Over the past couple years I had fun growing carrots of all colors, but at some point I realized that the best tasting carrots were orange. Too often, carrots of other colors were fibrous or bitter. So this last winter I grew only orange carrots. More than that, I grew mostly one variety: the Mokum.
Mokum has everything I want in a carrot. The texture is most delicate and tender. I’ve never tasted fiber in a Mokum carrot. It snaps like a fresh apple every bite. In fact it is brittle. I’ve had to help harvest the Mokums for my kids nore than any other variety of carrot because the kids so often break them while pulling them out of the ground.
I’ve also yet to taste bitterness. It is now May and the soil is warming and carrots should start tasting less sweet, but the Mokums still taste as right as they did in winter. I’m impressed with how well they retain good flavor.
I’m not unique in being a Mokum fan. My seeds have all come from Territorial Seed Company in Oregon, who says of Mokum,“It’s still the finest fresh-eating carrot we know.”
As carrots are categorized, the company who owns the Mokum variety (it is an F1 hybrid), a Dutch company called Bejo, describes it as a “bunching” type: “Relatively short, healthy foliage is ideal for bunching,” they say. But they also praise its eating qualities: “This variety has a very good flavour – the best of the bunching carrots.”
The Mokums we’re eating right now were sown on February 3, an ideal time to sow carrots in Southern California.
While it’s now too late to sow good carrots in Southern California, keep Mokum in mind for sowing starting in the fall. (See my post, “Growing carrots in Southern California.”) Seed is in short supply right now, but keep looking and buy some whenever you see it’s available. You will not be disappointed.
All of my Yard Posts are listed HERE
Hi Greg, Thanks so much for the Yard Post!! It’s so helpful. I planted my first Hass in April. I bought it at Anderson, 15 gal size; about a 3 ft canopy, 7 ft tall but frail with a narrow trunk. It’s supported between 2 tree stakes. Is there anything I can do to strengthen the trunk, like pinch off some growth? It has room in the ties to move in the breeze. Thanks. Terry
Hi Terry,
You’re welcome! Buying a big tree as you’ve done ensures a weak trunk and a longer time until the tree can stand on its own. You’ve got to be patient and stake it for longer than a small tree would need. But it should eventually be able to stand without the stakes. See this post: https://gregalder.com/yardposts/training-young-avocado-trees/
Thanks for the referral to Territorial Seed Co. Wow! Do you know what shelf life the seeds have if I store them in a cool, dry place? I’ll never plant the quantity of Mokum seeds that they sell, even in two years.
Hi Art,
I also didn’t use my whole packet of Mokum seeds this year, but my book on seed saving says that carrot seeds stay viable for three years.
Greg, its September 5 and so hot. Just got a packet of mokum seeds. Too hot to plant? We’re in Ladera Ranch. Ive only used seedlings so far, never started with seeds. Grew carrots for the first time, seedlings from nursery, but not mokum. New raised bed garden. Love carrots. Help please. Thx from a newbie gardener.
Hi Sally,
Yes, wait. Safest to wait until about October 1st although you can sow earlier with extra effort.
Thanks Greg, I will wait. Start from seed or start seedlings now (which I’ve never done).
Mokum has been our favorite carrot gif about 25 years. Last year we did a blind taste test with children and grandchildren and everyone picked the Mokum!!!!
Do you know if a second year Mokum carrot left in the ground over winter will produce true Mokum seed?
Hi Greg. Have you ever used the pelleted or tape mokum seeds? Thanks in advance. Carmen
Hi Carmen,
I haven’t, but I have used pelleted seed for other crops like lettuce. I don’t like it, frankly. I always get worse germination with pelleted seed compared to regular seed. Maybe that’s my fault, but that’s my experience.