise and roast at 400°F with olive oil and cumin; the color becomes deep red-orange and the flavor concentrates\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIndian gajar ka halwa:\u003c\/strong\u003e Grate and slow-cook with milk, ghee, and cardamom for the classic Indian carrot pudding — Atomic Red is the traditional color for this dish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRainbow salads \u0026amp; slaws:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pair raw with Cosmic Purple and Solar Yellow for a striking three-color presentation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJuicing:\u003c\/strong\u003e Blend with ginger and apple for a vibrant red-orange juice rich in lycopene\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePickling:\u003c\/strong\u003e Quick-pickle in rice vinegar and sugar; the red color holds well in acidic brine\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDirect sow ¼–½ inch deep in loose, loamy, well-drained soil (pH 6.0–7.0) — sandy and rock-free for straight root development. Sow 2–3 seeds per inch and thin to 2–4 inches apart as true leaves establish. Avoid nitrogen-rich fertilizers, which cause forking and growth abnormalities. Keep soil consistently moist until germination (14–21 days). Sow in early spring or late summer for a fall crop; succession sow every 2–3 weeks for continuous harvest. Harvest when root shoulders are visible at the soil surface and roots reach 6 inches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes the red color stay when cooked?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — and it intensifies. Unlike purple carrots (which fade with heat due to water-soluble anthocyanins), Atomic Red’s lycopene-based color deepens when cooked. Roasting and stir-frying produce the most dramatic color results.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Atomic Red sweeter than orange carrots?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — the lycopene content contributes additional sugar, making Atomic Red notably sweet. The flavor is comparable to a good orange carrot but with a slightly richer, more complex sweetness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat pests should I watch for?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAtomic Red has no serious pest or disease issues. Watch for carrot rust fly (use row covers as a preventive) and aster yellows, a phytoplasma disease spread by leafhoppers. Remove and destroy any plants showing yellowing or distorted growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePacked and shipped by Box Garden Seeds LLC — heirloom seeds grown without GMOs, selected for flavor, resilience, and your garden’s success.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Box Garden Seeds LLC","offers":[{"title":"1 g \/ ~500+ Seeds","offer_id":41712386736262,"sku":"TLM\/A3-700-85-822-2024","price":3.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2669\/3330\/files\/il_fullxfull.7610595166_ndiw.png?v=1786881883","url":"https:\/\/bgseedsllc.com\/products\/atomic-red-carrot-seeds","provider":"Box Garden Seeds LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}