I just had to post about my bonanza of carrots. I left them in the ground while we were away on holidays in late September/early October. And then we got a really hard frost, and some snow even. And then more frost. But the carrots survived, and look just beautiful. We will be eating them at our family Thanksgiving dinner this weekend.
I got four ice cream pails full of carrots from my small patch - about 15 lbs maybe? Enough to keep some share some.
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... and THIS is why we do what we do!
Carrots from your own garden for your own Thanksgiving feast. What an accomplishment!
Every step in the right direction is a step worth taking. Thank you for being an inspiration!
(I think I'll take some carrots out of the freezer for our dinner tomorrow, too!)
Thanks AJC. Digging those carrots was a joy - I was so happy they weren't frozen. They just looked so pretty after I'd washed them that I had to take a picture. These seeds produced really really well, and I will defintely plant them again next year :)
Mmmm, they look yummy. Do you remember what type they were?
I sent the kids out a couple of weeks ago to gather up all the tomatoes and they brought in all the carrots instead. Next time instuctions will come with a picture. :o) I'd planned to leave them for a frost to sweeten them a little. They're still good buy I'll bet yours will be wonderful.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving!
Hi Liz - I just checked the seed packets and the carrots were some of each of Danver's Half Long and SF Nantes, both from Saltspring Seeds. I missed the chance to collect seed myself this year, since we were away, but I will see what I can do next year. I did have about 5 carrot plants that went to seed, but it looked like all the seeds were long gone as of yesterday when I picked these carrots.
The carrots are quite tasty, and really orange after the frost(s) they endured. That is too funny about the kids picking the carrots instead of the tomatoes - they will know the difference next year!
Wow! They're gorgeous Theresa!
Nice haul! I bet it was a chore to dig them too, albeit a joyful one for sure. Or did you get some moisture before pulling them out of the cement...I mean ground?
Carrots must be like turnips, preferring to be harvested after a decent frost?
Thanks Heather!
Jerry/SBT - I watered them really well before we left, and it rained shortly after we got back, so there was just a frozen crust of the top later of dirt, once I broke through that it was no problem. I didn't know that about turnips - thanks!
No doubt the carrots were our greatest accomplishment in the garden this year! We too wanted to keep them in the ground until a nice hard frost came (that would be this morning) but my father offered to bring up his rototiller last weekend to expand our plot for us. But boy oh boy did they do great! We planted some Danvers as well and they are just terrific! They WILL be planted again next year! Some have been frozen for winter soups and stews, some eaten last weekend roasted, and the rest will be finished up tonight with a slow cooked pot roast!
SV - I never thought of freezing them, what a good idea - thanks! Sounds like you have a lot of carroty goodness at your house :)
YUM. i love carrots. Hopefully next year we'll have more!
I agree with AJC- THIS is why we do what we do :)
Carrots are my favorite root veggie, that's for sure!
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