Carrots, unlike some other vegetables, do not come back year after year. They are biennials, which means they have a two-year life cycle. In the first year, carrots are grown for their roots, which we harvest and enjoy as a tasty vegetable. However, if we leave the carrot roots in the ground, something interesting happens in the second year.
During the second year, the carrot plant focuses its energy on producing flowers and seeds. The tops of the carrots will grow tall and develop beautiful white or yellow flowers. These flowers eventually turn into seed heads, which contain the carrot seeds.
If you’re interested in saving carrot seeds or growing carrots from seed, you can leave some carrots in the ground to flower and produce seeds in the second year. It’s a fascinating process to observe and can be a fun project for gardeners who enjoy experimenting with seed saving.
However, it’s important to note that the second-year carrots themselves will have turned bitter and woody. They are no longer suitable for eating as a vegetable. The roots become tough and fibrous as the plant diverts its energy towards seed production. So, while the carrot tops may come back year after year, the edible roots do not.
It’s worth mentioning that there are some wild carrot varieties, often called Queen Anne’s Lace or wild carrot, that are true perennials. These wild relatives of the cultivated carrot can come back year after year in the right growing conditions. They produce small, white flowers and have a more delicate flavor compared to cultivated carrots.
Carrots do not come back year after year in the traditional sense. They are biennials, and their roots are typically harvested and consumed in the first year. However, if you choose to leave the carrot roots in the ground, the tops will flower and produce seeds in the second year. This can be a fascinating process to observe, but the second-year carrots themselves are not edible as they become bitter and woody.
