How to store carrots?

[caroline7758]

I have got some decent sized carrots this year,but find they soon go bendy in the fridge, even when I leave the foliage on. What am I doing wrong? What is the best way to store them?

[caroline7758]

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

surely leave them in the ground?

[saddad]

In damp sand... in a recycling box... cut tops off (leave about 1") sand in layer of carrots not touching each other, more sand, more carrots etc. If kept cool should keep for months... until @ March...

[lizagrowbag]

how long do you think ill get away with leaving carrots in the ground ive only planted a few rows and im using them as i need them right now but whats the latest they need lifting?

[Lizann]

Before the first frost, I hope, as I've got millions and just planted some more!

[saddad]

You can leave them in the soil through all but the hardest frosts, if you earth up a bit they get more frost protection... and you can find them when the foliage dies down, they will get more slug damage though and are hard to harvest if the soil is frozen solid...  :-\

[caroline7758]

Makes you wonder what they put in the supermarket ones to keep them rigid! ???

[saddad]

Little blue pills...  ::)

[TonyD]

the reason they go all soft in the fridge is that they are loosing moisture. if you put that bendy carrot in a container of water in the fridge they will harden back up, without the little blue pills,lol.
if you store them in sand it has to be quite dry. i have seen them stored in sawdust, and they stayed good right up to march , and this was in Canada where it gets down to -40
on commercial farms in Canada carrots are not harvested until the soil gets down to 40f. this is mid October harvest to mid November. the reason being they are stored in a large re fridgerated storage until feb-mar when they start selling. it is easier to chill them when they are already cold they will still be selling them until June when the new crops come in from Florida. in the storage there is a large sprinkler system keeping the carrots moist. the storage is kept at 33f
hope this helps

[saddad]

Welcome to A4A Tony...  :)