How to Collect Your Own Carrot Seeds

Growing carrots can be a difficult vegetable to grow, but with the correct soil and timing you can not only grow carrots but collect your own seed as well. Carrots do prefer cooler temperatures, so it is best to sow in early spring or fall. You can even plant in the fall and over-winter depending on your planting zone. I am in 6A and I have done this in the past. It’s so nice to go out in the garden in January or February and have carrots waiting there for you. Here’s how to collect your own carrot seeds from start to finish.

From the Beginning

Collecting your own seeds from carrots that have flowered is so easy to do. I happen to do this on accident a couple years ago and couldn’t believe the results. I purchased carrots from Annie’s Heirloom Seeds and planted them just like I always do. They did wonderful.

I missed several during harvest that year and those carrots over-wintered. The following season they began to grow again so I simply let them grow. I noticed that they were getting so tall and sending up stalks. They grew to over 4ft tall with the most beautiful flowers that resembled Queen Anns Lace. The pollinators loved them so I just decided to let them go and see what would happen. I regret not taking a picture of them because they truly were beautiful.

The carrot blooms dried, and I collected hundreds of seeds. When the blooms dry on the stalks, they remind me of dill seed but more compact. The seed is covered in a fuzzy coating and I simple collected coating and all. I stored them just like I collected them with most of the coating on them in a glass mason jar. This spring I planted the saved seed, not sure if they would germinate or not. All the carrot seeds germinated and are looking so beautiful. They will definitely need to be thinned. I am truly amazed at how nature works and how easy this process was. I will be doing this from here on out.

Planting the Collected Carrot Seeds

To plant the saved carrot seeds I simply followed the steps I usually took when planting carrots. The seeds are still covered in the fuzzy coating, but I simply gave them a rough rub and sprinkled them in loose soil that had been amended with composted manure and Bio-Tone starting fertilizer. I sowed them pretty thick in 3 rows of about 4′- 5′ long and about 8″- 10″ apart and covered the seed with earthworm castings and a thin layer of soil. To help with drainage, I usually hill them up a little.

I planted my saved seeds on March 5. I used an insect row cover that I doubled for a little frost protection. Using garden hoops I ordered from Amazon last year and the same insect row cover that I always use from Agfabric is a must to keep out the critters and any insects.

The End Goal

Harvesting these carrots should be the same as all the other carrots I have grown in the past. This variety has a 75-day maturity time. I am hoping to collect some nice carrots sometime in June. I will keep you posted! This is what it is all about. Learning new techniques and processes to become better gardeners.

I wanted to share how to collect your own carrot seeds and show how easy this process truly is. And really my family thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful flowers and all the insects they attract. I hope you will give this a try and also continue to follow me and my seed saving adventures. I am hoping to learn even more about saving seeds and becoming more self-sufficient. I hope you found something in the article helpful if so leave me a comment and Happy Planting!