Washburn's Community Seed Bank
@ the Washburn Public Library
Sponsored by: the Seed Savers Alliance
Self-sterile Umbelliferae (also known as the Carrot Family) are dependent on insects bringing pollen from other plants for fertilization.
Umbelliferae require up to 1 to 3 miles for reliable distance isolation. Members of different varieties within the same species will cross, but members of different species will not cross.
Bagging or caging can be used to separate varieties of the same species, in which case hand pollination is necessary. Use a soft-bristle brush to transfer pollen between umbels on different plants during the time the tiny individual flowers are blooming (up to 30 days per umbel).
Alternate-day caging can be used for growing two varieties of the same species without hand pollinating, if you are certain that no crossable wild or domesticated varieties of that species are growing within a mile or so—but whether any of your neighbors are growing different varieties of the same species (e.g., carrots and carrots, dill and dill, etc.) within a mile would be difficult to verify.
Organic Red Cored Chantenay Carrot
HEIRLOOM A gourmet selection for heavy soils. Red Cored is a thick rooted variety with wide shoulders and a tapered root ending in a nicely rounded, blunt tip. Roots average 6” long and have a characteristic red core. Sweet, old fashioned carrot flavor and fine grained texture. A great variety for soups, freezing, canning and storage, sweetening up the longer it’s stored. Introduced to the US from France in the late 1800s and used for many years as the standard carrot for the processing industry. (Daucus carota)
Seed Planting Depth: 1/4 inch
Seed Spacing: 1/2 inch
Days to Germination: 14-21
Plant Spacing After Thinning: 1-2 inches
Plant Height: 8-12 inches
Days to Maturity: 65
Seed Saving Difficulty: Medium
Organic Yellowstone Carrot
Sunflower yellow carrots are long and slender averaging 9” at maturity with strong, feathery tops. Yellowstone is extremely productive and adaptable to many growing conditions. Beautiful when mixed with other specialty varieties for a colorful display. Pick early for a tender, mild flavored treat. (Daucus carota)
Seed Planting Depth: 1/4 inch
Seed Spacing: 30 seeds/foot
Days to Germination: 14-21
Plant Spacing After Thinning: 1-2 inches
Plant Height: 10-18 inches
Days to Maturity: 70
Seed Saving Difficulty: Medium
Organic Tall Utah Celery
Long and crisp stalks have unbeatable flavor. Once you have tasted organic celery grown at home, you will never go back to store-bought celery. Tall Utah produces large plants with compact hearts. Plants average 30” tall. Stalks are 12” long and medium-dark green. Best for late summer crops. (Apium graveolens)
Seed Planting Depth: 1/8 inch
Seed Spacing: n/a
Days to Germination: 21
Plant Spacing After Thinning: n/a
Plant Height: 20-14 inches
Days to Maturity: 100
Seed Saving Difficulty: Medium
Seed Saving Tips
Quoted from the online Guide to Saving Vegetable Seeds
Carrots
Insect-dependent carrots—including wild and cultivated varieties of Queen Anne's Lace—will cross-pollinate and must be separated by ½ mile for safe isolation. In areas where Queen Anne's Lace is a common weed, it will be slightly more difficult to save carrot seeds as caging would exclude the small insects the carrots need for pollination. In this case hand-pollination will be needed (see above), below.
Although it is true you can replant carrot tops and get a seed crop from them in the spring with care (they don't root quickly), it takes only a small area to let a few carrots remain for seed every year or two.
Allow carrot seed umbels to ripen and dry on the plant before harvesting and cleaning. After fully drying, the seeds crumble readily from their umbels.
Carrot seeds will last 3 years if properly stored.
Celery
Biennial, insect-dependent celery will cross with other celery or celeriac varieties and needs one mile for safe distance isolation.
Cut stems high or remove individually from the outside of the plant for eating, then leave a healthy portion of stump in late fall to over-winter and produce seed in the spring. Allow seeds to dry completely on plants before harvesting.
Celery seeds are long lasting and can be kept for 5 or more years when properly stored.