carrot question

**Josh** 4/6/2012, 2:46 pm

Last year I planted some carrots kinda late in the season, they came up but never did grow very much, I just left them and they made it through the winter, now they have really started to take off and grow. Will they still be good to eat?
carrot question Lastyearscarrots

**camprn** 4/6/2012, 2:48 pm

I have the same question.

boffer 4/6/2012, 2:55 pm

In my experience, once they start growing again, the roots don't grow much, and they get bitter. In the second year, the plant is concentrating on making flowers for seed.

**camprn** 4/6/2012, 2:58 pm

boffer wrote:In my experience, once they start growing again, the roots don't grow much, and they get bitter. In the second year, the plant is concentrating on making flowers for seed.

Thanks, I was thinking along those lines but have no practical experience. Into the compost they goooooooooo.......... Very Happy

boffer 4/6/2012, 3:01 pm

But I did enjoy letting a few grow to maturity to see what the flowers look like.

**camprn** 4/6/2012, 3:04 pm

boffer wrote:But I did enjoy letting a few grow to maturity to see what the flowers look like.

Hmmmm.... good thinking, maybe I will relocate them and let them go to flower for the bees and butterflies. May add some nice flavor the the HONEY I will harvest... I can hardly wait!

plantoid 4/6/2012, 3:05 pm

Josh they will make seeds this year and soon will turn very woody and inedible and start the seed process..

Fancy collecting about $ 25 or more worth of your own carrot seeds and start an exchange seed bank ?

At least you'll know what they came from & how they performed ... even if they were f1 hybrids you get something in most cases unless they are totally sterile.

Your worm beds might like a few pulped/ liquidized ones as well .

**Josh** 4/6/2012, 3:52 pm

Thanks!

I think I will let mine grow then, and I've never let them grow two years so I've never seen them flower. Sometimes the butterfly caterpillars eat the leaves.

I know what kind they are, they are Scarlet Nantes from last years carrot week, only I planted these late after the others were done.
carrot question Nantacarrots

Maybe I can collect the seeds and provide everyone with Nantes carrot seeds for next years carrot week! Smile

1airdoc 4/6/2012, 4:01 pm

The flowers look like Queen Anne's Lace. At a former home, the previous owner left some carrots in the raised bed, and that's what we had the following spring.

AvaDGardner 4/6/2012, 11:16 pm

Josh wrote:Thanks!

I think I will let mine grow then, and I've never let them grow two years so I've never seen them flower. Sometimes the butterfly caterpillars eat the leaves.

I know what kind they are, they are Scarlet Nantes from last years carrot week, only I planted these late after the others were done.

Maybe I can collect the seeds and provide everyone with Nantes carrot seeds for next years carrot week!

Josh, if they are 'scarlet' shouldn't they be red?

My Nutri-Reds are just beginning to come up. I hope they are red when they are ready!

**Josh** 4/7/2012, 9:56 am

Josh, if they are 'scarlet' shouldn't they be red?

My Nutri-Reds are just beginning to come up. I hope they are red when they are ready!

I didn't know the answer so I looked around for some info on scarlet Nantes. I guess they are orange like mine, I found the Nantes listed as an orange carrot. I found some info on them that said they are heirloom. I looked up your Nutri-Reds and they were listed as a red carrot and suppose to be red, be sure to post a picture of them.

I have some black carrots planted, I hope they are black! I'll post a picture of them when they are done growing.

Here is where I found that info:
http://www.reimerseeds.com/orange-carrots_1323.aspx

http://peakgardening.wordpress.com/2010/05/11/hybrid-heirloom-vintage-and-heritage-plant-varietites/

GWN 4/7/2012, 11:17 am

I intentionally took some carrots that had overwintered, and planted them, hoping for a self seeded carrot garden for this year.... will see.
However the flowers were huge and COMPLETELY covered with bees all year.
It was kind of funny, I would go out to work in garden and they were SO much into those carrot flowers they would ignore me.

nycquilter 4/7/2012, 1:39 pm

Carrots are the only vegetable/plant that humans improved in a good way from the wild. Queen Anne's Lace is daucus carota, wild carrot. Though her roots aren't nearly as tasty as the domesticated carrot, her flowers are edible and taste like carrot. they can be used in salad, for example, and add a pretty and edible embellishment.

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