Harvesting carrots, from seed to pulling, how long?

[Leeds_lad]

How long is a good time to leave carrots in the ground before pulling out to use? It's quite hard to check them with out pulling a couple up, then i get dissapointed if they are too small to use!

[chris]

I tend to dig slightly around the top of the carrot - or brush the soil away from the shoulder/neck of the carrot (top) to see how wide it is.. depending on the variety too, as some are slender, but long - others are short, fat and dumpy

You're right though, it is really tempting to pull a few up when you see all the top growth to find either no root, or something that you can just about get one nibble from

[solway cropper]

As Chris says, have a feel around the shoulders. That should give you some idea. You can leave them in the ground as long as you want but they are a devil to dig up if we have a hard winter like last one. I've been lifting carrots every week since 8th June and will continue doing so into the new year from seed sown in tubs and moved into the greenhouse.

[rustylady]

Depends on the type of carrot. Early or maincrop?

[ribsyhuggins]

the answer is very simple: take the DTM for the carrot variety add 4 weeks to that from your planting date and have your have you answer.
3 of 4 weeks is for germination 1 week is for weather.
DTM = days to maturity

[HotStuff]

the answer is very simple: take the DTM for the carrot variety add 4 weeks to that from your planting date and have your have you answer.
3 of 4 weeks is for germination 1 week is for weather.
DTM = days to maturity

OK, I'm not afraid to ask, what is DTM?

[Alison]

I guessed it was days to maturity or something like that but am not really sure.

[OllieMartin]

the answer is very simple: take the DTM for the carrot variety add 4 weeks to that from your planting date and have your have you answer.
3 of 4 weeks is for germination 1 week is for weather.
DTM = days to maturity

OK, I'm not afraid to ask, what is DTM?

I guessed it was days to maturity or something like that but am not really sure.

Umm, doesn't it say "DTM = days to maturity" at the end of the post?

Seemed odd to me too until I read the last line.

[HotStuff]

Sorry, just ignore me, I'm having a bad day

[SarzWix]

I would imagine that the OP doesn't know the DTM, or they would have some clue of how long it takes already!

Leeds_lad, what I usually do is look at the back of the packet, and it usually tells you the time to sow, and then underneath, the time to harvest. If it says something like 'Sow April to August, harvest June to October' then you know that they will take April to June to grow, and therefore around 2 months/8 weeks for them to be ready. (This might not be the answer for your carrots, just a way to work it out from the packet )

[Two_Sheds]

It's quite hard to check them with out pulling a couple up, then i get dissapointed if they are too small to use!

No,it's easy

Just brush a little soil away from the shoulder of the carrot. If it looks wide enough, pull it. If not, cover it back up.

[womble]

The DTM figure is for a best scenario situation, ie grown in the best conditions at perfect or bigger distances.
Grow them further apart to be ready quicker and closer together for them to be ready later.
Also your watering and any plant cover, will effect the DTM. In the greenhouse? Quicker. Cold year, later.

There is no easy answer I'm afraid.

[gojiberry]

If you are like me and always over sow no matter how thinly you sow them, then you will have a good idea of how they are doing each time you thin them.

Ian