Seed

A seed (wikipedia) is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule  of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant. The formation of the seed completes the process of reproduction  in seed plants (started with the development of flowers and pollination), with the embryo developed from the zygote and the seed coat from the integuments of the ovule.


Seeds have been an important development in the reproduction and spread of flowering plants, relative to more primitive plants like mosses, ferns and liverworts, which do not have seeds and use other means to propagate themselves. This can be seen by the success of seed plants (both gymnosperms and angiosperms) in dominating biological niches on land, from forests to grasslands both in hot and cold climates.

The term seed also has a general meaning that predates the above — anything that can be sown i.e. "seed" potatoes, "seeds" of corn or sunflower "seeds". In the case of sunflower and corn "seeds", what is sown is the seed enclosed in a shell or hull, and the potato is a tuber.



Grow Carrots Seed

Carrot Seed

·         Carrots grow best in full sun but will tolerate some shade. Growing carrots in a heavy soil and one that is stoney will cause the carrot roots to become deformed... some of these shapes will certainly make you smile and even blush!

·         A deeply dug, light sandy soil is best for harvesting the longer varieties. If it is heavy or stoney grow the more stumpy varieties of carrot.

·         Try not to plant carrots into soil that has had compost recently dug into it (last 12 months) as this can cause the carrot roots to become deformed also. To lighten the soil add peat.

·         Start getting the bed ready two weeks before sowing the carrot seed. Break down the surface to a fine tilth and rake in a general fertiliser.

·         Don`t despair if your ground doesn`t suit growing these vegetables or you just don`t have the space or a garden. Learn how to grow carrots in pots or containers - use compost purchased from a garden center and enjoy experimenting with differentvarieties - you will surprise yourself as to just how much you can grow this way. You will get an idea from the photos above just how much can be harvested from containers. This is such an easy way to learn how to grow carrots and not at all expensive. The pots I used in this case measure 32.5cm(13") across the top and stand 30cm(12") high.

·         The first photo shows the carrots - variety is Nelson F1 - just emerging. They were sown in a circular fashion because I like to play :0) . The second photo shows my wife Ros harvesting some of the carrots a few weeks later. Container growing has a lot going for it as the environment is so easy to manage - it`s the easiest way I know for how to grow carrots