Where to Find Carrot Seeds for Your Garden

Carrots are a versatile root vegetable that can be grown in backyard gardens, containers, and indoor spaces Their sweet flavor and crunchy texture make them a staple ingredient for salads, soups, juices and more While carrot seeds are readily available from nurseries and seed companies, you may be wondering – where exactly do carrot seeds come from?

The Life Cycle of a Carrot Plant

To understand where carrot seeds originate, it helps to learn about the life cycle of a carrot plant Carrots are biennial plants, meaning they take two years to complete their life cycle

Year 1 – Vegetative Growth

In the first year, the carrot seed germinates and grows leaves and a taproot The taproot enlarges and becomes the edible orange carrot we are familiar with. At this stage, the carrot plant focuses its energy on vegetative growth above and below ground

Year 2 – Flowering and Seed Production

In the second year, the carrot plant “bolts” and sends up a tall stalk covered in tiny white flowers. This signals the transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth. The flowers are pollinated by insects, then form brown, umbel-shaped seed heads filled with hundreds of seeds. Once mature, these seed heads can be collected for planting future crops.

Where Do Carrot Seeds Come From Originally?

Wild carrot plants, known as Queen Anne’s Lace, originated in Europe and parts of Asia. The first domesticated carrots were selectively bred from these wild plants, dating back to the 10th century in Central Asia and the Middle East.

Early carrots were grown for their aromatic leaves and seeds, not the roots. The first cultivated carrots were purple and yellow rooted. Orange carrots appeared in the Netherlands in the 17th century. Over centuries, carrot seeds have been shared between regions, cross-bred, and adapted to create the diverse rainbow of varieties available today.

How to Get Carrot Seeds

For home gardeners looking to grow carrots, there are a few options for sourcing seeds:

Purchase Seeds

The easiest way to get carrot seeds is to purchase them from seed companies, nurseries or garden centers. Some sources include:

• Online seed retailers – Companies like Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Seed Savers Exchange, Burpee and True Leaf Market offer a wide selection of open-pollinated and heirloom carrot seeds.

• Local nurseries and garden centers – Many carry seeds from national brands as well as regional seed companies. Support local agriculture by shopping in your community.

• Seed swap events – Connect with other gardeners to trade seeds at events hosted by community gardens, botanical gardens, libraries, schools and more.

When purchasing seeds, look for non-hybrid, open-pollinated varieties which will grow true from seed. The seed packet should indicate if it’s an heirloom, open-pollinated or hybrid variety.

Save Your Own Seeds

You can save money and enjoy the satisfaction of producing your own seeds by letting some carrot plants complete their second year growth cycle.

Here’s the process:

• Select open-pollinated carrot varieties to plant. Avoid hybrids which may not breed true.

• Isolate carrot varieties by 1⁄4 mile or more to prevent crossing.

• Allow carrots to overwinter in the garden or vernalize in cold storage.

• Replant vernalized roots in spring. Let plants flower and set seed.

• Harvest umbels when the seed heads turn brown and dry.

• Rub heads to separate seeds and remove spikes.

• Store seeds in envelopes in a cool, dry place.

With proper isolation and selection, home-saved carrot seeds will produce consistent, high-quality crops for up to 3 years before needing to be replenished.

Get Free Seeds from Neighbors or Community Groups

Connect with gardening neighbors, community gardens, seed libraries, clubs and online groups to obtain free seeds. Many gardeners end up with excess seeds and enjoy sharing them.

What to Look for When Selecting Carrot Seeds

Whether you purchase or save seeds yourself, choose varieties tailored to your climate, growing conditions and culinary preferences.

• Open-pollinated/Heirloom – Recommended for seed saving, with consistent traits over generations. Often have more unique colors/flavors.

• Hybrid – Vigorous growth and disease resistance but not suitable for seed saving.

• Days to maturity – Choose quick-maturing varieties for short growing seasons.

• Root color – Classic orange, or try purple, red, yellow and white varieties.

• Root shape/size – Options include short/round, long/tapered, stubby, thin and more.

• Flavor – Ranging from sweet and mild to spicy and earthy.

With the right seeds in hand, you’ll be on your way to growing a bountiful carrot crop this season. Check for germination rates on the seed packet, sow them directly in prepared garden beds, keep them consistently watered and you’ll be harvesting homegrown carrots in no time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you grow carrots from a grocery store carrot?

Grocery store carrots are often hybrid varieties. The seeds may not grow true or have low germination rates. For the best results, start with fresh seeds from a reputable source.

How long do carrot seeds last?

Stored properly in a cool, dry location, carrot seeds remain viable for 2-3 years before germination rates decline. For the highest viability, start with newly harvested seeds.

Do carrots cross-pollinate with other plants?

Yes, carrots can cross with other cultivated carrots and wild Queen Anne’s Lace. Isolate seed-saving carrots by at least 1⁄4 mile.

How many seeds does a carrot plant produce?

A single carrot umbel can produce 1,000+ seeds! Just a few plants can provide enough seeds for multiple seasons.

What’s the best way to extract carrot seeds?

When umbels are completely dry, rub them between your hands over a bowl to separate the seeds. Remove spikes by rubbing seeds against a sieve. Discard chaff and debris.

Growing carrots from seed may seem intimidating, but with the knowledge of where seeds originate from and how to source them sustainably, you’ll be harvesting homegrown carrots in no time!