Carrots are not typically considered perennials, as they are biennials. This means that they complete their life cycle in two years. In the first year, carrot plants focus on growing their roots, which we harvest and consume. If we leave the carrot roots in the ground, they have the potential to produce flowers and seeds in the second year.
During the second year, the carrot tops will send up tall stems with umbrella-like clusters of small white flowers. These flowers eventually turn into seed heads, which contain the carrot seeds. While this can be a fascinating process to observe, it’s important to note that the carrots themselves become bitter and less desirable for eating during this stage.
However, if you’re interested in saving carrot seeds for future planting, allowing the tops to flower and go to seed can be beneficial. The seed heads can be harvested once they have dried out and turned brown. Simply shake the seeds out of the seed heads and store them in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to plant them.
It’s worth mentioning that the process of saving carrot seeds can be a bit more complex than simply leaving the roots in the ground to flower. Carrots are primarily cross-pollinated by insects, so there is a possibility of the seeds being crossbred with other carrot varieties nearby. To maintain the desired characteristics of a specific carrot variety, it may be necessary to isolate the plants or use other methods of preventing cross-pollination.
While carrots themselves do not come back every year like perennial plants, their biennial nature allows them to produce flowers and seeds in the second year if left in the ground. This can be a fascinating process for gardeners interested in seed saving, but the carrots themselves will become bitter and less palatable.
