Description
Common name: Wild carrot. Mealbhacán.
General:
This population originates from Co Down. Irish Grid reference: J594448 in 2018.
In 2019 seed from J574427 was added to the gene pool. These locations are around 3 miles apart. Interbreeding occuring naturally via pollinators, in the field and potentially (though not likely in one jump) naturally.
Biennial. White flowers, up to 1m tall. Beautiful feathery foliage. Flowering from July into September. Seeds October on.
Benefits:
Multi flower, flat, open heads provide great landing perches, especially favoured by hoverflies and also soldier beetles, whose larvae pupate in the ovaries. Easy to collect seed as the flower heads hold onto the seed well into November.
Habitat:
Open meadow, likes sandy soil.
Sowing guidelines:
Seed does not store well for long periods, sow fresh seed in early spring into deep modules or preferably in situ outdoors into a well prepared seed bed. Foliage in first year, flowers and seeds in the second.
If you are breeding for seed these will interbreed with cultivars that you eat. You can keep plants in an isolation cage (or a couple of miles apart) at flowering to prevent genetic pollution.
Cultural history:
The crop wild relative of modern eating carrots, but not really palatable in their wild state.
Avg contents: 100 seeds.
