How Do You Harvest And Store Carrots?
The carrots you see in the supermarket produce aisles have been bred to hold up in transit, often at the expense of flavor. Whether you juice them, bake them, steam them, freeze them or eat them raw, carrots taste their sweet, juicy best when you’ve pulled them fresh from the garden. Begin harvesting carrots when they turn bright orange (normally 60 to 80 days after planting, depending on the variety). Pull carrots within two or three days during the summer for best flavor; in cooler weather they can stay in the ground for weeks without decline in taste or appearance. Use a garden fork to loosen the soil around each carrot, then pull up with a twisting motion so the leaves don’t break off in your hand. Cut the leaves off as soon as carrots are out of the ground; as long as they’re attached, they’ll keep growing and drawing moisture and nourishment from the roots. Store carrots you plan to use within a week or so by sealing them in plastic bags to retain moisture and putting them in the
