Vegetables that do not take on the true characteristic of the variety may be caused by the weather or a mistake by the gardener. The weather can work in subtle ways to change the appearance of a given variety.
Carrots are a good example.
When grown in hot temperatures, such carrots can form a small globe which resembles a beet more than a carrot. Seeds taken from the same packet and grown in 50 to 600 temperatures will produce a long narrow carrot that may be six to seven inches long. To produce a carrot that is typical of the variety, it should be grown in temperature that range between 60 to 70 degrees. Which all goes to prove that a vegetable grown at the wrong time or subjected to drastic changes in weather will not adhere to the true characteristics of the variety. Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Atlantic County provides information and educational services to all people without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, disability or handicap, or age.