Carrot

Carrot (*Daucus carota*) is a tap-rooted biennial species that includes wild carrot and the familiar cultivated garden-carrot form. Wild plants carry finely divided foliage and white umbels, while cultivated carrots are grown for their edible roots. ## Growing conditions Choose full sun for the best crop, though plants tolerate partial shade. Sow seed directly into deep, loose, well-drained soil; transplanting can damage the developing taproot. Keep the soil evenly moist, since dry conditions can make roots tough or bitter. Sandy loam is especially suitable, while compacted or poorly drained clay can cause forked roots. Depending on cultivar and growing conditions, roots mature in about seventy to one hundred twenty days. [NC State Extension’s carrot guide](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/daucus-carota-subsp-sativus/common-name/carrots/) ## Wild form and flowering Wild carrot flowers in its second year, producing white umbels that can be tinged pink in bud. The flowers attract bees and butterflies, and the plant serves as a host for black swallowtail larvae. The wild form is a useful addition to a pollinator planting, while cultivated varieties are selected for their edible taproots. Wild carrot commonly reaches about one-half to one metre tall and spreads about one-tenth to one-half metre. [RHS wild carrot profile](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/24469/daucus-carota/details) · [NC State Extension’s carrot guide](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/daucus-carota-subsp-sativus/common-name/carrots/) ## Maintenance Harvest cultivated roots once they reach useful size, before the plants flower in their second year. Allow a few plants to bloom if you want flowers and seed for wildlife or future sowing.