Hi Cabrita,
You can collect seeds from them. They are biennials, so yes, that means they flower in their second year. If conditions are right(or not right, lol) they may flower in their first year especially since you have a long growing season.
Carrots grow umbel like flower heads and make lots of seeds. Most people forget they know carrot flower heads, not from their gardens, but from Queen Anne's Lace which is a wild carrot. If you have Queen Anne's Lace nearby flowering at the same time, you will need to bag your blossoms since they will cross-pollinate.
Beets grow upright candelabra type flower stalks, and will make a good amount of seeds too. Beets cross pollinate from long distances away like 5 miles, so you will need to bag your blossoms if you wish to keep you seeds pure.
One plant of each will give you more than enough seed for your garden. It is normally recommended to save from more than one plant to keep genetic diversity. If you are saving for certain characteristics though that doesn't matter.
Remy

Remy, what does it mean to "bag your blossoms"?

Hi Natalie,
Pretty much putting a bag over the blossoms : ) You can use a paper bag and tape it shut. That works well for longer candelabra type blooms. Those sheer gift bags work well for single or cluster blooms.
On the link below is a pic.
Remy

Here is a link that might be useful: Pic of bagged tomato blossom

Hi, my beets have grown 6 feet tall and they are still green and I can see where the seeds are... how to I collect the seeds and when will I know they are ready to collect, any photos?

Lori- Collect the seeds by stripping them off when they turn brown. They might not all be ready for collection at once.

Rodney

My name is Jim. I have purchased heirloom seeds this year and am going to try seed saving. I have been reading what I can find, but still have a question or two. Beets and carrots, biennials, save seeds second year. My climate is high desert and winters get down below 0 degrees F. Will the beets and carrots survive the winter or do I need to do something with them. My thoughts are to dig up and replant is damp sand and keep above freezing, like in the garage but I don't know. Has anyone any idea?