Carrot

vegetables · nutrition · gardening

Orange powerhouse. Carrots get their bright orange color from beta-carotene, a special compound that your body turns into vitamin A to help you see better and keep your eyes healthy.

Rainbow varieties. While most carrots are orange, heirloom carrots come in white, yellow, red, purple, and even black, depending on what kind you grow.

Two-year plants. Carrots are biennial, which means they spend their first year growing roots and leaves underground, then flower and make seeds in their second year.

Ancient roots. Carrots belong to the umbellifer family, the same plant family as parsnips, celery, and parsley.