Wild Carrot

Wild Carrot — variety description

Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) is a biennial herb of the Carrot family (Apiaceae). The roots of wild carrot are very thin and, when young, are tender and full of flavour, making a good base for broth.

Wild carrot seeds or the oil extracted from them are also used for cosmetics and medicine.

Carrot seeds are edible and are used for a wide variety of purposes.

They are said to be used as a spice for bread.

Wild carrot is the ancestor of the garden carrot — a honey plant with lacy white umbels, loved by beneficial insects and suited to natural meadows and bouquets.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 80%
• Seeds per packet: 408–552 pcs (0.6 g)
• Seed origin: Hungary
• Sowing: March and April; direct
• Flowering: July and August
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Wild Carrot

Wild Carrot seeds are sown in March and April. The plants flower in July and August. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Wild Carrot

• Sowing method: direct
• Depth: 0.5 cm
• Spacing: 25–30 cm
• Germination: 14–21 days at 15–20 °C
• Position: sunny spot

Wild carrot is exceptionally hardy and thrives on a variety of soils, even compacted and salty ones. The flowering, which appears in the second year, is very popular with insects and bees. The root of a biennial plant should no longer be harvested, as it has a very sharp taste. With its wide, white umbels, this plant is perfect for the garden. Sow outdoors in March-April. They are sown at a depth of 1-2 cm, and the ideal germination temperature is 3°C. Germination time is very long, on average 21-27 days. That is why it is recommended to mix the seeds with either radish seeds or dill seeds. Both clearly germinate faster and mark the row, making care of the sowing easier. By harvesting the radishes, which ripen earlier, the rows are thinned automatically. The dill should also be removed when it reaches a height of about 25 cm.

Sow in autumn or early spring; it self-seeds.

Harvest and use

The umbels are beautiful in fresh and dried bouquets.

Frequently asked questions

When should Wild Carrot be sown?

The recommended sowing months are March and April. Sowing method: direct.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 408–552 seeds, pack size 0.6 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 80%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.