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Daucus carota subsp. sativus

Carrot Family · Umbellifer · Carrot

Family ApiaceaeGenus Daucus

Also published as Daucus carota var. sativus. You are in the right place.

A broad white flowerhead above finely cut ferny foliage
FlowerKunsaffCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
AnnualPlant Finder
Habit
biennialPlants of the World Online
Height
0.25-3 ft10-90 cmPlant Finder
Spread
0.25-3 ft10-90 cmPlant Finder
Flower
Showy; whitePlant Finder
Blooms
June to JulyPlant Finder
Native range
AfghanistanPlant Finder
Hardiness zones
2-11Plant Finder

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunPlant Finder
Soil
Loose, fertile, well-drainedPlant Finder
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
MediumPlant Finder

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension.

Worth knowing

  • Carrot goes back through French and Latin to the Greek karōton, from a root meaning horn, for its shape. The first domestic carrots, probably in Iran, were grown for their leaves and seeds. Wikipedia: Carrot
  • Orange comes from beta-carotene. Heirloom carrots can be white, yellow, red, purple or black. Wikipedia: Carrot

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 27, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 9 days to germinate.

92% germination in 4–9 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, DaucusPublic domain
Show the original text
Daucus (Apiaceae). D. carota v. sativus is the edible carrot. Seeds germ. 70D(92% in 4-9 d) and 40(63% in 3-7 w)-70(24% in 4-8 d). An attempt to increase the rate of germination at 40 with GA-3 led to total rotting of the seeds at 40.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Daucus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

    63% germinated at 40 itself, in 3-7 weeks.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

    A further 24% in 4-8 days after the move.

Germination happens during step 2, in 49 days.

63% germination in 21–49 days.

Most of the germination happens at 40 itself, before the move.

This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, DaucusPublic domain
Show the original text
Daucus (Apiaceae). D. carota v. sativus is the edible carrot. Seeds germ. 70D(92% in 4-9 d) and 40(63% in 3-7 w)-70(24% in 4-8 d). An attempt to increase the rate of germination at 40 with GA-3 led to total rotting of the seeds at 40.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Daucus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

    The seed rotted.

Germination happens during step 2.

0% germination.

GA-3 did not speed it up; the seed rotted.

This source doesn't state how long step 2 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, DaucusPublic domain
Show the original text
Daucus (Apiaceae). D. carota v. sativus is the edible carrot. Seeds germ. 70D(92% in 4-9 d) and 40(63% in 3-7 w)-70(24% in 4-8 d). An attempt to increase the rate of germination at 40 with GA-3 led to total rotting of the seeds at 40.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Daucus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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