Apiaceae Family: Wonderful Plants in the Carrot Family and How to Grow Them

The Apiaceae, or carrot family of plants, is a wide and varied family with many beloved and well-used members. Some will seem like obvious cousins, while others might come as a surprise. The wonderful news is that there are so many delicious plants in the Apiaceae family that are easy to use in many dishes and easy to grow for yourself, too.

It must be noted that there are several wild plants in the Apiaceae family. Do not forage for wild plants from this family without being 100 percent certain you know what you are looking for. There are some deadly plants in this family such as poison hemlock that can be easily mixed up with wild carrots, for example.

The bad news aside, growing plants from the carrot family in your garden is safe and fun and will broader your garden harvest for evermore delicious dinners.

Which Plants Are in the Apiaceae Family?

The roots, leaves, stalks, and seeds of these plants are enjoyed as food, spice, and medicine. Carrots, parsnips, and celeriac are savored for their delicious roots. The leaves of parsley, dill, and coriander are chopped up into salads, salsas, and pestos. We munch on the stalks of celery and add fennel, cumin, and caraway seeds to curries, stews, and soups.

How Can I Identify a Plant from the Apiaceae Family?

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Many Plants from this family look somewhat similar. The seeds are often small, oval, and flat and may be surrounded by tiny paper wings. They may also be deeply ridged.

The flowers of these plants are described as umbels. Individual flower stalks grow from a common point in the main stem and form a little umbrella shape. Are you thinking of dill flowers or a parsley plant that has gone to seed? Are you remembering seeing Queen Anne’s lace growing in meadows? They all have a very similar flower arrangement.

How Can I Grow My Own Plants from the Apiaceae Family?

First of all, check which plants from this family grow well in your climate. You might have great luck with carrots and parsley but fall short at growing celery or cumin. If you let some of your plants go to seed, they are quite good at self-seeding, meaning that you will have a volunteer harvest next season.

Carrots

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Carrots grow in zones 3-10 and can be ready for harvest in 50-75 days. You will need to directly sow your carrot seeds in the garden as they form a strong taproot and do not transplant well. They grow well in cool weather and can be planted as early as three weeks before the last frost. Choose a spot that gets full sun with a little afternoon shade. Work your soil loose so that the roots (which are the main prize, after all) can grow and mature without stress or strain. Carrots need about three inches of space between them to ensure that they can grow to their full potential. Before you pull your carrot out of the ground, move the soil away from the base of the stems to see the top of the carrot. If it looks to size, give it a gentle tug and enjoy your harvest.

Parsley

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Parsley, in its various forms, grows well in zones 2-11. Whether it’s curly or flat-leaved parsley, you can grow it in abundance for garnishes, chimichurri, or for adding to soups and salads. Since parsley is grown for its leaves, you can direct sow the seeds in your garden up to three weeks before the last frost of spring or start the seeds indoors 10 weeks before the last frost. Choose a sunny spot for your parsley plants with well-draining soil. Plant your seeds or seedlings about 10 inches apart. Germination is quite slow, so don’t be discouraged. Once your plant is about 6 inches high, you can start harvesting. Clip whole stems from the base of the plant to encourage more growth and more food for you!

Dill

Source: Ashley Rolland/Youtube

Who wants pickles without dill? Imagine roast potatoes doused with olive oil and dill. There is many a reason to get some dill growing, and it’s pretty easy, too. Dill seeds need to be directly sown as they do not transplant well. They also grow a very delicate grass-like shoot that need not be bothered early on. Plant seeds after the last frost of the season have passed. Sow seeds bout a 1/4 inch deep in the soil and space them to about 12 inches apart. Once the plant has four to five leaves, you can start to harvest. Harvest older leaves first, allowing newer shoots to mature.

Fennel

Source: LearnHowToGarden/Youtube

Fennel, with its licorice-type flavor, is enjoyed as a vegetable chopped up into salads or added to soups. Its seeds are used in teas and curries and are delicious to chew. You can direct sow fennel seeds in your garden three weeks before the last frost of spring. Space your plants at least 12 inches apart. There are two types of fennel- bulb fennel and herb fennel. Bulb fennel is grown for its plump juicy bulb that is chopped into soups. Bulbs can be harvested after about 80 days. Herb fennel is a perennial that is grown for its seeds. Herb fennel is a great self-seeder, so you will likely have plants for years to come.

Related Content:

• International Carrot Day: 15 Recipes That’ll Make You Love Carrots!
• All About Dill and Its Use Beyond Pickles!
• 7 Edible Plants You Can Grow on Your Windowsill
• 7 High-Protein Vegetables to Grow in Your Garden
• Zinnias: A Wonderful Flower for the Vegetable Garden

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