PurelyFacts.com - Nutrition Facts

Have you ever wondered how carrot seed production is done? This article will explain carrot seed production in 10 steps!

1. Seeding

The carrot seed is sown with a fine seed planter on a well-prepared seedbed at the optimal time in February.

2. Seedbed

Carrot seeds are grown in open field seedbeds, thus the carrot plant health is very important during this stage.

3. Carrot transplanting

Carrot seeds are normally transplant ready approx 120 days after seeding.

The carrot plants are transplanted at optimal plant populations.

4. Growing

During re-growing of the carrot plants, special care is given to irrigation, weed, insect and disease control.

5. Pollination

Bees are very important for pollination and special attention is required to prevent practices that will negatively influence bee activity.

6. Flowering stage

Carrot plants flowering starts as early as September and special attention should be given to irrigation.

7. Harvesting

Harvesting is done either by hand or with a combine at an optimal ripening stage to ensure good carrot seed quality.

8. Final seed cleaning

Carrot Seed cleaning is done at the carrot seed processing plant to comply with client and ISTA standards before packaging.

9. Packaging

Carrot Seeds that comply to all the required standards as tested by the Carrot Seed ISTA accredited lab and are packed according to standards or client requirements for shipping.

10. Distribution

Carrot Seeds are shipped upon client instructions either by road, sea or air.

Carrot seed production is easy and cheap. Carrot is tolerant to heat and cool weather, and thus can be cultivated through the year.

Carrot Seed Temperature Requirements

The carrot is a cool weather crop and it is not really intolerant towards the cold of winter and frost. During winter the plant develops more slowly than during the warmer spring and summer months.

The carrot seed is also tolerant towards a good deal of heat and can therefore be cultivated right through the year in South Africa.

Carrot Seed Production Soil Requirements

Carrots seeds do best in a deep, well-drained sandy loam or slightly acid loam soil.

In heavy humus-rich soils carrot seeds tend to have too much growth in the leaves and to form forked roots.

Avoid Brackish soils.

A general recommendation is that 1 000 kg of the fertiliser mix (2:3:4 (24) per hectare) should be worked into the soil before planting.

A top-dressing of 100 to 200 kg limestone ammonium nitrate per hectare is applied about 8 weeks after sowing.

Compost or kraal manure is not recommended.

Carrot seeds are intolerant towards a boron deficiency and in an area where it is known that there is a boron deficiency, boron could be applied with safety, because carrot seeds are tolerant towards an excess of boron in the soil.

Carrot Seed Cultivation methods

Carrot seed is sown directly on the land. The soil should be well-prepared, even and fine.

Flood irrigation before emergence of the carrot seed could cause the soil to crust and this could lead to a poor stand.

A system of crop rotation is important to eliminate problems with diseases.

Carrot seeds fit in very well in a crop rotation system where plants like cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce and tomatoes are grown.

A general recommendation is that carrots should not be planted in the same soil more than once every 3 to 4 years. Weeds should not compete with the carrot seeds.

Carrot Seed Sowing seasons

For seed production the sowing season is between February and March. About 4 kg carrot seed per ha is sown.

Carrot seed are preferably sown in rows instead of broadcasting the carrot seeds, because it makes weed control easier.

During the warm summer month’s extensive losses could occur among seedlings due to wilt.

Carrot Seed Water requirements

The moisture content of the soil influences the form and colour of carrots.

A deficiency in soil humidity results in longer carrots.

Very wet conditions lead to a shorter and thicker carrot with a light colour.

As a general guideline it could be accepted that carrots need about 25 mm water per week.

In warm, dry conditions 50 mm would be necessary.

Carrot Seed Pollination and harvesting

Carrots are cross-pollinated plants and the flowers are visited by a large number of insects.

Honeybees, wasps, different kinds of beetles and butterflies are often seen on the flowers.

When the seed is ready to be harvested and it is produced on a small scale, the ripe seed buds should be cut off and spread on a concrete floor or sheet to dry.

When the plants are well dried, the root end is cut off and the plants fed into a threshing machine.

Carrot Seed is also still tread out with a tractor on a concrete floor.

Afterwards the carrot seed is winnowed out as well as possible before it is supplied to the seed merchant.

A good average seed crop is about 600 to 800 kg/ha.

This will depend on the cultivar.

Cultivars like Cape Market and Chantenay form stronger and lusher plants and they produce more seed than for instance Nantes.

The most significant diseases in carrots are Alternaria blight, bacterial blight and root rot as a result of fungi. Aphids, red spider, eelworm, bollworm on seed buds and whitefly are the most important insect pests.

Carrot Seed Essential Oil health benefits can be attributed to its properties like anti septic, disinfectant, detoxifier, anti oxidant, anti carcinogenic, carminative, depurative, diuretic, emenagogue, stimulant, cytophylactic, tonic, Vermifuge etc.

Carrot Seed Essential Oil Medicinal Properties and Health Facts

Anti Oxidant

Carrot Seed essential oil can retain your youth and look refreshingly young when your friends start aging.

Anti oxidants can repair all the damages done to your tissues by the oxidants (free radicals) and stop them from doing further harm.

Anti oxidants do not let your skin go wrinkled, your hair white, joints go immovable, your muscles go loose and your eyes lose eyesight.

Anti oxidants can work other miracles too, like, protect you from Macular Degeneration, sexual weakness, weak digestion, some forms of cancer and other problems related to aging.

Anti Septic, Anti Viral & Disinfectant

Carrot Seed essential oil can cure infections, protect you from them and has anti septic properties, that is, it can prevent tetanus.

Externally applied, Carrot Seed essential oil can cure infections on skin and in wounds and even protect from new infections.

Internally taken, it helps cure infections of throat, mouth, colon, stomach, intestines and urinary system.

It is miraculously effective in curing sores, gangrene, psoriasis, ulcers, rashes, carbuncles and such problems, even curing viral infection of the whole respiratory system, thus benefiting in bronchitis.

It is effective in fighting other viral infections such as in case of flu, mumps, cough and cold, measles etc.

Detoxifier

Carrot Seed essential oil has ability to detoxify the blood, tissues, muscles and internal organs like liver and kidneys.

It can neutralize excess bile secreted from liver and can help cure infection of liver in cases of jaundice.

It removes accumulation of toxins like uric acid from the blood, tissues, muscles and joints, thereby helping cure edema, arthritis, gout, rheumatism etc.

Carcinogenic

Recent studies have shown the Carrot Seed essential oil is beneficial in curing some forms of cancer too, especially those of mouth, throat, stomach, prostrate, kidneys etc.

These anti carcinogenic properties can be attributed partly to its anti oxidant properties, and partly to the other medicinal properties of its components.

Carminative

Carrot Seed essential oil will remove the gases from the intestines, if you have a bloated stomach.

Depurative

Carrot Seed essential oil can purify all the organic systems inside our body, particularly the circulatory, digestive and the excretory systems.

Carrot Seed essential oil removes toxins like uric acid, urea, insecticides, pesticides and other chemicals which get into our body with our food and water and help restore their health.

Diuretic

Carrot Seed essential oil is diuretic in nature.

Carrot Seed essential oil increases urination.

It may seem that there is no apparent benefit of this property, but you will be surprised to see that urination alone can keep you safe from many ailments.

Each time you urinate, some fat (almost 4% of the volume of water), a lot of toxic substances (uric acid, bile, poisonous stuffs etc.) and microbes causing infections in the urinary system and otherwise, are removed from the body with urine.

Then it reduces blood pressure and cleans the kidneys. It is also helpful in clearing renal calculi.

Emenagogue

Emenagogue is a property which makes menstruations easy, less painful and regular.

This helps when somebody is suffering from irregular and obstructed menses.

Stimulant

Carrot Seed essential oil is also a stimulant.

Carrot Seed essential oil stimulates circulation and metabolism.

It also stimulates secretion of hormones, enzymes, gastric juices, bile and the peristaltic motion of the intestines, thus keeping all the organic systems active.

It also stimulates brain functions and nerves, thus making you more alert and active.

Cytophylactic

Carrot Seed essential oil stimulates the growth of new cells and tissues.

Tonic

Carrot Seed essential oil tones.

It tones up tissues and muscles and increases their efficiencies; it tones liver, stomach and the whole digestive system, regulates flow of digestive juices and brings the digestive system to order; it tones skin and prevents it from hanging loose.

Vermifuge

Carrot Seed essential oil can kill…

…the worms in your intestines.

It may help children get rid of this annoying problem.

Other Benefits

Carrot Seed essential oil is widely used in aromatherapy due to its mild and soothing earthy aroma which is very effective in relieving stress and anxiety and gives a refreshing feeling.

It is good on skin and protects it from wrinkles.

It also relieves muscle aches, cures anorexia, enhances production of erythrocytes and improves eye sight, brightness etc.

Blending

Although blending is conditional and there are different blends for different purposes, Carrot Seed Essential Oil goes well with Bergamot, Juniper, Lavender, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Avocado, Cedar Wood and Geranium oil.

Few Words of Caution: Pregnant ladies should avoid, otherwise no threat.

Carrot Seed essential oil, as the name suggests, are extracted by steam distillation, primarily from the dried seeds and secondarily from the dried plant itself, of Wild Carrot.

Wild Carrot, scientifically named as Daucus Carota, is common in Europe and is also known by another name “Queen Anne’s Lace” there.

Apart from the components like Alpha Pinene, Beta Pinene, Gamma Terpinene, Limonene, Camphene, Sabinene, Myrcene, Beta Bisabolene, Carotol and Geranyl Acetate, Carrot Seed oil is rich in Carotene and Vitamin-A, both of which are blessings for eyes and effective anti oxidants.

Carrot Seed Essential Oil Basic Facts

Botanical Name: Daucus carota

Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled

Color: Golden Yellow

Consistency: Thin – Medium

Perfumery Note: Middle

Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium – Strong, Lingering Aroma

Aromatic Description: Earthy, woody, warm. It does not resemble the smell of carrots and is considered harsh or unpleasant by some.

Possible Uses Of Carrot Seed Essential Oil

Eczema, gout, mature skin, toxin build-up, water retention.

By Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, Pg 57-60

Constituents of Carrot Seed Essential Oil

A-pinene, camphene, B-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, y-terpinene, limonene, B-bisabolene, geranyl acetate, Carotol.

By B. Lawrence, “Carrot Seed Oil,” Perfumer & Flavorist, August/September 1980, Pg 29

Cited in Salvatore Battaglia, The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy (Australia: The Perfect Potion, 1997) Pg 149

Safety Information When Using Carrot Seed Essential Oil

Robert Tisserand, in Essential Oil Safety, does not indicate any special precautions when using this oil.

By Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), Pg 204.