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A Royal Chantenay carrot freshly pulled from the garden

How to Grow Royal Chantenay Carrots From Seed

By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Updated July 2026

Royal Chantenay is the carrot for tough soil, a short, stocky, broad-shouldered root with a slightly tapered blunt tip. Because it stays around 5 to 6 inches, it pushes through heavy or clay ground that would twist a long carrot, maturing in about 65 to 70 days. The flesh is deep orange, sweet, and good for fresh use, cooking, and storage. If your soil is less than perfect, this is the variety to start with.

Growing more than one kind is easy with our carrot seeds variety pack.

This is the quick guide to Royal Chantenay. For the full step-by-step on starting seeds, sowing, feeding, and troubleshooting carrots, see our complete guide to growing carrots from seed.

Quick start

Sow Royal Chantenay seed directly a quarter inch deep, right where it will grow. Keep the surface moist through the 14 to 21 day germination, then thin to 2 to 3 inches apart. Its short, stocky roots handle heavy soil better than long types. Harvest the broad-shouldered orange roots in about 65 to 70 days.

Best tip

Royal Chantenay is the one to grow when your soil is heavy, rocky, or shallow, because its short, stout shape does not need deep, perfect ground to size up cleanly. Still loosen the top 8 inches and skip fresh manure to keep roots smooth. It also stores well, so it is a good choice if you want carrots to keep in a cool cellar through winter.

At a glance

How to Grow Royal Chantenay Carrots From Seed — growing specifications at a glance
Botanical name	Daucus carota subsp. sativus
Plant type	Cool-season biennial grown as an annual
USDA zones	2 to 11 (grown as an annual)
Sun	Full sun (6+ hours); tolerates light shade
Days to maturity	65 to 70 days
Height	Roots 5 to 6 inches
Spacing	Thin to 2 to 3 inches apart
Water	Even and steady; about 1 inch a week

Uses

Royal Chantenay is a versatile cooking and storage carrot, sweet enough for fresh eating but especially good roasted, boiled, or added to soups and stews. Its dense flesh holds up well in the pot and keeps for months in cool storage. Grate it into slaws and bakes, and save the tops for the stockpot.

Frequently asked questions

How long do Royal Chantenay carrots take to grow?

Royal Chantenay is ready in about 65 to 70 days from sowing. Its stocky roots size up well even in less-than-perfect soil.

Why is Royal Chantenay good for heavy or clay soil?

Its short, stocky, broad-shouldered shape means it does not need deep, loose ground to grow cleanly, so it handles heavy and clay soil better than long carrots. Loosening the top 8 inches still helps.

How big do Royal Chantenay carrots get?

They grow into short, thick roots about 5 to 6 inches long with broad shoulders and a blunt, slightly tapered tip. The stout shape is what makes them so tolerant of difficult soil.

Do Royal Chantenay carrots store well?

Yes, their dense flesh keeps well for months in cool, humid storage, making them a classic winter-storage carrot. They are also excellent cooked in soups and stews.

Ready to grow your own? Royal Chantenay gives you short, stocky carrots that thrive even in heavy clay soil. For the full step-by-step, see our complete carrot growing guide linked at the top of this page.

Sale

Chantenay Carrot Seeds – Royal, Non-GMO HeirloomHeirloom, non-GMOHeirloom Royal Chantenay — stocky roots that thrive in heavy soil.

Price$5.99 Sale Price$4.99

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Want more carrots? These value packs pair Royal Chantenay with other varieties:

Sale

Rainbow Carrot Seeds – Variety Pack, Non-GMO Heirloom10 carrot varietiesTen unique carrots in one pack, from classic orange to purple, red, yellow, and white. The easiest way to grow a whole rainbow of carrots.

Price$14.99 Sale Price$13.49

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By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Maxim founded Organo Republic in 2017 and personally selects, tests, and grows the heirloom, non-GMO varieties the company offers. Under his leadership, Organo Republic was named Agri Business Review’s Top Non-GMO Seed Variety Solution 2026.