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Post by mnjrutherford on Apr 20, 2009 4:09:29 GMT -5
Back in California, in the Bay Area to be precise, we have farmer's markets. Farmers make routes and show up at different markets on different days. Pretty cool if you ask me. Some of the Phillipino farmers have carrots that are shockingly HUGE! Absolutely gigantic to be precise. They are frequently uncarroty in shape. But most importantly, they are delicately crisp and sweet like nothing you would imagine just by looking at the ungainly things. I would LOVE to source some of those seed!
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Post by iva on Apr 20, 2009 4:40:15 GMT -5
Have you tried planting the bought carrot? If it is in good shape, not cut at the bottom and has some live leaves, you should plant it and it will grow on and flower the same year. If the carrot is not a hybrid, you'll have your own seeds without having to buy them ;
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Post by ottawagardener on Apr 20, 2009 8:08:05 GMT -5
I plan on doing this this year for the heck of it. I've heard of people sampling their carrots (eating a bit of the root from the bottom) and then planting them for seed so even if they are broken, it might work!
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Post by bunkie on Apr 20, 2009 8:40:10 GMT -5
i've taken a carrot top with the greens all cut off, but the top intact of only an inch or two, and put it in a glass of water with toothpicks, and it has grown big tops...haven't left it in long enough to let it root. not sure if it would. but the greens were great!
there is an Italian carrot called Flakkee that i've just recently heard about...can grow up to 22 inches long and 3 plus inches wide!
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Post by canadamike on Apr 20, 2009 10:00:02 GMT -5
Flakke is very common and available with many companies, I grow it every year, it bulks fast and is a very good one. There are many strains of it.
A great juicing carrot
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Post by mnjrutherford on Apr 20, 2009 12:11:39 GMT -5
Regrettably we are no longer in California. I haven't even seen those carrots in more than 4 years now =o( However, I have used that method to acquire seed and it works an absolute charm. The way I do it is to leave the 2 biggest carrots in ground over winter. If you are not going to put the carrots in the same place, you can even dig them up and move them to wherever you want them, they will continue to grow, just give them a little extra water the first couple weeks after transplanting. The seeds heads will come the second year and the flowers are gorgeous.
Still, I don't have the variety from the farmer's market. However, the Flakke does sound like what I'm looking for. Never saw it in any of my catalogs though. I'll put an eye out for it. Thanks people!
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Post by toad on Apr 20, 2009 12:36:52 GMT -5
You better always taste the carrots from the bottom, before growing them for seed. Otherwise taste is likely to deteroirate in few generations. Then remember to stake the flowers, as these half-eaten carrots easily fall over in the wind, and seeds quality drops.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Apr 20, 2009 14:54:43 GMT -5
Taste them from the bottom? Do tell! Why the bottom? I haven't actually eaten any part of a carrot I was saving for seed. I just leave them alone or transplant if needed.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Apr 20, 2009 16:53:03 GMT -5
OK, I haven't found any Flakke carrots online any closer than Russia... Can I get a little help here! =o)
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Post by ottawagardener on Apr 20, 2009 19:50:07 GMT -5
My understanding is that the cut off the last inch or so.
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Post by grunt on Apr 21, 2009 0:05:23 GMT -5
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Post by mnjrutherford on Apr 21, 2009 7:29:37 GMT -5
Ottawa - ::laughing:: I think I'll just leave 'em in the dirt. Cutting or nibbling is sounding like to much work!?!?!
Thanks Grunt. ::laughing:: I always need new seed sources! I think I might go with the Shumway seed but I really like the "Grow Italian" catalog! There is some really great stuff including a tomato processor I've been hoping to source. I also read that the Flakkee are good keepers. I really really like that!
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Post by ottawagardener on Apr 21, 2009 7:46:25 GMT -5
In Ottawa they won't reliably overwinter so if we want seeds, we have to dig, but I bet I'd feel the same as you if they happily survived in the ground.
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Post by bunkie on Apr 21, 2009 9:48:11 GMT -5
is it the variety telsing that has trouble overwintering? couldn't one mulch them?
glad to hear you like them michel! going to try them this year. can you tell me about the 'Black Carrot' seed you sent?
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Post by ottawagardener on Apr 21, 2009 10:58:05 GMT -5
Any carrot I've tried, winters over with a 50% success rate. I have lightly mulched but not heavily - ie. 2 feet. I might try that next year just for the heck of it.
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