Bulgarian Carrot Seeds

Orange, Crisp, Unusual

Bulgarian Carrot is one of the most dependable and good-tempered annuum varieties you can grow from seed. It’s an old Bulgarian heirloom, sometimes called Shipka, and it produces neat, compact plants that are absolutely loaded with slim, carrot-shaped pods.

The seedlings establish quickly, and the plants fruit well even in cooler summers, which makes them a great choice for UK growers.

The chillies begin a clear, bright green and ripen through shades of gold into a vivid orange. They’re crisp, juicy and surprisingly hot for their size — usually somewhere in the medium–hot range — with a fruity, slightly tangy flavour.

They add both colour and bite to salsas, stir-fries, pickles and anything that benefits from a clean, uplifting heat.

One of the reasons this variety is so satisfying from seed is how willingly it produces. Even a modest plant will give you a steady stream of pods over a long season, and they tend to ripen earlier than many other medium-hot types.

They also hold their shape well when cooked or pickled, which makes them especially good for jars.

If you like chillies that are a bit different visually but still practical in the kitchen, Bulgarian Carrot is one of the easiest wins you can add to your seed list.

For a quicker start, I also grow Bulgarian Carrot plug plants, ready to pot on.