Phoenix Bird

SAVING SEEDS - CARROTS

By: Ron
The One Who Walks Two Paths

Let's talk carrots. A little butter, some brown sugar and carrots.. mmmm good.

Carrots are one of the few vegetables that I don't plant in rows. Now, to get really good carrots that are nice and thick and grow straight, you need to have good loose soil. For that reason I plant my carrots in raised beds.

I try to have several raised beds around the garden. I make all my raised beds 20 inches deep and I go heavy on the compost and sand. You know you have good beds for growing carrots when you can plunge your hand down into the soil easily up to your wrist.

I plant my carrots by blocks, meaning that I spread the seed over a block at least 4 foot square. I then thin the plants to three inches apart in every direction.

I have tried starting carrots in jiffy pots and transplanting but they always have short, misshapen roots.

To save the seed from your carrots, first you have to choose a dozen or so plants that you will not harvest. These plants you will mulch deeply once the ground has frozen. You want to keep the ground frozen around the carrots and prevent heaving. Next spring, uncover your seed stock and fertilize them well with compost.

Now, I think everyone here in the states has seen Queen Ann's Lace. Well, this is a wild cousin of the carrot, and soon your carrot will start to look just like it, including the dill like flower heads. After the flower has had a chance to pollinate ( the color starts to fade ), pull out your handy dandy nylons and tie the heads up with them. This will catch the seed as it ripens and falls off the plant.

Bring it inside and give it a day or so to make sure it is good and dry. Place it in one of those handy dandy little containers I like so much (or a baby food jar, you get the idea).

Now, some of you might be wondering if you can then harvest the root and have it do double duty in the kitchen. Well, let me tell you, gnawing on a piece of wood would have better flavor and texture. But, as we all know, pigs don't have a discriminating pallet and will devour these offensive tasting roots with relish. I know, I know, they gave up the best part of themselves so I could have seed for future crops, but that doesn't mean I have to eat them. :~)

So, as you can see, getting carrot seed is a two year process, so order your seed accordingly.

BACK