Overwintering Carrot question

[Digeroo]

I sowed some carrots in the Autumn and they started to grow well but over the winter the leaves got well gnawed by rabbits and deer etc.  They are now starting to grow again and have small rather pale roots which are rather hairy.  The question is will I get anything worth eating off them or shall I put that one down to experience and dig them up.  I know of a horse who rather likes them as they are.

[Digeroo]

[Digindep]

Its been a hard winter.....!! if you can spare/afford the space...give them a few more weeks....
Lost ....well thought I'd lost loads of leeks....they looked shy*e a few weeks back....frosted, limp....we were eating them yesterday...leave 'em be ..if you can..
Have a good year... :)

[caroline7758]

I pulled up the last few babies from one ofmy dustbins yesterday, and must say I wpondered whether I was doing the right thing. But I want to get a new lot started soon and add some more compost in the top, so didn't really have a choice.

[Digeroo]

They are where I have decided to put courgettes this year so there is no hurry for a few weeks yet.   

[allaboutliverpool]

Unfortunately carrots behave as biennials. They produce a root that lasts over winter and then becomes woody and flowers the following Spring/Summer.

They do not grow bigger in the Spring if they did then autumn sowing would be an accepted way of doing things.

I am sorry to disappoint you like this. If any are big enough to eat, then eat them now or dig them up.

[Digeroo]

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/seeds1/product/336/1.html

This variety is supposed to be sown in the autumn.   Presume that it works better with a milder winter.  Actually they are quite tasty but the texture leaves something to be desired so I might consign them to the soup pot.

[Chantenay]

I have sown Nelson & Autumn King in August/Sept for the past three years. Protected from pests by enviromesh, it gives a welcome, small but tasty crop in Feb/March. By March they are starting to go over.

[Robert_Brenchley]

You could let them grow on for a bit and save your own seed after they flower. If you do, keep a bunch as they need to cross-pollinate.

[chriscross1966]

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/seeds1/product/336/1.html

This variety is supposed to be sown in the autumn.   Presume that it works better with a milder winter.  Actually they are quite tasty but the texture leaves something to be desired so I might consign them to the soup pot.

Wierdly that's the variety that turned up in my "pledge" envelope from the RHS today...... I feel an experiment coming on.....

chrisc

[jennym]

Carrots take about 3 to 4 months from germination to harvest. Have found that they don't germinate well when its really cold, or really hot. Have often sown  varieties like Early Nantes in autumn, with a little protection as it gets colder, for pulling around Christmas time/January.
If you leave them for more than about 9 months, and they have a cold period during that time, then the root starts to go woody, and they will soon start their flowering cycle, so you really can't leave them in the ground for too long.