Is Carrot a Fruit or a Vegetable? Here’s the Science Behind It

Carrots are a type of root vegetable and can be categorized as such by the USDA. However, some people consider carrots to be fruits because they are eaten raw and contain seeds. 

If you are new to this it might even seem very confusing. 

So here in this post, we will give you clear answers to the question so you won’t have any confusion. 

First, let’s understand…

What’s the Difference Between a Fruit and a Vegetable    

Usually, in the culinary sense, we use taste to distinguish between a fruit and a vegetable. So things that are generally sweet and you can eat without cooking in termed fruits and whatever doesn’t fall into that category is called a vegetable. 

But botanically the naming system is much more clearly defined.

In Botany, a fruit is the edible part of a plant that contains the seed, while a vegetable is the edible part of a plant that does not contain the seed. A vegetable can be roots, leaves, or stems.

A carrot doesn’t contain seeds so it can not be technically called a fruit it is called a root vegetable. 

Is Potato A root or Vegetables

But Carrots have seeds. Don’t they?

Although the carrot plants produce seeds that are not inside the edible part we called “the carrot”. The seeds are grown inside the carrot flowers. 

As a carrot plant is mainly grown for the roots the plant rarely gets the time to grow seeds. Carrot is a biennial plant so it generally needs 2 years to complete the whole life cycle. 

Can I Harvest After flowering:

If you are planning to eat your carrots then you should harvest them early. Waiting for the plant to finish its life cycle can result in woody tasteless carrots. 

On the other hand, if you are planning to harvest carrot seeds you have to wait for them to finish their life span.

Growth Stages of A Carrot:

All plants go through different stages of growth, and biennial plants are no different. Carrots, for example, have two main stages: the first is when they grow leaves and the root system; the second is when they flower and produce seeds.

The first stage of a carrot’s growth takes place during the first year of its life. In this stage, the plant will grow leaves and a root system. The leaves help the plant to get energy from the sun, while the root system helps it to absorb water and nutrients from the soil.

The second stage of a carrot’s growth takes place during its second year of life. In this stage, the plant will flower and produce seeds. Once it flowers, the plant will die – but not before it has produced new carrots that will go through the same two-stage growth process.

Carrot growth 1st Year    

When you first plant the carrot seeds after some time it germinates. One part of the plant goes upward above the soil and produces leaves while the other part goes deep inside the soil and forms the taproot.  

The leaves start to make food for the plant and the taproot along with collecting water and nutrients starts to swell up. This will eventually result in carrot formation which usually takes 70-80 days. 

At this time the carrot tops continue to grow and form more leaves. This is the time when you will get the best-tasting carrots and most of the time here the plant life ends(due to harvesting). 

Carrot growths in 2nd year:

If you leave the plant unharvested, the carrot top will die due to frost and the plant will go on dormancy. 

Once the winter is over, you will see new leaves and stems start emerging from the plant and this will produce carrot flowers(small white blossoms).

These flowers will produce carrot seeds and once the flowers dry you can easily collect the carrot seeds by shaking the flowers. 

A single carrot plant can produce up to 10,000 seeds!

How to Choose Good Carrots:

The first step in choosing good carrots is to look for a firm, healthy stalk. Look at the color you want to choose carrots that are orange or yellow, as these carrots have the most beta-carotene. Check for any bruises or blemishes on the skin of the carrot. 

Avoid wilted carrots or cracked ones.

Nutrition Value of a carrot:

A carrot is a root vegetable that is predominantly orange in color and has a characteristic cylindrical shape. It is an excellent source of beta-carotene, vitamin A, and dietary fiber. Carrots are also a good source of vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium. 

They are low in calories and have a low glycemic index, making them a healthy choice for people with diabetes or prediabetes.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, a carrot is a root vegetable and not a fruit. The seeds are produced inside the flowers and not inside the carrots. Although there is some confusion over the issue, this is the consensus among experts. 

Like the information? Here are 11 more common questions about carrots don’t forget to check that out. 

Don’t forget to share the information with others also.