History
Imperator 58 Carrot is one of the most iconic and widely grown carrot varieties in American history — the variety that defined what a carrot looks like for generations of home gardeners and grocery shoppers alike. Developed in the 1950s as an improvement on the original Imperator type, Imperator 58 became the commercial standard for fresh-market carrots across the United States, prized for its long, tapered shape, deep orange color, and sweet, clean flavor. While commercial growers eventually shifted to hybrid varieties, home gardeners have kept Imperator 58 alive as a beloved heirloom — a variety that delivers the classic carrot experience in every way. Open-pollinated and non-GMO.
Plant Profile
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Days to Maturity: 68–75 days from direct sow
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Root Size: 7–8 inches long, slender and tapered with a blunt tip
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Color: Deep, uniform orange inside and out
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Plant Type: Open-pollinated, non-GMO heirloom
Flavor Profile
Imperator 58 delivers the quintessential carrot flavor — sweet, clean, and deeply satisfying with a crisp, snappy texture that holds up beautifully raw or cooked. The flesh is dense and uniformly orange with a fine grain and minimal core, giving it a tender bite and excellent flavor concentration. Cold weather and light frost intensify the sweetness as starches convert to sugars — fall-harvested Imperator 58 carrots are noticeably sweeter and more flavorful than summer-harvested roots. The flavor is honest and classic — exactly what a carrot should taste like.
Growth Type & Harvest Yields
Imperator 58 produces long, slender roots that require deep, loose, well-worked soil to reach their full 7–8 inch length. In ideal conditions, a 10-foot row will yield 8–12 pounds of beautiful, uniform carrots. The variety performs best in deep raised beds or deeply tilled garden soil free of rocks and compaction. Succession planting every 3–4 weeks from early spring through midsummer provides a continuous harvest of fresh carrots from late spring through fall. Plants left in the ground after frost will sweeten further and can be harvested through early winter in mild climates.
Disease Resistance
- Good resistance to alternaria leaf blight in typical garden conditions
- Tolerates light frost — flavor improves after cold exposure
- Rarely troubled by pests when grown in well-drained, loose soil
- Tip: Avoid heavy clay soils — compaction causes forking and stunted roots; raised beds are ideal
Growing Tips & Planting Dimensions
- Spacing: Sow seeds ½ inch apart in rows 12 inches apart; thin to 2–3 inches when seedlings are 2 inches tall
- Sow depth: ¼ inch deep — seeds need light to germinate; do not bury too deep
- Germination: 10–21 days at soil temps of 55–75°F — be patient, carrots are slow to germinate
- Full sun — at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily
- Requires deep, loose, well-drained soil — raised beds or deeply tilled beds work best
- Keep soil consistently moist during germination — use a light mulch to retain moisture
- Thin seedlings promptly — crowded carrots produce forked, stunted roots
When to Plant
Direct sow outdoors 4–6 weeks before your last frost date in spring, or in late summer for a fall harvest. Carrots prefer cool soil for germination — soil temps of 55–75°F are ideal. Do not transplant — carrots do not tolerate root disturbance. Succession plant every 3–4 weeks for a continuous harvest. Find your frost dates and hardiness zone at the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Companion Plants & Mutual Benefits
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Onions & Leeks — the classic pairing; onions deter carrot fly, carrots deter onion fly
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Tomatoes — carrots loosen soil around tomato roots; tomatoes provide light shade in hot weather
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Lettuce — shallow-rooted lettuce pairs well with deep-rooted carrots, maximizing bed space
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Rosemary & Sage — strong-scented herbs confuse and deter carrot fly
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Avoid planting near: dill and parsnips — dill can cross-pollinate; parsnips compete for the same deep soil space
How to Enjoy
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Raw: The classic snacking carrot — crisp, sweet, and satisfying straight from the garden
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Roasted: Toss with olive oil, honey, and thyme and roast until caramelized and tender
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Soups & Stews: A foundational ingredient in stocks, soups, and braises — adds sweetness and body
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Glazed: Simmer in butter and brown sugar or maple syrup for a classic side dish
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Juiced: Fresh carrot juice from garden-grown Imperator 58 is sweet, bright, and deeply flavorful
Why Gardeners Love Imperator 58 Carrot
- The classic American carrot — long, tapered, deep orange, and deeply flavorful
- Sweet, crisp flavor that intensifies after frost for fall harvests
- Excellent storage — keeps well in the ground or in cold storage for months
- Uniform, beautiful roots ideal for fresh eating, cooking, and preserving
- Open-pollinated and non-GMO — save your own seeds year after year
- A proven heirloom with decades of performance in American home gardens
Harvest Tips
- Harvest when roots reach 7–8 inches — gently loosen soil with a fork before pulling to avoid breaking
- Harvest in the morning for the crispest, sweetest roots
- Leave roots in the ground after light frost for sweeter flavor — mulch heavily to extend the season
- Twist off tops immediately after harvest to prevent moisture loss from the roots
- Store unwashed in a cool, humid environment — refrigerator crisper drawer or root cellar — for up to 3 months
Order Today
Add Imperator 58 Heirloom Carrot Seeds to your garden this season and grow the classic American carrot that defined generations of home gardens. Choose your pack size and begin to grow.
