| Common Name | Daucus carota, Dara, Wild Carrot, Queen Anne's lace |
| Genus | Daucus |
| Species | D. carota |
| Family | Apiaceae |
| Life Cycle | variable biennial, new cultivars are annuals |
| Tray Size | 210 |
| Plug Care | Harden off and plant out or bump up soon after receiving. Being in the carrot family, Daucus has a tap root and does not like to get rootbound. Transplant carefully to avoid excessive root disturbance, and keep moist until plants acclimate to their new bed. |
| Netting / Staking | One or two layer of netting will help keep stems straight, especially in windy areas. |
| Temperature Range | Young plants can handle frost and only need protection during a deep freeze. Good candidate for most climate zones. |
| Spacing | 8-10" |
| Soil Preference | Loose, well draining soil of average fertility and neutral pH. Excess nutrients (especially nitrogen) will cause the overproduction of foliage and few flowers. Once established, Daucus is quite drought tolerant. |
| Day Length | Long day plants - will flower from early summer through to frost. Plant in full sun. |
| Pinching | Not necessary. |
| When to Plant | This hardy annual can take frost at transplant stage, and prefers a cool period to establish roots before flowering. Plant a few weeks before last frost, even in the field. In warmer zone, try planting in the fall and overwintering for even earlier flowers the following year. This is a good candidate for succession sowing - 2 or 3 plantings spaced a couple weeks apart to prolong the blooming window. |
| Harvesting | Expect the first flowers 80-90 days after transplanting; this is dependent on weather and temperature. Sunshine and warmth accelerate growth. Harvest when nearly all the flowers on the inflorescence are open; cutting early risks wilting and cutting late risks pollen shed and short vase life. |
| Post Harvest Care | Expect a vase life in between 1 and 2 weeks. Use a floral preservative to extend the vase life and avoid exposure to ethylene gas. |
| Diseases / Insects | Quite hardy and disease/insect resistant. |
| Bailey's Notes |
Wild type Queen Anne's lace (the kind you see along the side of the road) is a true biennial - vegetation only in the first year and flowers the following year. The varieties in our catalog (Purple Kisses, Dara) have been bred to flower in the first season and can therefore be grown as annuals. Some growers and consumers report that the flowers of D. carota have an unpleasant odor - this can likely be said for any plant in the carrot family. If left to go to seed in the field it can self-sow for subsequent harvests. |
| Resources | NA |