Carrots when it gets chilly

[bonniethomas06]

Hi everyone,

I am thinking ahead for winter veg.

This year I have loads of carrots and I am determined to make them last through the winter.

I am going to freeze some (slice and blanch first).

I want to store some 'whole' - has anyone ever tried the 'lay them top to toe in a box of slightly damp peat' trick before? I would be interested to hear how it went.

Lastly, is it too late to sow a last row in the pollytunnel so that we can have them as fresh as possible for as long as possible?

Thanks all,

Bonnie x

[MKG]

I've done it before, Bonnie - but it was in dry sand rather than damp peat. It certainly works, but it wasn't what I really wanted - I can pick up old carrots for next to nothing without going to those extremes. To be frank, I think freezing is the better option - but you obviously need a very large freezer if you're going to do that as well for other things than carrots.

Mike

[Odsox]

It works OK with peat or sand or just plain soil, the only problem is if it's too warm they sprout hundreds of fine white roots. Not really a problem I suppose but it makes peeling them more difficult.

Lastly, is it too late to sow a last row in the pollytunnel so that we can have them as fresh as possible for as long as possible?

No, not at all as long as it's a quick growing early variety like Amsterdam Forcing. I grow finger carrots in succession for 12 months of the year and although they slow down a bit in the colder months, they still keep growing in the tunnel. My last sowing will be about the end of October which will give me new carrots in March depending on what sort of spring we get.

I also have sown some in a bucket and brought it indoors for the winter, that works well if you have the space.

[bonniethomas06]

Thanks both, I have picked and frozen a couple of pounds today - I will start storing the other lot in sand nearer the winter. But off to go and sow a last few rows now!

Incidently, I grew a few varieties this year and yesterday picked some 'atomic red'. Bleurgh!! Really bitter, not impressed.

[Millymollymandy]

Erm, why don't you just leave them in the ground then just dig them up as and when you want just like parsnips? They don't die in winter as they are protected by the soil - just make sure you get some out the ground before a long period of frozen ground though!