... and store them now? Or do I leave them in the ground for a while. They are still quite clean and disease free.
Also why have some of them split? I'm guessing that it might be something to do with the lack of water throughout the summer and then the deluge we had in August
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,72/topic,25182.0
::) I need to pay attention! Thanks Tim ... will earth mine up and bit and leave em in ... haven't got loads, but storing them in peat or sand would be a pain in da tail!
tis easy wellingtons, honest - you can use your own compost or leaf mould or even wood chips, shreddings or straw, in whatever sized container you find convenient - baker's tray, large plant pot, bucket etc. Just make sure they're not touching :)
I'm leaving mine in for now Wellingtons...
;D
As I've said already, mine are being left in but earthed up. As to the splitting, tho....don't know but I'd go along with your idea that it was the erratic watering conditions they've had? This mild wet weather we've had recently's certainly made mine get huge all of a sudden. And if tomatoes can split, why not carrots?
Mine are medium sized but sweet nevertheless and appear happy in the ground so far and will leave them in a little longer. ;)
Splitting is usuall down to stones etc in the soil which stop them from making straight progress?
Lucky you wellington i have just eaten the last of mine so will put lots more in next year. The lotty's on my site have dug and stored them, but this is my first year so i probally would have gone with there advise. But people in the forum keep them in, so it can't do them any harm happy munching.
Quote from: grawrc on October 22, 2006, 22:14:25
Splitting is usuall down to stones etc in the soil which stop them from making straight progress?
Is there a difference between forking and splitting, tho?
Splitting is as Grawrc said Stone ground therefore splitting as they grow. Forking is due to the ground being too rich like being freshly manured.I'm still learning myself so if I'm wrong I'm sure Grawrc will correct me.
May the corn be with you. :o
Think I've got it all wrong - nothing new there then ::)
I'd thought that forking happened when the tap root met an obstacle - stone, big chunk of humus, whatever, & divided round it - so that's why my carrot beds are of sieved soil. And why I don't get suggestive carrots :P
Splitting I'd always thought happened when the humus was too rich so have never grown on recently manured ground? And wondered if splitting could also be caused, as wellies asked, by a drought-rain regime..
Or....is forking and splitting one and the same?
Well I don't mean forking ... where the carrot grows in two different directions, what I mean by splitting is when the are lovely straight roots, as they should be, but they seem to burst their seams and split open down the length of one side.
Perhaps I was describing it very well.
My soil certainly isn't stony, it's beautiful sandy loam.