Spring is the most looked forward season we have here in IOWA...today again feels like spring is here. IS it?

Danvers 126

Little Fingers

Royal Chantenary

Imperator

      The Natural Garden Bureau always has a vegetable, annual, perennial of the year.  The vegetable this year is the CARROT...so here is some information about the carrot from them. History:
The ancestor to the modern day carrot is believed to have originated in Afghanistan and was purple, scrawny, and pungent. Over time, cultivation by Greeks and Romans resulted in roots that were plumper, tastier, and came in shades of purple, red, and black. It wasn’t until the late 16 or early 17th century that the orange, appetizing carrots that we know today were bred by the Dutch in Europe.
Basic Types:

    Carrots (Daucus carota) are members of the Apiaceae family, which also includes culinary plants such as anise, celery, coriander (cilantro), dill, and parsnips. They are biennials, meaning that they will flower in the second year of growth, but are typically grown as annuals (grown and harvested in the same year).  There are several different carrot types and they are primarily divided up by shape.  Here are 4 main types of carrots. I found this interesting, because I am asked about the carrot when I sell the bulk seed.  So will put up a sign so all will know what they are buying.
         Chantenay - Conical, triangular shaped roots with broad shoulders and rounded tips. Sweet flavor makes it good for eating fresh.
           Danvers - Cylindrical, thick roots that are often used to make carrot juice due to the high water content and low sugar content.
           Imperator - Long, tapered roots with narrow shoulders. These are typically the carrots you would buy in a plastic bag at the grocery.
          Miniature/Baby - Either small round roots (also called Planet-types) or cylindrical and short.

Myth debunked: Baby carrots that are purchased in a bag at the grocery are actually made from long, skinny carrots that have been cut.
        Successful How-To-Grow:
Carrots are easy to grow from seed and perform best when directly sown into a garden bed or patio containers.  Another helpful hint is when you sow the carrots mix radish seeds with them. The radishes germinate earlier so you see the row, and it helps with not having the carrots so thick when you pull the radishes it will thin out the carrots too.  Soon it will be time to plant.  I KNOW spring is the most looked for season here in IOWA.  The start of a new life and all that it brings.
Till next time, This is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty