Learning new ways of growing plants is always fun, especially if it’s for free and we have scraps we can use. Growing carrots from carrot tops is one of my recent experiments, and I have to say that this awesome technique yielded great results.
The thing is that you don’t get carrots but rather carrot greens and, for me, that’s amazing since the greens of this veggie have a unique flavor.
However, it’s possible to get carrots if you allow the plant to bloom and set seeds that you collect the next spring and plant in your garden.
If you’re interested in growing carrots from the carrot tops method, here’s all you need to know!
Why This Growing Technique?
The first question I should answer is why use this technique in the first place? For starters, this is a cost-effective method and you’ll use the scraps you would otherwise throw away or add to your compost pile.
Being sustainable is something we should all strive for, so why not start with reusing carrot crops?
This is also a fun activity, and if you have small children, you can do it with them without worrying they’ll harm themselves during the process.
Now let’s see how to do it!
Steps For Growing Carrots From Carrot Tops
If you have some carrots from your outdoor garden, or even ones purchased in grocery stores, this method is perfect for you.
The only requirement is that the plant has a top without any damage.
Here are the steps.
1. Inspect your carrots and select the ones that have a lot of greens on their tops.
2. Remove the tops approximately an inch down from where the green parts grow.
3. Cut off the upper part of the greens, leaving about an inch on the carrot top.
4. Take a shallow dish, fill it with an inch of clean and fresh water, and place the tops in it.
5. Find a spot for your carrot tops where they can receive a lot of light, making sure there aren’t any heating vents or cold drafts close by.
6. Change the water every couple of days, making sure it doesn’t evaporate and the carrot tops don’t dehydrate.
Luckily, it doesn’t take long for the next carrot growth stage to begin. Your tops may need only three days to generate greens that will be placed on the top part of the cutting.
You should also notice a couple of tiny roots that are developing from the remaining portion of the carrot taproot.
Transplantation
New shoots and roots should be visible on your carrots in a few weeks, and then you’ll need to plant them in potting soil.
Make sure the growing substrate you choose for your carrots has excellent drainage to prevent rotting.
When planting the rooted tops, make sure the crown of the remaining tap root stays slightly above the soil line.
Now you need to find a warm and well-lit spot for your carrots, and make sure the growing substrate is consistently moist but never waterlogged.
You can feed the tops with water-soluble fertilizer; this step is optional but can give your carrots a good head start.
It takes a couple of weeks for carrot greens to develop fully and be ready for harvest.
How To Get Carrots From Carrot Tops
As previously mentioned, this technique will give you carrot greens only because tap roots can’t regrow when they’re removed.
But if you’re a patient gardener and like a challenge, you can get new carrots by collecting the seeds.
These veggies are biennials, meaning that they go into the flowering stage and set seeds during the second year.
Once you notice the blooms and they turn brown, you can collect your carrot seeds and allow them to dry well. When spring arrives, plant your carrot seeds based on your growing zone.
If your main goal is to get carrot taproots and not greens, you should use tops from heirloom varieties, not hybrids.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy the process no matter your final goal, but follow our guidelines to get the best results!