Mendel’s Gardens

Daucus carota subsp. sativus

Carrot

Family ApiaceaeGenus Daucus

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

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
AnnualPlant Finder
Habit
Biennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Height
0.25-3 ftPlant Finder
Spread
0.25-3 ftPlant Finder
Flower
Showy; whitePlant Finder
Blooms
June to JulyPlant Finder
Native range
AfghanistanPlant Finder
Hardiness zones
2-11Plant Finder

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun
Soil
Loose, fertile, well-drained
Watering
Medium

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 Database — USDA NRCS.

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.

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 49 days to germinate.

63% germination in 21–49 days.

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

This source doesn't state how long.

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.

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

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

This source doesn't state how long.

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.