Leaving Carrots in the Ground

[Jono]

Hi all,

I've left my carrots in the ground so far this year. They're still fine when I pick them, but I was wondering if anyone else does this and if so, for how much longer? Will the frosts make them soggy?

I didn't get as many last year, so stored them in sand, but they went dry and wrinkly quite fast.

Ta v. much,

Jono.

[zazen999]

Carrot Fly....is the reason I don't leave them in the ground as even with netting they get bitten to smithereens by the little tykes.

[Snadger]

Mine are covered in enviromesh all year.
In the summer it keeps the carrot fly at bay. In the winter it gives a degree of insulation and keeps the snow off making them easier to harvest.

For the last three years I have never had to buy a carrot and they keep that 'fresh pulled' taste. I always use them within a couple of hours of lifting.
They usually last to around late April if memory serves me right, then they start to go 'hairy' as they put on new season root growth.
They then become 'chook fodder' and the annual cycle starts again.

I stick with the same bed for three years then create a new bed as they have special requirements, no muck and loads of sand.

[gojiberry]

Welcome to the vine Jono. I leave mine in the ground, but you have to put slug pellets down every now and then. I haven't had problems with carrot fly as the carrots have been covered all summer. Took the cover off at the first frost. Picked some day before yesterday and they were all great. They will stay in the ground till spring.

Ian

[Alison]

The only problem I've had with leaving them in the ground is getting them out again when the ground is frozen. Mine too are still covered with enviromesh which insulates a bit although I still had to chisel them out the ground somewhat. Lovely and clean though as the soil falls off in frozen lumps

[Snadger]

As an aside, I noticed yesterday that my wooden framed enviromesh cover which now has 6 inches of snow on it, had been walked across by a fox on it's way to investigate my chooks.
If the enviromesh had collapsed it could have acted as a fox trap!

[binley100]

Then you would've had the fun job of releasing it........

[Snadger]

Then you would've had the fun job of releasing it........

Yeah, right.............

[binley100]

You wouldn't of ...........would you ? Bit different to a rat.........

[pauco]

I hope 'sid' escaped the foxs evil eye



paul.

[Jono]

Brilliant, thanks all.

Got a fleece over them before the snow came, so hopefully they'll be fine.

[motherhen]

I leave mine in the ground, I have curved water pipe with fine net over to keep the snow off but something gets in and always eats the leafy bits of the tops? rabbits? as you say they have that lovely just pulled flavour, bit interesting if its really frozen but don't really have that much of a problem.

[Croila]

I've still got some carrots in a pot indoors, well, in a slightly heated conservatory, and a handful in a pot in the garden. Totally covered in snow!

[jacob]

Hmm. Carrots still in the ground, under the enviromesh. Under the snow.

I'm not even sure where they are at the moment -- digging them up could be fun. I've had to use an axe in the past!

[Whatalottie]

I suffer badly from carrot fly even though I carefully environmesh them. I know carrot fly overwinter in the ground. Do you think that the larvae are encouraged by overwintered carrots?