Name: Organic purple 'Lila Lu' carrot
Brand: Biologiquement vôtre
SKU: BIOV-SEMENCES
Price: 4.49 CAD
Availability: OutOfStock

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Overhead view of approximately ten long 'Lila Lu' carrots arranged side by side on green grass in bright sunlight. Roots are cylindrical to gently tapered, with very dark purple skin showing reddish-purple tones and fine horizontal marks. Narrow tips and rootlets remain visible. Abundant tops, composed of pale green leaf stalks and finely divided foliage, form a broad band above the roots. The image clearly presents a freshly harvested, uniform group.

Compact root vegetable Apiaceae

Organic root vegetable seeds

Biologiquement vôtre

Daucus carota subsp. sativus

From seed to harvest

Open-pollinated

Common name'Lila Lu' purple carrot

FamilyApiaceae

GenusDaucus

Speciescarota subsp. sativus

CultivarLila Lu

TypeCompact root vegetable

Botanical nameDaucus carota subsp. sativus

Reproducible seedsYes

Organic purple 'Lila Lu' carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) is a long carrot with deep purple skin and a vivid orange core. Its long root suits gardens, raised beds, and genuinely deep containers. Flesh offers a crisp texture and mild flavour when growth remains steady and roots are harvested before becoming oversized. Published catalogues give widely different maturity periods, so harvest at the desired size rather than on one absolute date. Sow from late spring through midsummer according to local conditions and selection directions. The long tapered root also makes sizing and lifting practical for beginning gardeners and family garden projects.

Always direct-sow because transplanting easily distorts the developing taproot. Prepare light, loose, stone-free, well-drained soil, then place seed approximately 6 to 12 mm (1/4 to 1/2 in) deep. Keep the surface moist until emergence, which may take up to three weeks, and prevent crusting after rain. Thin gradually to leave approximately 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) between plants. Provide approximately 2.5 cm (1 in) of water weekly, including rainfall. Water stress can produce small, bitter, fibrous, or misshapen roots. Weed shallowly and cover exposed shoulders with a little soil to prevent greening.

Harvest as soon as shoulders reach the diameter you prefer without waiting for an absolute date. Water the previous day or harvest after light rain, then loosen soil with a fork before pulling to avoid broken roots. Remove tops promptly and refrigerate clean carrots. 'Lila Lu' may be eaten raw, whole, roasted, glazed, steamed, or added to soups. To freeze small whole carrots, blanch them according to a tested preservation method. Carrots normally flower in their second year; seed can cross with nearby flowering carrots and may not reproduce the cultivar faithfully. Use clean harvest containers and discard roots showing decay or severe damage.

Light and life cycle

In the garden

Exposure: Sun
Life cycle: Biennial grown as an annual crop

Sowing and germination

Sowing guide

Sowing & germination

Sowing depth

Approximately 6 to 12 mm (1/4 to 1/2 in)

Spacing / density

Thin to approximately 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in)

Germination temperature

Approximately 10 to 24 °C (50 to 75 °F)

Germination time

Approximately 10 to 21 days in evenly moist soil; warmer soil within the crop’s suitable range speeds emergence.

Sowing period

Late spring through midsummer according to local conditions and selection directions

Propagation

Direct sowing only for regular root production

Growing method

Carrot seed planting: 'Lila Lu' carrot. Direct-sow as soon as soil can be worked. As a cultivated carrot, 'Lila Lu' forms its best root when the seedling is not transplanted. If a seed harvest from 'Lila Lu' is planned, retain the cultivar label and consult crop-specific isolation guidance; vegetable harvest directions alone are not sufficient. Inspect the foliage and root shoulders without disturbing neighbouring plants. For this carrot, the expected harvest form—short cylindrical root with a generally rounded tip—helps confirm crop identity, while local warmth and plant health still influence maturity. Water the full root depth as the surface begins drying, avoiding cycles of drought and saturation. Leave the crop open to light, airflow, and watering at soil level. Its growth is rosette of finely divided leaves above a long tapered root. Mark the row clearly because carrot seedlings can be mistaken for weeds. Match the row to sun and observe the actual hours of unobstructed light at the site. Make a second small sowing only while enough suitable season remains for useful root growth. Keep thin to approximately 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) around the root crop, especially where neighbouring foliage could shade or trap moisture. Avoid repeated nitrogen feeding, which can favour tops instead of a smooth root. Check root shoulders before lifting the row, and loosen the soil beside mature roots rather than pulling against resistance. Begin sampling this carrot when shoulders reach the diameter you want. Loosen the soil beside each developing root before lifting, trim tops promptly, cool roots in shade, and record which sowing date produced the best shape and tenderness.

Soil and care

Soil & care

Soil pH

Approximately 6.0 to 7.0

Moisture

Evenly moist soil without saturation

Care level

Easy

Watering

Keep the surface evenly moist while purple 'Lila Lu' carrot germinates, because the shallow seed and young taproot cannot recover well from crusting. Before purple 'Lila Lu' carrot emerges, use a gentle flow; as roots lengthen, water more deeply and let excess leave the bed. For purple 'Lila Lu' carrot, moisten the full depth of the developing root instead of repeatedly wetting only the surface. Mulch purple 'Lila Lu' carrot lightly only after establishment, limiting abrupt wet-dry cycles that can cause cracking or uneven texture. A purple 'Lila Lu' carrot container must drain freely and needs daily checks in warm wind while the edible root enlarges.

Soil type

'Lila Lu' needs a deep, finely prepared root zone so its short cylindrical root with arounded tip can extend without obstruction. Test the soil before making corrective mineral additions. In the 'Lila Lu' planting, loose sandy loam or a raised bed should hold steady moisture while draining promptly. For purple 'Lila Lu' carrot, remove stones and hard clods, prevent surface crusting, and use only mature compost; fresh manure can promote distorted roots. Containers for 'Lila Lu' need fine vegetable mix, uninterrupted root depth, and open drainage holes. Mulch only after conditions suit the crop, keeping the crown uncovered.

Fertilization

'Lila Lu' needs loose soil more than repeated feeding. Let a soil test guide any corrective amendment. Excess nitrogen pushes purple 'Lila Lu' carrot toward tops instead of roots. Split necessary feeding instead of using one strong dose. For 'Lila Lu' purple carrot, fresh manure can distort root shape and encourage hairs. Review growth stage before scheduling the next feeding. For 'Lila Lu', its tops should stay healthy without becoming rank. Correct drainage and moisture before increasing fertility. For purple 'Lila Lu' carrot, keep fertilizer outside the developing root's immediate path.

Seasonal care

Seasonal care for 'Lila Lu' carrot. For the first sowing of purple 'Lila Lu' carrot, use this crop-specific timing as a guide and adjust it to the garden: late spring through midsummer according to local conditions and selection directions. Sow approximately 6 to 12 mm deep. Expect germination in 10 to 21 days at approximately 10 to 24 °C (50 to 75 °F); keep the medium evenly moist but aerated throughout that interval. Direct-sow into deep, loose, stone-free soil; transplanting or hard clods can distort the short cylindrical root with a generally rounded tip. Prevent a crust from forming, then shift from light germination watering to deeper irrigation as roots lengthen. Thin seedlings early to the stated spacing by cutting extras rather than tugging against neighbouring roots, and keep the shoulders lightly covered. Maintain even moisture without saturation; long dry spells followed by heavy watering can produce cracking, coarse texture, or irregular growth. If potted, follow this provision for purple 'Lila Lu' carrot: 30 cm (12 in). Recheck root-zone moisture whenever heat or wind increases evaporation. Carrot rust fly and exposed green shoulders deserve regular checks as the crop develops. Treat the supplied harvest guidance—harvest at the desired size; often grown for autumn harvest and storage—as a starting point, then lift one sample to assess diameter, colour, and tenderness before clearing the row. For succession, make smaller sowings while enough cool-season time remains before local heat or hard freezing. At harvest, loosen the surrounding soil, trim foliage as appropriate, cool the crop promptly, and discard roots showing rot or serious damage.

Growing in containers

Container growing

Recommended pot size

30 cm (12 in)

Growing 'Lila Lu' carrot in containers. For 'Lila Lu', choose a container matching this guide: 30 cm (12 in). Keep several drainage holes unobstructed. Thin seedlings with scissors to protect the roots that remain. Plan around the way 'Lila Lu' grows: rosette of finely divided leaves above a long tapered root. Keep access to the root zone for watering and inspection. Leave headspace for watering while preserving uninterrupted depth for the short cylindrical root with a generally rounded tip. Give the root crop sun, and keep water from collecting around the crown or container base. Place the pot in sun or bright partial shade where heavy rain cannot leave it standing in water. At final planting, follow this layout for the row: thin to approximately 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in). Mark positions before roots are placed. Add a fine mulch only after establishment and keep crowns or shoulders uncovered as appropriate. As the crop matures, use the expected harvest form—developing roots—to guide support, inspection, and careful picking. For this carrot, keep foliage open to light, remove weeds shallowly, and cover exposed root shoulders with a little clean mix when needed. Sample one root first, loosen the surrounding mix, and lift the remainder without scraping neighbouring roots. Sample the root crop before lifting the whole container. Loosen mix beside the developing roots, harvest without twisting neighbouring roots, trim tops promptly, and refrigerate sound roots separately from foliage.

Growth and harvest

Size, flowering & harvest

Mature height

25 to 35 cm (10 to 14 in)

Width / spread

5 cm (2 in)

Flower color

White, when flowering in the second year

Foliage color

Green

Foliage type

Deciduous

Growth rate

Fast

Growth habit

Rosette of finely divided leaves above a long tapered root

Fragrance

Subtle fragrance

Edible parts

Roots; young tops only when clean and correctly identified

Bloom period

'Lila Lu' flowers only after shifting away from harvest growth. Keep the root zone evenly moist during bloom. Lengthening days or stress can hasten purple 'Lila Lu' carrot's bolting. Do not treat every fallen blossom as disease. As 'Lila Lu' purple carrot bolts, leaf or root harvest quality changes. Let open flowers remain accessible to visiting insects. Remove 'Lila Lu' before seed disperses if volunteers are unwanted. Stable growth matters more than forcing extra bloom. For purple 'Lila Lu' carrot, its seed stalk becomes taller and less harvest-focused. For 'Lila Lu' purple carrot, leave selected blooms only when seed or insects matter.

Fruiting

Lila Lu is harvested as a purple storage root in its first year. Only a selected root that survives winter enters the fruiting stage, sending up white umbels and later forming dry seed. The root loses eating quality once flowering begins. For seed work, retain well-shaped healthy roots, label them, and prevent crossing with other flowering carrots or nearby wild carrot.

Harvest

Harvest at the desired size; often grown for autumn harvest and storage

Garden companions

Garden associations

Companion plants & uses

Companion plants

Use the space beside young 'Lila Lu' for a short lettuce or green-onion crop, not for a permanent dense neighbour. Rotation, shallow weeding, and inspection remain more dependable for purple 'Lila Lu' carrot than any claim that one neighbour repels carrot pests. Thin companions before their canopy hides the fine foliage over the short cylindrical root with arounded tip. Around 'Lila Lu', leave enough room to loosen and lift the short cylindrical root with arounded tip without uprooting the companion crop. Use companion planting to organize succession and diversity, not as a substitute for sound crop care. When arranging neighbours for purple 'Lila Lu' carrot, a companion does not guarantee control of insects or disease, so inspect every crop separately. Reassess the arrangement around 'Lila Lu' as both crops approach mature size.

Garden use

'Lila Lu' carrot in the vegetable garden. Direct-sow into a sunny, loose, stone-free bed so the purple roots can grow straight; avoid transplanting and fresh manure. Rake a fine seedbed, make a shallow drill, and water with a gentle spray after sowing. Maintain even surface moisture until seedlings emerge, using a light cover only if it can be removed promptly without damaging shoots. Mark the row and thin in stages to the packet spacing. Cut unwanted seedlings at soil level when pulling risks loosening the neighbours. Weed early and keep cultivation shallow. Water deeply during dry periods and let the bed drain, avoiding severe dry-to-wet swings that may split roots. If shoulders rise above the soil, draw loose earth over them to prevent greening. In areas with carrot rust fly, install fine insect barrier promptly, seal its edges, and rotate the crop. Harvest one root first to judge size and colour, then loosen the row with a fork beside the carrots. Purple colour may stain hands and pale surfaces during kitchen preparation, but it is a normal cultivar feature. Remove tops before storage and keep only sound, unbruised roots; use nicked or forked carrots first.

Recipe and storage

Recipe idea

From garden to table

'Lila Lu' carrot in the kitchen. Glazed 'Lila Lu' carrots — Scrub 500 g purple carrots and cut them lengthwise into even batons. Warm 15 mL olive oil in a wide skillet, add the carrots, and cook for three minutes. Pour in 125 mL water, cover, and simmer gently until nearly tender. Remove the lid and add 10 mL maple syrup, 10 mL orange juice, and 2 mL ground cumin. Turn the batons until the liquid reduces to a thin glaze, then season with salt, black pepper, and chopped mint. Avoid boiling them in excessive water if you want to retain more of their colour. Serve over couscous with chickpeas, alongside roast meat, or at room temperature as part of a grain bowl. Slice the widest carrots smaller so all pieces finish together. Wash away garden soil before cutting, clean the sink afterward, and use a fresh board for ready-to-eat garnishes. Cool leftovers in a shallow container and refrigerate promptly; this lightly glazed dish is not a preservation method.

Wildlife and pets

Wildlife & precautions

Supporting wildlife

Lila Lu is usually lifted for storage before winter and therefore never flowers in the vegetable row. A chosen root replanted or overwintered can bloom the next summer, producing umbels used by small insects. That reproductive stage sacrifices root quality and may cross with other carrots. Let only clearly labelled seed plants flower, away from routine harvest beds.

Frequently asked questions

When and how should 'Lila Lu' be sown?

Direct-sow 'Lila Lu' outdoors once the soil can be worked; moving a seedling later can distort its developing root. Make a fine, stone-free seedbed and cover seed by approximately 6–12 mm. The seed may need 10–21 days to emerge at 10–24°C, so mark the row and keep only the surface layer gently moist throughout that period. A fine rose on the watering can prevents tiny seeds from being displaced. Thin gradually after true leaves appear, leaving 5–8 cm between plants so the short cylindrical roots can expand without crowding. Additional small sowings can extend the harvest instead of producing one large flush. Remove weeds while they are tiny to avoid tugging nearby roots. Because the cultivar forms a rounded-tip root, deep soil is less critical than for a long carrot, but loose structure and unobstructed drainage still matter.

Why do carrots become forked or fibrous?

For 'Lila Lu', branching usually begins below ground before any problem is visible above it. A young root that strikes a stone, compacted clod, fresh manure pocket, or damage from transplanting may divide instead of remaining cylindrical. Sow directly into sifted, loose soil and thin by cutting crowded seedlings if pulling would disturb the keeper. Fibrous texture has a different cause: roots left too long, especially after uneven moisture, can become tougher even when their shape looks normal. Water consistently enough to prevent repeated wilting, but avoid saturation. Check development by lifting one root when the shoulders have filled, since this short purple cultivar need not become long before harvest. If shoulders emerge, cover them lightly with loose soil while keeping the crown exposed. Note whether defects are forks, cracks, or toughness so next season's correction addresses the right cause.

Can 'Lila Lu' be grown in a container?

Yes. The short, generally cylindrical 'Lila Lu' root is compatible with a container at least 30 cm deep. Choose a vessel with open drainage holes and fill it with a light, stone-free mix; dense garden soil can compact and split or fork the roots. Sow directly 6–12 mm deep, because transplanted carrots are easily distorted, then keep the surface damp through the 10–21-day emergence period. Thin carefully to 5–8 cm between plants, choosing which seedlings to retain before their roots interlock. Set the pot in sun and turn it only if growth leans strongly toward one side. Water whenever the upper mix begins drying, checking more often in heat, and empty the saucer after irrigation. Test one root at the desired diameter rather than pulling the entire container at once, and cover exposed shoulders lightly with mix.

When should 'Lila Lu' carrots be harvested?

Because published catalogues give divergent crop cycles, use shoulder diameter and texture instead of one absolute date. 'Lila Lu' may be harvested young for very small roots or left slightly longer for a larger whole carrot. Water the previous day or harvest after light rain, then loosen soil with a fork before pulling. Late harvest or water stress can make roots stronger and more fibrous. Remove tops promptly, wash carrots, and cool them. Use every broken, split, or lightly damaged root first and discard those showing decay. Record the preferred size so following sowings can be harvested more consistently. Compare several roots before deciding that the entire row is ready.

Will harvested seed remain true to 'Lila Lu'?

Lila Lu seed may remain true only after controlled second-year flowering. Carrot is biennial: first-year roots selected for seed must survive or be replanted, then produce umbels. Insects can carry pollen from other carrots or compatible wild relatives, so an open garden with several flowering types does not guarantee Lila Lu offspring. Select multiple healthy roots that match the cultivar, label them, and isolate their flowers from unwanted pollen. Collect seed only when umbels are fully mature and dry, then store it separately with the harvest year. If isolation and parent identity were not documented, regard the seed as experimental. Test a small population and compare root colour, shape, and uniformity before committing valuable garden space to the saved lot.