Last Updated on March 16, 2025 by April
Did you know those carrot tops you typically toss away can produce fresh, flavorful greens for your kitchen? While you can’t grow new carrots from scraps, the tops can flourish into vibrant greens with culinary potential.
These recycled greens make excellent additions to pestos, salads, or as garnishes for your favorite dishes. With enough time, they’ll even develop charming white flowers that add beauty to your home garden.
You Can Still Grow New Carrots, Eventually
After regrowing the greens from your carrots tops, you can eventually get flowers and seeds. These seeds may be used to grow brand new carrots!
Getting Started with Carrot Top Growing
For best results, select carrots that still have some green stems attached. When preparing your carrots for cooking, make a clean cut about a quarter-inch below where the stems begin. If you’ve already trimmed the greens for use, try to leave approximately an inch of stems connected to the carrot top.
Initial Water Growth Phase
- Place cut tops in a shallow container with just enough water to cover the bottom
- Position the carrots cut-side down in the water
- Keep tops above water to prevent rotting
- Set the container in a warm, shaded location
- Refresh water as needed to maintain moisture and prevent rotting
Within just a few days, you’ll notice green shoots emerging from the tops, growing at a surprisingly quick pace. Shortly after, tiny root hairs will begin developing from the cut surface.
Moving to Soil
Once your carrot tops develop those small roots, they’re ready for soil placement. Though garden beds can work, starting in pots offers better control over growing conditions.
Soil Preparation & Planting:
*Use nutrient-rich soil mixed with compost.
- Create small depressions in the soil surface
- Insert the fleshy carrot parts, leaving only the greens exposed
- Water thoroughly after planting
- Keep in shade or indoors initially
Your new plants need a gradual introduction to sunlight and outdoor conditions through a process gardeners call “hardening off.” Begin by exposing them to direct sunlight for 3-4 hours daily, then return them to shade or indoors. Each day, increase sun exposure by 1-2 hours for about five days until they’re fully adjusted.
Harvesting and Continuous Growth
The beauty of growing carrot tops lies in their renewable nature. You can:
- Pinch small leaves for delicate garnishes
- Allow longer growth for substantial harvests for pesto
- Let them flower for ornamental purposes
