Carrot Flowers?

[Curvy Vixen]

Bear with me here...I've grown loads of different things but this year is the first year I've grown carrots for some reason!

I was in the garden last night and my carrot tops are about 8/10 inches or so tall, not very 'sturdy' looking though. But I noticed that about half of them have tiny white flowers too...

I am guessing this isn't a good thing

Have they bolted? Should I pull them?

[tamsin]

Yep, bolted I'm afraid, pull um up. I had the same problem. Some of the same batch that didn't flower have carrots under them now so you still might get something.

[gojiberry]

Usually if a carrot flowers then the carrot is woody and won't grow any bigger as all the energy is going into the flower production. Need to try and get a more regular supply of water for next year as it is usually drought that causes them to flower in the first year.

Ian

[Curvy Vixen]

Thanks folks.

I went and pulled one up last night and it's about as thick as pencil lead and white! I even wondered if they really were carrots So I 'weeded' them!

Ian ~ I live in Ireland...you'd think lack of water would be the least of my problems

On the upside, my squashes look great though!!

[Two_Sheds]

sounds more like wild parsnip, tbh

[mendacious dog]

Heh - I had a similar thing earlier this month where about 6 carrots out of a 10 foot row bolted and shot out flower heads.

Having briefly read about them not growing any more, I pulled them up and found that they were actually not too bad in size. So instead of throwing them on the heap I decided to cook them as part of the evening meal (just like when onions bolt, you use 'em up quickly).

Woody didnt begin to describe the carrot interior. Inedible more like.

Seems to be a bit of a theme at my place to be honest. As well as some of my carrots bolting, about a third of my leeks have bolted. My red onions mostly bolted (although the white ones were fine) and even my boltardy beetroot bolted. Wonder if I can get my money back...?

Woof