Are these the same? Anyone grow either, or better yet both?
Carrots... Purple Haze -V- Purple Dragon
No, they are not the same. Growing Purple Haze, Twilley Seed http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/114207/index.html Have not tried Purple Dragon. http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/66452/index.html
Edited to say there is also a Cosmic Purple http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/89049/index.html
This message was edited Mar 5, 2006 2:17 PM
How do you find the taste of Purple Haze compared to an orange carrot? I was also given seed for a yellow one, i think my kids will get a kick out of the mix this year.
If you are familiar with the long slim Imperator types, taste is about the same. If you peel the Purple Haze, you would never know it had a purple skin. It is basicly an Imperator type with a dark purple cloak. I personnaly like the Imperator types better than the shorter thicker Nantes types. Seem to be more tender. Less tolerant of soil conditions tho. But since I am on a sandbar, the long types do well.
I grew the cosmic purple type last year, after buying a bunch at the whole foods market. They were exceptionally delicious and crunchy, imo. Unfortunately, mine didn't do very well, but I atttribute that to where I planted them and the lack of care I gave them. My soil is very rocky heavy clay with many burrowing critters.
Purple Dragon has the nice full "carroty" flavor to me. Too many carrots seem to be too sugary sweet and not enough carrot taste for my tongue. I grew them for the first time in 2004. They are now a regular on the list.
What do you all think? Are the ones they say are new in the catalog really new (Purple Haze), or are they just selling them for the first time?
New is relative, Purple Haze has been available in Europe for awhile. American retailers are just picking them up. Ditto with Cosmic Purple. Purple Dragon < I believe was introduced in Canada by Stokes.
I bought some Purple Haze, i'd be interested in comparing them if someone wants to trade a couple dozen of their Purple Dragon for a couple dozen of my Purple Haze...
tombak, I have about half a pack of Purple Dragon from last season if you want them you're welcome to them. They are from John Sheeper's Kitchen Garden Seeds. I'm not planning to grow carrots this year. If you're interested, send me a D-mail and I'll mail them to you.