When are my carrotts fully grown

[ukmastiff]

Lo all, I am growing some Early Nantes carrottts in a deep box in my poly and they are looking fantastic. I have pulled about threee out over the last week and let my boys eat them and they love them ( they wont eat a supermarket carrott raw ! )

The question is , how do I know when they are fully grown. I know they will be tastier as baby carrottts but I want/need a decent crop and so would like to let them grow to their proper size but obviously eat them before they ' spoil '.



( the Light-saber is in case anyone tries to nick his carrott !)

Cheers

Mas

[Two_Sheds]

Early Nantes are just that, early carrots, meant to be eaten small and sweet

If you want big stonking carrots, sow something like Autumn King

[ukmastiff]

Did I say I wanted big stonking carrotts ? , I'm just asking how big they might be when mature so that I dont waste my crop by rushing to pick them impatiently so to speak.

I did try Googling the question and basically most seemed to say pick them just before they are fully grown.

With that in mind , I thought asking roughly when they will be fully grown was a fair and sensible question !

[Two_Sheds]

Sorry, I don't understand why you're getting shirty with me?

You asked about them being "fully grown" ... I took that to mean you wanted bigger carrots

[zazen999]

They will just keep growing if you leave them; and in their second year they will put out a flower and seed head. That's if the carrot fly doesn't get them first.....

[ukmastiff]

The straight answer to 'your question' :

I ask for some advice on how to tell when my carrotts are ready as I want to use them to feed my family and you tell me if I want great big carrottts then grow great big carrotts , apart from the fact that you are stating the blatently obvious , some might read that as less than helpful or even arrogent.

You did ask.

Mas

[zazen999]

There's no ready reckoner with veg; they grow at their own pace.

Especially with root veg, you can only tell by looking at the shoulders as soil isn't see through! Some will look ready but be stumpy, some will not look ready but will be larger when pulled.

I can't see why you have got upset with two_sheds - it's a perfectly reasonable assumption that you wanted larger carrots from your original question.

[FionaH]

Two Sheds and Zaz have answered your question competently and politely. I see no sign of rudeness from TS whatsoever.

[Snadger]

Hi Mas

I would say that if they are Early Nantes they are at there prime now by the look of them. I still wouldn't dig them all up though.................just use them fresh as you need them (within hours of picking is best) and you could be eating fresh carrots for a good while yet!

[rustylady]

Why don't you just try picking them when you feel like it? Have a look at them, have a "furtle", and if you think they are ready then pick them and eat them

[Nicos]

I tend to take the largest first and leave the smaller ones to grow on a bit longer.

I love Early Nantes- and take them even smaller than that.
Get stuck in there- they're ready!

[taff]

I've never grown a carrot that big so I can't answer
hopefully this year......

[Aberdeenplotter]

Nantes are the carrot to eat straight from the ground after a quick wipe on the trouser leg to remove any soil. Lovely and sweet with no core to speak of. They aren't the type to grow huge and won't ever grow to be stonking big as TS has correctly said. Although you want to maximise your crop, best to enjoy these ones young so let your children enjoy them at their best.

I've tried to understand why you have taken offence at the comments made by TS. Yes the answer she gave was straight to the point but crucially as with most of her posts, it was accurate and correct.(I do occasionally disagree with her but not often)I really don't know what else you could have expected as none of know what is below the ground with our own carrots let alone anyone elses.

[Germinater]

I'm not sure why you took so much Offence to what ts said??she was offering a suggestion to a higher yeailding crop.and as you said you want to feed you family same as most of us..iv had lots of questions answers by ts and she has always been very insightfully and futhered my knowledge of the veg I'm growing and other possible varieties ..

[Newton]

I have just pulled one or two early Nantes the size of my little finger. Small yes....but super tasty. Maturity is subjective Ukmastif. Your pic looks great......a fine carrot that I would be proud of......unlike your responses.......