How to Grow Carrots from Carrot Tops (and Why Seeds Are Better)
Ever feel bad tossing those carrot tops after cooking? You might wonder if you can turn them into new carrots. Good news: you *can* grow something from carrot tops, but it’s not quite the same as growing carrots from seeds. Here’s a simple guide to growing with carrot tops, plus why seeds are the way to go for real carrots.
Step 1: Start with Carrot Tops in Water
What to Do: Cut off the top 2-3 cm of a carrot (keep a bit of the root part). Grab a shallow dish, add a little water—just enough to touch the bottom of the carrot top, but not cover the cut (too much water makes it rot).
Where to Put It: Place the dish somewhere cool and airy, out of direct sun.
Care Tip: Swap the water every two days or top it up to keep it at the same level.
What Happens: In about a week, you’ll see tiny green sprouts pop up on top, and maybe some thin white roots at the bottom.
Step 2: Move to Soil for Leafy Growth
When to Move: Once the sprouts are about 5 cm tall, it’s time to plant.
How to Plant: Pick a pot or garden spot with loose, rich soil (mix garden soil with some compost and sand for good drainage). Dig a shallow hole, plant the carrot top so 1/3 of it sticks out above the soil, press the dirt down, and water well.
Care Tip: Put it somewhere sunny and keep the soil slightly moist.
What Happens: The stems and leaves will grow fast, looking green and lively.
Why Seeds Are the Better Choice
If you want carrots you can eat, growing from seeds is the real deal. Here’s how to do it:
1. Prep the Soil: Dig up your garden bed and make raised rows (20 cm high, 30 cm wide) for good drainage. Add about 2 tons of compost per acre (or a good scoop for a small patch) to make the soil nice and fertile.
2. Plant the Seeds: Sprinkle carrot seeds evenly in the rows (not too close, or you’ll have to thin them later). Cover with 3 cm of fine soil, pat it down gently, and water thoroughly.
3. Care for Sprouts: If it doesn’t rain, water every week to keep the soil damp. When seedlings get 2 true leaves, pull out the weak ones (thinning), leaving strong plants 5-8 cm apart. When they’re 10 cm tall, loosen the soil and yank weeds so they don’t steal nutrients.
4. Feed and Harvest: Two months after planting, give them a boost with fertilizer (like compost tea). About 3 months from planting (around October or November), when the leaves turn yellow and the carrot tops peek out 1-2 cm above the soil, pull them up!
Why Carrot Tops Aren’t Great for Growing Carrots
Here’s the catch: carrot tops won’t grow nice, juicy carrots. They often end up short, forked, or just plain weird-looking. That’s because the top is just part of the root, not a seed—it’s confused about how to grow properly. The energy goes to leaves, not a big, tidy carrot. Seeds, on the other hand, start fresh and grow uniform, tasty carrots in just 3 months if you take care of them. It’s way more bang for your buck!
The Bottom Line
Growing carrot tops is a fun little project, like a science experiment to watch plants sprout. But if you want a real carrot harvest, stick with seeds. They’re easy to manage, give you steady results, and in 3 months, you’ll have a pile of carrots to munch on. So, next time you chop a carrot, try water-sprouting the top for kicks, but for serious growing, seeds are your best friend!
