Some of the varieties of carrots in Nigeria

Nigeria as a country in West Africa is really blessed with some varieties of food crops and carrots are no exception. In Northern parts of Nigeria carrots are cultivated in areas like Sokoto, Jos, Zaria and Kano.

The scientific name of carrot is Daucus carota subsp. sativus, carrot is a root vegetable, it is among the root and tuber crops. Carrots come in different colors which are black, purple, white, red and yellow. Actually carrots contains only the taproot which is mainly eaten and the green leafy part which is eaten as well, although it is not common and is always crispy when fresh.

Furthermore, carrots grow well in sandy soil that is free of stones and lumps and they are planted in rows three to four inches apart on a raised bed, at about one to three weeks it will begin to germinate and they can be harvested at any size. The carrots will have a better flavor when they have turned bright orange.

Carrots are really a very good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K, Niacin, Potassium, Vitamin B6, Thiamine, Foliate and Manganese, and it is also a very good source of Dietary fiber.

There are different varieties of carrots, the following are the different varieties of carrots in Nigeria;

     1. The mini Carrot: These particular varieties of carrots are mostly grown in containers because they really grows well in shallow root zones and they can be harvested small, and they also perform well in a heavy or rocky soils.

     2. The Chantenay carrot: The Chantenay carrot are characterized by their short and stout nature and it has a crown tapered to a rounded point, this varieties of carrots can also be grown in heavy or rocky soil.

      3. The imperator carrots: The imperator carrots have long, slim tapered roots and they grow well in light, sandy loam soil. 

    4. The Nantes varieties: This particular varieties of carrot consist of different carrots that are generally sweet and crispy, cylindrical carrots, and with blunt tips. The Nantes varieties grow healthier and better in soils that are heavy and they are usually the easiest carrots to grow in home gardens. This variety colors are mostly orange. The Nantes varieties are widely grown in Nigeria.

Carrots are widely grown in Nigeria and other West African countries. Carrots can be eaten ordinarily or used in salads, use in Nigerian fried rice. Carrot is a seasonal root crop but it can also be preserved for a longtime by chopping it and then drying it.