Carrots - how long dare I leave them?

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by Fat Controller, Sep 26, 2012.

  1. Fat Controller

    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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    I have some carrots in one of my re-usable bags, and shoving a finger in around them tells me that I have only got a few very small ones at best; how long can I leave them in situ to hopefully grow before I have no choice but to lift them?

    Or, should I simply quit now and try again next year?
     
  2. Dave W

    Dave W Total Gardener

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    They won't grow a lot more but there's no great harm in leaving them in-situ and just lift them as required as they'll keep better in compost then in air. I often leave carrots in the ground all winter.
     
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    • Freddy

      Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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      Hiya FC.

      My own feeling is that they've probably already reached their full potential with cold weather just around the corner. My carrots this year were pretty useless with regards to size, but the ones I've eaten have been really quite tasty. So, lift and enjoy:) BTW, don't bother peeling or anything, just wash/scrub them.:blue thumb:
       
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      • Freddy

        Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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        Yes, that as well:biggrin:
         
      • Fat Controller

        Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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        Thanks :) If I get one dinner out of the lot, I think it will be a miracle - shame, because I munched on the tiniest wee thing the other day that I whipped out and rinsed off; barely half a mouthful it was, but very sweet and absolutely lovely.
         
      • Freddy

        Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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        Yes, there's no comparison between freshly dug carrots, and shop bought.
         
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        • Dave W

          Dave W Total Gardener

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          That's micro-salad and would cost you a fortune in a place selling posh-nosh!
           
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          • Fat Controller

            Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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            Ha! True! I never thought of it like that. :snork:
             
          • Jack McHammocklashing

            Jack McHammocklashing Sludgemariner

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            Home grown Carrots mmmnn and one of my most successful crops this year, Well my only successful crop actually

            I only planted them for something to plant in my new found gardening life as I did not like carrots much
            Horrible veg, due to what I now know to be tinned carrots, and M.O.D Chefs ruining them
            My what a difference, I pulled the home grown ones and they were delicious, totally different to what you get from a tin, or ten days old from the green grocer when we had one
            This was true also for my Cauliflowers
            Grow your own

            Jack McH
             
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            • Dave W

              Dave W Total Gardener

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              Jack try grated carrot, grated cabbage add raisins that have been soaked in orange juice for about an hour or until they plump up, add some salad cream and you'll have a lovely tasty coleslaw.
              If you've not got cabbage handy then just the carrot and raisins make a nice salad.
               
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              • Fat Controller

                Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                Well, they got howked out, cleaned up, and they've been eaten - for all there was of them. Tiny, but tasty - so, fingers crossed for next year.

                IMAG0134.jpg

                PS - the pound coin is in there purely to give an idea of sizes, and didn't get cooked ;)
                 
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                • "M"

                  "M" Total Gardener

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                  I think you should be proud of your harvest, fc. :ccheers:

                  I've grown carrots this year and I'm in total agreement with Jack Mc but from "the other side" :heehee: Mr Mum would *only* eat tinned carrots (and tinned peas) and considered them the only edible vegetables. I've cooked up my home grown and he has wolfed them down! In my book, that is success :yes:
                   
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                  • Vince

                    Vince Not so well known for it.

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                    They look like an "early nantes" or "Chantennay" (sp) type FC, an early crop, try some Autumn King's next year, a maincrop that grows well and stores well.
                     
                  • Fat Controller

                    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                    I think they were called Flyaway Vince - to be fair to them, beside the weather this year, I put them in MPC only (no sand added) in a re-usable growbag which was positioned in semi shade, up against the fence. Lesson learned for next year. I will have a look out for seeds of the Autumn Kings too - thanks :)
                     
                  • Phil A

                    Phil A Guest

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                    Is he a friend of Hollow Phil?
                     
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