|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Dec 1, 2009 7:53:25 GMT -5
I think this may be buried in another thread somewhere but I imagine pink flowers on carrots are more typical for darker root varieties? No? Anyhow, I was pouring over a seed catalogue and noticed they were selling carrots designed to bolt and produce sturdy pink flower stalks in the first year (I believe). I certainly would not be interested in that but I would like to increase the percentage of my seeding carrots with more colourful bouquets.
Anyone know about this?
|
|
|
|
Post by dirtsunrain on Dec 1, 2009 8:42:13 GMT -5
The Queens Annes Lace on the Island is all sorts of purples and mauves, along with the usual white. Some of the shades get quite deep. You can make a pretty bouquet of just laces. I always attributed it to the alkalinity of the soil. The Island is a big slab of limestone.
Not sure if that helps you, since I purge any QAL found in our hayfields to keep it away from my carrot patch.
|
|
|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Dec 1, 2009 12:33:29 GMT -5
Interesting. I have never seen purples. I usually remove the QAL too but you've got me thinking... have you ever dug up the roots to see the colour?
|
|
|
|
Post by stevil on Dec 1, 2009 14:32:43 GMT -5
In June we arranged a surprise family get-together, for my mum's 80th, on the coast of Dorset, UK where we used to holiday when we were kids, a place called Durdle Door:  On the chalk cliff tops you can find wild carrot, rather beautiful in full flower...  Behind it you can see the perennial wild cabbage (yes, I took a couple of cuttings...) |
|
|
|
Post by orflo on Dec 1, 2009 15:49:02 GMT -5
Interesting to see these colours, Stephen . Did you check the colour of the root, besides taking the brassica cutting? ;D ;D I do have some 'spanish black' carrots, and they have to be sown late in summer, otherwise they bolt..The root is indeed very dark, not really black. And the flowers are pinkish. the ones sown in may bolted by August , the carrots sown by half June bolted as well by August (but the dry summer could have contributed to that), the July carrots didn't bolt, but germinated very late (again, dryness). I have a picture of the carrots somewhere, but it's seems to be hiding..Anyway, here are the flowers:  |
|
|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Dec 1, 2009 16:16:16 GMT -5
Frank, Nice carrot bloom and stem colour too. I wonder if this is the same variety being sold as an ornamental? Stephen, I would have taken cuttings too.  |
|
|
|
Post by stevil on Dec 1, 2009 16:57:59 GMT -5
No, I didn't check the root, but they are usually white.
It seems from my picture that the flowers start off white and, I presume, darken as they are pollinated.
Does yours stay that colour?
|
|
|
|
Post by orflo on Dec 2, 2009 12:50:11 GMT -5
Yes, the wild roots are usually white. It's a bit hard to tell on this picture (I think I see it on the right, but I'm not sure) , do these have these characteristic pink/black points in the middle of the flower cluster?
And yes, the flowers on my picture stay very pinkish the whole time, not like the wild ones in your picture...
|
|
|
|
Post by stevil on Dec 2, 2009 16:30:59 GMT -5
Several seem to be darker towards the centre, but this is probably just that they start darkening from the centre outwards.
|
|
|
|
Post by canadamike on Dec 2, 2009 19:20:54 GMT -5
telsing, I have loads of carrots from Asia, usually in the purplish root spectrum, that will give you these pinkish flowers, really nothing uncommon here.
Most if not all of these carrots are annuals, they do not have the same biennial habit than ours. They make sure to pick them before they bolt.
Had I had time this fall, I would have seeded some in early October, like Frank says, I had the intuition it was the best way to make sure of a harvest for next year.
I have about 60 accessions of them, you're invited to help yourself my dear
|
|
|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Dec 2, 2009 19:30:27 GMT -5
Michel, that sounds fab (as my UK friend would say). Expect a pm ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by dirtsunrain on Dec 12, 2009 10:26:16 GMT -5
Anyone else have the fascination with weeds that I have?
I did dig up some QAL from along the sideroad where I pick my wildflowers. All the roots were white. I'd like to try some other spots but the snow is here to stay.
I have a treasured copy of The Flora of Manitoulin (University of Waterloo text). This book maps the location of plants on the Island since we have some rare things growing on the limestone alvars.
It does mention that the central flower of QAL is often purple. My experience is that the plant is either fully shades of purple or completely white. The books also lists wild parsely and purple stemmed angelica as having purple colouration. I wonder if some crossing has been going on.
The book also maps out all the dreaded Giant Hogweed - ouch! which also has purplish flowers.
|
|
|
|
Post by mjc on Dec 12, 2009 11:19:25 GMT -5
While wild parsley and angelica are related to carrots they aren't all that close and it is doubtful that wild crosses would occur.
Soil acidity may have an effect on blossom color. And most QAL should have a single purple flower dead center of the flower head...but it often is the first to go...they pollinate from the center out.
As to roots, I've seen QAL range from a pure white to a muted yellow/orange. I don't know if there were any domestic carrots in the yellowish rooted ones or if it was natural variation. The modern domestic carrot is semi-tamed QAL that was pretty much selected for root color/development.
|
|
|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Dec 12, 2009 14:00:49 GMT -5
Dirtsunrain: I have a fascination with wild foods too!
|
|
