One of my carrots ( just planted this year ) has flowers. Should I try to save the seed and if so is there anything special way to do it? Sorry, I'm a bit new to this!
No. You don't want the seed from early bolters because you will be selecting this characteristic.
Hi Lizann, welcom to A4A, I wouldn't personaly go to collect the seeds, I would pull
what you have if they are ready for harvesting, sow some more or start again later,
Keep posting your questions - loads of info here, ;D
floss xxx
Home saved carrot seeds seem to germinate well. I have always been worried they might cross fertilize with something else. Some of the members of the family are poisonous.
In fact, thank for the post because I have now looked at the pictures and think there is a large plant in the hedge beside my allotment which I am unsure about. I can remove it but presume it has friends. While many of the family are edible Hemlock is very poisonous.
Carrots do "outbreed" with wild carrots, so difficult to save "pure" seed of a specific variety...
Welcome to A4A Lizann :)
Quote from: Digeroo on July 29, 2009, 19:02:20
Home saved carrot seeds seem to germinate well. I have always been worried they might cross fertilize with something else. Some of the members of the family are poisonous.
In fact, thank for the post because I have now looked at the pictures and think there is a large plant in the hedge beside my allotment which I am unsure about. I can remove it but presume it has friends. While many of the family are edible Hemlock is very poisonous.
Carrots will outbreed with wild carrots, but I don't think they'll cross with Hemlock which is not even in the same genus let alone the same species.
If you apply this logic you would have to avoid seeds from cumin, parsley, carrot, coriander, dill, caraway, fennel, parsnip, celery, celeriac, chervil, anise.
We are far more closely related to chimpanzees than a carrot is to hemlock.
Thanks for all replies. Have taken your advice and got rid of the offending carrot! Have just sown some more seeds ... Giant Red variety ... hope it's not too late but thought it was worth a try.
Thanks again.
I'm still sowing Autumn King :)