What's Happened To My Carrots?

sharloid

I planted some of the BBC 'Dig In' carrots a few months back. I believe they are chantennay (sp?) and so I know they're supposed to be small but surely not this small?! As far as I know (which isn't a lot, obviously!!) the stems shouldn't be this long and so i'm guessing this might be hindering the growth of the root, but i'm really not sure.

Or is it just a case of i've picked it way too early even though according the the seed packet I think they should be ready to harvest. If I just leave them in there will they get fatter? How about if I try and replant some so they have some more room?

Thanks in advance, I don't want them to go to waste!




The 1p coin is there for size reference!

jaxx46

Mine are the same. I dont think you should replant them, root veg don't like being moved apparently. I'm a newbie too and I didn't realise how long carrots took, makes me wish i'd planted a second lot. Mind you the rate mine are growing they may be ready for Christmas lol

RebekahR

I always have the same issue!!! Drives me mad ... I grew some last march picked sept/oct I think and they werent much bigger than yours - teensey things :-( Having another go this year might give up and not bother though if they are the same.

rhiwfield

The carrot looks immature and/or hasnt been thinned.

If you thin the carrots do it late evening to avoid attracting carrot fly. I've never heard of carrots transplanting successfully. Use the thinnings in salad if not too small.

If you sow carrots very thinly then you can avoid need for further thinning and any sown too close will push apart each other as they grow. Sown thickly they dont have the room to do this.

The picture of the carrots in the grow your grub leaflet sent with the seeds is what they should look like

Emuchops

Well at least you can eat the tops-see suggestions in the recent "Uses for Carrot Tops" thread on the Moneysaving Old Style board..

suejb2

I've got carrot envy! mine are soooo much smaller oh well carrot top ssoup it is then.

Savannah02K

I've had exactly the same problem. I grew a different variety last year but am cutting back on things next year, carrots are one of those I won't bother with again, will be sticking to the courgettes (although not the Black Beauty from Dig In, I prefer the Venus, much better yield), beans, salads, radishes.

wssla00

I didn't like carrots until I saw the atlas variety. They grow as spherical carrots a bit like a radish or a turnip and are much easier to plant. I make a hole in the soil and plant one seed there. They slowly grow and swell and can be used as a normal carrot. They also perform well in tubs which is a bonus!

Farway

Did you thin them out? Have you waited until a nice orange carrot top appeared before pulling up?

Have you watered regulary?

Or did you just go by the calendar?

If the latter, then just give them time, and thin them out if not done so

mary-op

Don't know what this years are like yet but last year ours were just like OP's..........the year before -about the size of my thumb..............lol
We do have to grow them in containers so maybe that made a difference ? Must look at what to do with carrot tops now its been mentioned......

sharloid

Thanks for all the replies and i'm glad to find that i'm not alone!
So if I thin them (just remove some so the others have more room?), give them some vegetable feed or something, plenty of water and leave them for a while longer there's a chance they'll pull through?