Garden question - carrots.

[Kali]

I stuck a sprouting carrot from my fridge into the garden and now it is a big pretty plant and about to flower. Do carrots form new bunches like potatoes or is there still just the one big tap root under the surface? And when should I pull it up to look? Or should I let it go to seed and save those? (I don't think I have ever grown carrots before - not sure what stage of growth the above-ground part at normal harvest would be???)

[JoDog]

1. Whatta carrot!

I'm no carrot expert Kali, but I have done some gardening. Carrots DO NOT form bunches the way you're thinking. There should still be just the one big root (the carrot) under the ground, with some suppliementary tendril-like roots on it. Usually, carrots for eating are harvested before they reach flowering stage. When they're green and leafy on top, they're ready for the salad. I would not advise eating your carrot at this point--it is probably too old and tough. Older carrots take on a woody texture and don't have the best flavor.

I say carry the experiment out to the end--let it go to seed, then use those to plant more carrots. Warning: carrot seeds are teeny tiny, and growing carrots from seed can be touch-and-go (at least it always has been for me).

Check out some of the forums on gardenweb.com for more info.