I've never read whether or not carrot "greens" are edible. I've always assumed they are not.
Are carrot tops edible?
My parrots sure think so! LOL Seriously, I've had a nibble and didn't like the taste, but our birds do love them and they are nutritious.
Found this thread on the 'net - http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/422562
There are very few plants that are not edible, palatable is another question. You can eat carrot tops to your hearts content. ditto with most garden weeds, lawn grass, tree leaves etc. You just have to avoid the few that are poisonous and many of those are eaten with proper preparation, even black nighshade. Great article in American Vegetable Grower a few months back about Hmong growers in California. The farmer was showing a county agent through his fields, when the agent spotted nightshade growing and immediately started to pull it to the chagrin of the farmer. Seems the Hmong traditionally use nightshade as a tonic and that it is highly prized in thier culture.
Thanks for the answers and the link. I'll try a nibble of carrot top after work. I have a whole bed of young carrots and those tops look so inviting...
They are pretty, aren't they? Some of the ones in the store are so stringy and horrid looking, so when I see really fresh young tops, it's a treat! Mine are too small to pick yet, but they look good!
I did nibble a few leaves while passing the carrot bed this weekend. Interesting taste - I'll try to include some in the next stew I make for my hubby.
Just be sure that they are actually carrots. There are some wild look-a-likes that are highly toxic
krowten - I think it's "Queen Annes Lace" that's toxic, and I've not seen that growing around here - the bed where my carrots are growing have all "look-a-like" green tops, so I'm sure they are all carrots.
More than one species.
Check out this link, which talks about two of them.
http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/tips/toxiccarrots.htm
krowten - thanks for the links. I never thought about poison hemlock or wild parsley. We have lots of woods in our neighborhood, so it's possible that these exist nearby. I know birds scatter a lot of seed, and, of course, there is always the wind blowing seed all over the place.
I'll be careful :)