Repotting guide

When & how to repot Carrot 'Dragon' (Daucus carota subsp. sativus 'Dragon')

Also called Dragon carrot, purple red carrot.

More about carrot 'dragon'

About Carrot 'Dragon'

Daucus carota subsp. sativus 'Dragon' · also called Dragon carrot, purple red carrot · edible

Carrot 'Dragon' is a striking purple-skinned carrot with a contrasting orange-to-yellow core and a sweet, slightly spicy flavour. The purple skin is rich in anthocyanins and the colour is strongest when grown well. A reliable maincrop type with 6-8 inch tapering roots, it needs deep, light, stone-free soil and even moisture to grow long and straight.

Mature size: Foliage 30-40 cm tall; roots 15-20 cm (6-8 in) long and 2-3 cm thick at the shoulder.

Watch for — Carrot root fly: Larvae tunnel rusty channels through the roots; sow thinly to avoid thinning, use fine insect mesh or fleece barriers, and avoid bruising foliage.

How to tell carrot 'dragon' needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For carrot 'dragon', watch for these signs:

Roots circling the bottom of the module or pot, or poking out of the drainage holes.
The seedling dries out within a day and growth has visibly stalled.
Roots are white and matted in a tight spiral when you tip the plant out.
It has outgrown its current container for the stage of the season — pot carrot 'dragon' on before it becomes hard root-bound.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot carrot 'dragon'

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot. Carrot 'Dragon'is grown for one season, so the question is really “how often to pot on” — keep moving it up before the roots circle. Biennial grown as an annual; feathery ferny foliage above a long tapering purple taproot with an orange-yellow inner core..

What size pot to step carrot 'dragon' up to

Pot carrot 'dragon' on gradually — a seedling jumped straight into a huge pot sits in cold, wet, airless soil and stalls. Step up one or two sizes at a time as the roots fill each container, finishing in a large final pot or the ground. The aim is roots that never circle and never check.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot carrot 'dragon'

Pot carrot 'dragon' on through the active growing season, whenever roots fill the current container — there is no single date, just "before it becomes root-bound". Avoid potting on during a cold snap.

Step-by-step: repotting carrot 'dragon'

Pot on before it is root-bound. Check carrot 'dragon' regularly; move it up as soon as roots reach the edge of the cell or pot, not after they have circled.
Step up one or two sizes. Choose the next container up — not a giant one. Cold, wet, unused soil around a small root system stalls seedlings.
Knock it out gently. Support the stem, tip the pot, and ease the rootball out without breaking it. A little teasing of circled roots at the base is fine.
Pot into rich mix. Set it into fresh deep, light, stone-free sandy loam at the same depth (tomatoes are the exception — they can go deeper to root along the stem).
Water in and grow on. Water well, keep it in good light, and resume feeding once it is established and growing again.

Aftercare

Water carrot 'dragon' in well and keep it in bright light; a freshly potted-on seedling can wilt for a day while roots settle, so do not overcompensate by drowning it. Do not fertilise for about 1 week — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for carrot 'dragon'

Carrot 'Dragon' wants deep, light, stone-free sandy loam. Loose, deeply worked soil free of stones and fresh manure, pH 6.0-7.0. Stony, compacted or recently manured ground causes forked, split or hairy roots. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting carrot 'dragon' — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot carrot 'dragon'?

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot for carrot 'dragon'. Carrot 'Dragon' is a seasonal crop, so you pot it on as a growing plant rather than repotting a perennial. Step seedlings up gradually into deep, light, stone-free sandy loam so the roots never circle the cell, ending in a large final container. A root-bound transplant stalls and never fully recovers.

What size pot does carrot 'dragon' need?

When is the best time of year to repot carrot 'dragon'?

Can you put carrot 'dragon' straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing carrot 'dragon' should only go up one pot size at a time. A vastly oversized pot holds a reservoir of wet soil the roots cannot reach, which stays cold and soggy and rots the roots — the opposite of what you wanted.

Should you fertilise carrot 'dragon' after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 1 week after repotting carrot 'dragon'. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.