Growing carrots it will be even easier and cheaper, after you try to get new ones seeds give it waste. In fact, it is sufficient to keep the upper end of the carrots, which is usually cut and thrown away, as it is considered a part to be eliminated.
From this moment on, the less valuable parts of the carrots will become a precious commodity, which will allow you to have carrot seeds available free.
How to get new seeds from waste parts of carrots? THE’experiment it is very simple and recalls the permaculture. You will have to proceed by following the instructions in the video La Huertina De Toni. The method does not involve any risk, beyond the moment of cutting the part of the carrot to be used.
You can also involve the little ones in the new activity. Here you are how to do it point by point.
1) Starting the experiment by cutting theend of the carrot where the leaves were present. A thickness of approximately 1 centimeter is sufficient.
2) Place the end of the carrot in one small bowl and pour a littlewaterfallwithout completely covering the carrot. The upper part must remain exposed to the air. Remember to replace the water from time to time.
3) After a week you will see the first shoots. After ten days the shoots will have grown, giving life to new seedlings.
4) To continue growing carrots with the aim of obtaining new seeds, you can proceed without using vases, but simple water bottles, which take up little space. Remove the top of one plastic bottle and fill it with soil.
5) Place the already sprouted carrot in the bottle and plant it in the center of the upper opening, pressing lightly on the surface of the soil and ensuring that the sprouts remain exposed to the air. Water and continue to care for them carrot seedlings until they will go to seed. At that point you can collect the seeds and decide to plant them immediately or let them air dry in preparation for subsequent sowing.
During the warmer months, when the weather permits, you can plant carrot scraps directly in pot. The mild temperature favors the growth of new shoots and growing carrots at home will allow you to always keep the situation under control.
THE children they will be delighted to follow the experiment. With this method the carrots will not regrowbut you will get many seeds to grow new vegetables.
How to store and use collected carrot seeds
Once your carrot plants have gone to seed, you can collect the seeds and save them for future sowings. After harvesting, let them air dry completely in a dry, shaded place for at least a week. Once dried, place them in a glass jar or paper bag, making sure to label them with the harvest date. Carrot seeds retain their germinative power for about 2-3 years, so you can also use them for future crops. If you prefer, you can plant them immediately in pots or in the vegetable garden, respecting the ideal sowing period which goes from spring to early summer.
Other vegetables you can grow from scraps
Carrots aren’t the only vegetables that can be grown from scraps. Many vegetables, in fact, can be easily regenerated, allowing you to obtain new seedlings with very little effort. Among the simplest to grow are celery, which can be regrown from the stem end, lettuce, which can sprout simply by leaving the base in water, and onions, which can be replanted from bulbs. Garlic and ginger can also be propagated from their cloves or rhizomes. These techniques not only reduce waste, but offer an eco-friendly and sustainable way to grow fresh vegetables right at home.
