Storing Carrots in the Ground

When you grow a large crop of carrots you can end up with a problem like I have.  You can't possible keep all the carrots you grew in the fridge and you don't have a root cellar where you can store them either. 

What does that leave you?

Well luckily most carrots store very well right in the soil of your garden.  They do need some protection in order to survive the coldest temperatures of the winter and if you live in a exceptionally cold climate this still might not work for you. 

The key with mulching carrots in the ground is to cover them in a thick layer of mulching materials.  The more you can pile on the better as it will only increase the insulating value of the mulch.  The best varieties of mulch for this are usually some sort of straw as they have the ability to remain light and airy and not get compacted by water and rot.  If you do not have straw then other mulch types like leaves, pine needles and other lawn trimmings should suffice.

Before you mulch make sure you know where your carrots are so you don't have to waste time out in the cold digging around for them.  Then mulch them late in the fall right before you start to get consistent cold temperatures. 

One of the unexpected delights about leaving your carrots in the ground is that as they are exposed to cold temperatures the carrot begins to transform its starch into sugar.  What this gives you is a naturally sweet carrot which is a real delight in the middle of winter. 

So if by some miracle you have still have carrots in the ground try mulching them over and see what kind of sweet delights the garden can provide all winter. 

---