Root Vegetables: Carrots, Beets & Radishes
Save seeds from biennial root crops by overwintering roots.
Overview
Most root vegetables are biennial - they grow roots the first year and flower/seed the second year. You'll need to overwinter the roots and replant in spring. Carrots are insect-pollinated and cross readily, while beets are wind-pollinated.
Crops Covered:
insect-pollinated
dry processing
2-3 weeks
Carrots: 3-4 years
Understanding Pollination
Carrots are insect-pollinated. Beets are wind-pollinated. Both cross readily.
Isolation Distance
Carrots: 1/4 mile; Beets: 1/4 to 1/2 mile (wind!)
Key Tips:
- Carrots cross with wild Queen Anne's Lace
- Beets cross with Swiss chard and other beets
- Radishes can be done in one season (annual)
- Most others are true biennials
- Caging works for carrots; harder for wind-pollinated beets
Step-by-Step Guide
In fall, dig best roots for overwintering.
- Dig before hard frost
- Select roots with best shape, size, color, taste
- Choose 6+ roots for genetic diversity
- Trim tops to 1-2 inches (don't cut into root)
- Cure briefly before storing
Store roots in cool conditions through winter.
- Store in damp sand or sawdust
- Temperature: 32-40°F ideal
- Root cellar, unheated garage, or refrigerator
- Check monthly and remove any rotting roots
- Roots need cold to trigger flowering
Plant stored roots in garden when soil warms.
- Plant roots about 1 inch below soil surface
- Space 12-18 inches apart
- Roots will send up flower stalks
- Carrots: large umbel flowers; Beets: tall spikes
- Stake tall plants if needed
Collect seeds when heads/pods dry.
- Carrots: Cut umbels when most seeds brown
- Beets: Cut stalks when seeds dry
- Dry further in paper bags
- Thresh and winnow to clean
Harvest Timing
| Crop | Harvest Stage | Days After Flowering |
|---|---|---|
| Carrots | Umbels dry, seeds brown | 30-45 days |
| Beets | Seed clusters dry and brown | 40-50 days |
| Radishes (annual) | Pods dry and brown | 30-40 days |
| Turnips | Pods dry | 30-40 days |
| Parsnips | Umbels dry | 35-45 days |
Processing: Dry Method
Let seed heads/pods dry, then thresh and winnow.
- 1Cut seed heads when mostly dry
- 2Finish drying in bags or on tarps
- 3Rub/thresh to release seeds
- 4Winnow to remove chaff
- 5Screen to clean further
Drying & Storage
2-3 weeks
Warm, dry, good airflow
Test for Dryness: Seeds hard, chaff papery
Paper envelopes, Glass jars
Cool, dark, dry
Carrots: 3-4 years, Beets: 4-6 years, Parsnips: 1-2 years
- Parsnip seed has short viability - use fresh
- Beet "seeds" are actually fruits with multiple seeds
- Carrot seed can be quite chaffy - clean well