Way to go Jeff, i made the mistake of letting my four year old son, help daddy to pick a few carrots. His first one was a really big one so i said that will do us. About a week later i noticed all the green leaves were dying, so i picked one and it was so loose in the soil, it was like it had been picked already and put back into the ground. You can guess what had happened? My little gardener friend had checked them all out to see if he could get a bigger one than the first. Hahahaha twenty years later I still remind him of this day.
OMG Kev....been there every year for the last 4 years!!! They STILL don't understand that once you pick 'em, that's it, no more growing. Sigh....so many wasted carrots, LOL!
Hi Jeff, here is my favorite recipe for the green: Ingredients: - Greens from 2-3 carrots (washed and roughly chopped) - 1/3 cup nuts (such as pine nuts, walnuts, or almonds) - 1/3 cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese - 1 garlic clove (peeled) - Juice and zest of 1 lemon - 1/4 cup olive oil - Salt and pepper to taste Instructions: 1. Toast the nuts: - Lightly toast the nuts in a pan without oil until fragrant and golden brown. Be careful not to burn them. Then set aside and let them cool. 2. Prepare carrot greens: - Allow the roughly chopped carrot green leaves to drain in a sieve and shake them slightly to remove excess water. 3. Make the pesto: - In a blender or food processor, combine the toasted nuts, grated cheese, garlic clove, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Blend the ingredients until coarsely chopped. 4. Add carrot greens: - Add the drained carrot greens to the mixture and continue blending until all the ingredients are well combined. 5. Add olive oil: - While the blender is running, slowly pour in the olive oil until the pesto reaches the desired consistency. You can use more or less olive oil depending on how creamy you like the pesto. 6. Taste and season: - Taste the pesto and add salt, pepper, or more lemon juice as needed to balance the flavors. 7. Serve and store the pesto: - The carrot green pesto can be used as a pasta sauce, on crostini, as a spread, or as a condiment. You can also store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days or freeze it in ice cube trays for later use. Greetings from Germany 🙂
Thank you so much for this recipe 😊. I love carrots 🥕 but have never grown them successfully because of wire worm in our soil. Thanks to Jeff's advice and your recipe, things are going to be alot different from now on ❤😊❤.
hi 🤗 i sprinkle chopped carrot greens in my rice when i cook it to add to savory dishes-really brings out a light, fresh and very slightly sweet-ish flavor (but not "sugary"). try it! tfs
I had carrots that overwintered in the greenhouse and then went to flower this year because I let them grow too long. I haven't checked if the taproot is still edible, but at least I got some seeds out of them, and the pollinators appreciated the flowers. The best way to get seeds though is to replant carrot tops.
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms About 3 ft across. this video is me planting my Potato in them. I started it at the 24 second mark where you can see the size. th-cam.com/video/Uxjn95ass1U/w-d-xo.html
We freeze our carrot greens in olive oil in ice trays, our favorite thing to do with them, slice a fresh tomato and lightly toast in a skillet with the olive oil cubes containing the carrot greens, add whatever other seasoning you like. We add these tomatoes to sandwiches, toast, or even as a replacement for the sauce in homemade pizza, just layer the toasted tomatoes on the bottom and add cheese and toppings.
All sounds good, but we've had our best harvests of carrots using square foot gardening using pelleted seed. Mix some Espoma, veg and tomato fertilizer (3-5-6) into the soil, moisten deeply, set seeds just into the surface using a 2-3" grid and lightly cover with compost, potting soil or garden soil. Then lightly moisten the soil. (heavy mist) Planting on a 2" grid will result in 288 carrots in a 2x4' bed. 128 on a 3" grid. Harvest these carrots by pulling every other carrot. The grid planting also allows you to easily see any spaces that don't germinate to be replanted. We plant pelleted Bolero variety from Johnny's. It's seems it's easier to reseed than thinning. We also plant a second bed to use up the seeds left over when we pull our Garlic, mid July, and leave them to grow well into October, early November watching the weather. The pellet clay coating makes them easy to plant and holds moisture to help keep the seed moist, so better germination. We've experienced 90 %+ with these seeds. TYFS Jeff '
Hi Jeff. I'm so grateful for you making this easy to follow video. I wasn't sure when to thin. I've been doing it the same way you just explained. I didn't want waste so I waited. I'm wondering if I've done it earlier if they could be transplanted. At least the strong looking, of course. Being here visiting my grandchildren, they are catching on quickly. I give them a container, let them fill with soil, then seed. Have them water. Even the 4 year old. The kindergarten 5 yr. old I have water before school. My granddaughter 11 doesn't need reminding. Well, enough bragging about my grand babies. Thanks so much. See you on the next. Take care, and God bless ❤
Thanks Jeffe! Central coast zone 9,🌊☀️ I’ve been using your harvest-to-thin method with my carrots all year! We just used the carrots along with herbs from the garden for our chicken noodle soup Friday ❤️💪😎, it’s very rewarding and satisfying to eat what we grow! That you for the helpful vids 💓🌱🌿🥕😘
@@ObsessiveAboutCats Hi amanda, normally the cooler ones are sweeter...but for some reason, even during the heat waves, the carrot taste has been unreal this year!
we're a bit too late for carrots now. living vicariously through your videos, Jeff! I still have a big batch growing but only 6-7 weeks to frost! Radish and lettuce time LOL
Best tutorial I've seen on carrots. Thanks, Jeff! Re what to do with those tops: I make a chimmichurri (sp?) sauce. Don't have a recipe handy, but you can Google ideas. Batches are freezable.........and deelish!
It's more of a condiment. It's usually made with parsley, olive oil, garlic, spices &. perhaps cilantro blended up like pesto. Traditionally from Argentina used to top their beef, but can be used as a topper on almost any meat or fish. Lots of recipes out there!@@TheRipeTomatoFarms
I have never had much luck growing carrots, but I'm giving them another shot this year. They have started to sprout, so I'm hopeful that this will be the year for a successful harvest!! :) I love your harvesting to thin idea. I don't have the heart to thin plants, so that's a great compromise. Thanks for all the tips!
THANK-YOU! As usual, you are perfectly on time! I was just thinking of planting carrots. With your help, I'm sure my next harvest will be better than my last one. Happy thoughts to you from South Florida!
Thanks Jeff! Great to know the length sizes, although i did have one with a massive top but when we pulled it out it had obviously was bolting and the carrot was small and woody! Tops were great though. Lol At least we know now what to look for if the odd carrot prefers to just grow leaves as the base of the greens get quite thick . I use the carrot tops and greens as a substitute for celery in making veg stocks that then can be used in stews, soups or gravy. I would have them in a salad too but the others don't like the celery taste. It is lovely also with boiled egg, chives or spring onion(scallions) and salad cream. First time successfully germinating carrots this year, probably because of the wet weather we have had and it is in a free standing raised bed on legs. It's quite exciting doing a carrot reveal to see what you are going to get! I think one lesson i have learnt growing carrots, is that when i reset the bed, i will till the soil more and add some sand as initially i had to bulk out the tub by filling the legs with pebbles and putting in some twigs and cardboard. It should have broken down a bit now, so i can also add some more compost now we have some too. I think we were short on it at the time of setting it up and i wasn't convinced that we would get any. I used wet cardboard on top too instead of a plank of wood, which some also suggest. We haven't had many as it is a small container about 3 ft wide but i think it is a fun thing to do and great for the kids to go out every 2-3 weeks and sprinkle some seeds down!
Been there with the big ones!! 9 time out of 10 you can harvest-to-thin by pulling the biggest greens which will have the biggest baby carrots...but sometimes you get that giant one with like a shriveled up taproot, LOL! As for the tops..wow, they even SMELL just like celery sometimes! Wet cardboard is genius.....no question it works pretty much every time!!!
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Yes i was a bit disappointed as the top was thumb size too. This plastic free standing container is about 3ft high about a foot deep. It comes with a cold frame lid, with adjustable vents so it sowed some mid Nov and then late Feb. No slug or snail damage but the ants and woodlouse/ rolly polly's liked being in there. I think the ants were attracted to white aphids funnily enough on that same carrot plant but again i think the wet weather and me spraying it kept the white aphids down. When it got hot in June i put in 4 canes and used clothes pegs to peg up an old net curtain around it to any more getting in there too as i heard carrot fly was a thing that can spread if they can smell them. We did build the frame in the end for the main bit and finally bought mesh but it was too late and i also forgot to buy mesh clips. No point in buying polytunnel plastic as it is far to warm and humid here. It is so high now that it trips off our smoke alarms in the house! The top two floors are interlinked now with the conversion, so it is hard to know which one is setting it off but we replaced the backup batteries to be sure. It went off at 3.30 am last night and we also woke up to no hot water as the pressure dropped to the low pressure and the very low, below avg temps this year. Quite simple to fix but we had to visit my Dad for birthday and pick up the family friend. Veggie packs and home made preserves are the best easiest pressies too for people who don't want anything for their birthday. My Dad is diabetic, so we gave the jar of rhubarb, orange and ginger jam to his friend, who had a birthday a few days earlier. Have you been affected by the wildfires much? It has been really awful watching the news of how big it has got.
@@AnyKeyLadyOh yes, the wildfires are just insane this year. We're on Vancouver Island at the southern tip, so fairly fortunate to have just little ones here. But smoke everywhere right now.
Hello Jeff ❤😊. Thank you so much for this wonderful video 😊. We have never had any luck growing carrots 🥕 because we have wireworm in our soil. Now thanks to you, we are going to use old water bottles and raised beds with fresh new soil😊. I love carrots 🥕 so much, but the shop bought ones are yucky. I only use them in stews. Your storage ideas were fantastic. The tops and root ends are always on them when I buy them. From now on, until mine are ready to pick, I will cut the tops and bottoms off to store. I learned off another site to do this with radishes. Will it work the same with beetroot until I am ready to pickle? Once again, thank you 😊❤😊.
@TheRipeTomatoFarms hi. Yes. It's the last month of spring here in the south island of New Zealand but it's still very cold. We're late with all our planting because of it.
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms not that I know of. There are holes in some potatoes. There is a grub that is yellow with a black head. There are hundreds of them. We don't know what they are.
I like to use the dirt from the mole hills, it's very fine. I'm wondering how I can overwinter carrots in Saskatchewan as I would like to harvest seeds the following year. I should mention the the moles don't eat my vegetables just bugs.
My garden got off to a great start but between cutworms, squirrels and racoons it has been a challenging year. Parsnips are doing great, tomatoes are good, 2 rounds off the bell peppers and still going strong, plus the carrots are just starting to grow nicely (rainbow and regular are both about 3 inches tall now). Now if I can keep the racoons off the pumpkins, I'll have a great fall harvest. lol Poor plants must think they are in Alcatraz I've had to put up so much wire mesh. lol
Chicken wire gardens here in South Florida for me, too! Possums & raccoons. The worst, though was some human varmint who ripped off my Tomato plants & yanked one of the basil's right out! At least the 4 footed critters aren't extra destructive, they just want to eat. Leaving ravaged plants dying in the pots was just mean. 😟
@@patriciatinkey2677 Oh I am so sorry you are dealing with the 2-legged louts! Never understood why people are destructive.....maybe add a good marine battery to all that chicken wire to improve their manners????
My carrots germinated in 4 days her in zone 8b. But im have to mist them everyday since its been 107 average here. I'm hoping they don't turn out bitter. I will plant some back ups in September.
What type of mulch do you use? It looks like shredded pine. And when do you apply in spring? If I apply too early birds scratch in it and make a mess, or scratch up my seeds.
So I can use straw mulch on top of the seeds to help keep moisture in instead of cardboard/wood???? ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ I was gonna try that for my next carrot run too. Question: Can this be done with most seeds? I put straw mulch in all my containers, so it’s be one less step after sprouting. Also, I tried square foot method for carrots… terrible idea for a newb who wants as many carrots as possible. Definitely doing rows then thinning next time ❤❤❤
Hey great question. For compost, I always just make my own. I'll cut it with coco-fiber 50/50 to expand it and make it go further, but I don't buy compost anymore.
I noticed my carrots plants are getting few. Seemingly dying out. Upon closer inspection I notice grey little insect at the bottom and on the stems). Won’t make sense to spray them off. So thinking mixing dish soap, vinegar, baking powder and bit of oil to spray and see.
Definitely is a thing. Beets too. Kale as well. The plants send sugars to the cells as natural anti-freezes as soon as the temperature dips. Its for sure a thing! 🙂
I planted my Nantes carrots in mid June, I have foliage but I'm not seeing any orange tops yet! I had no idea they took so long to get to the baby stage😢
I have a question, so if you start carrots in a seeding humidity box, can you replant them into a bigger space? Orr just go for the big space is there another way I can contact you to ask you some other things
I became allergic to carrots from harvesting the seeds. I remember being nauseous twice while playing with the flowers and collecting the seeds. Later eating the carrots made my throat close up a bit and I also broke out in a nasty rash/flushing episode. Maybe it’s just my body but I recommend a mask.
You can naturally 'become allergic' to nearly anything, even things you've handled and eaten your entire life then one day, you're allergic. This happens more often than you'd think and sounds like what happened here. The allergy to carrots would have occurred in time no doubt whether you'd handled the flowers/seeds or not and wouldn't have been caused purely as a result of contact with the seed/flower.
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms I always knew it could happen (before I was a homesteader I was a bioengineer with a good deal of immunology experience) but I got to experience the phenomenon first hand when I was around 30. I'd taken amoxicillan throughout my life for bacterial infections and was taking a ten day course for whatever reason at the time, was 6 days in and woke up the seventh to take my dose and went into anaphylaxis. I've gradually developed severe allergies to sulpha based antibiotics as well, another that I'd utilized throughout my life with no issues until the day I did.
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms I am still figuring it out. Yes cooked carrots made me super flush. I want to see if time away from the field helps with severity? I’m going to give it a few months and nibble one one to see how my body reacts. Benedryl at hand!!
You forgot to tell people how to store them in the root cellar. We tried using sawdust, some folks use sand. We would cut the greens off but not the top of the carrot, then we would put a layer of the moist sawdust a layer of carrots then sawdust and repeat till your box or bin is full. I didn't try the moist sand method. I thought it might be too hard to clean off. I will try it someday though.
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms that's like asking who i like more my mother or my father lol. i've been growing things since before u were born; practice makes perfect. while i typically successfully grow several varieties of tomato, hot pepper, fresh herbs and other vegetables, i was most famous for my 700 sq ft raised bed flower garden in ct. people changed the way they drove home from work to look at it. i am much more limited in nc in a rental home. but i'll tell u my favorite food i've grown. nothing beats a ripe tomato warm from the sun. it is the stuff of legends.
I know Wendy! I trialed it for years with peas and radishes....thicker and thicker. Eventually tried it on beets and carrots and now I'll never NOT use it!
It looked to me that you still had too many not thinned enough. I used to plant a few radish seeds in the same row to mark the row since carrots take so long to sprout and to help in the thinning process. The radishes were finished in a month when the carrots were just getting started. My soil was too hard , so my carrots grew like ginseng with lots of legs. Next time I will add more potting soil or nice compost.
Yup, that's the idea.... The row is always in a state of needing to be thinned.... So I can ALWAYS harvest a carrot as needed, every day. When I was growing for market, of course this wouldn't work because I needed uniform size.... But for the backyard gardener it's brilliant because you can extend harvest for weeks with no wastage and no storage needs
I answered and said, "If I have found favor in thy sight, O Lord, show this also to thy servant: whether after death, as soon as every one of us yields up his soul, we shall be kept in rest until those times come when thou wilt renew the creation, or whether we shall be tormented at once?" 76 He answered me and said, "I will show you that also, but do not be associated with those who have shown scorn, nor number yourself among those who are tormented. 77 For you have a treasure of works laid up with the Most High; but it will not be shown to you until the last times. 78 Now, concerning death, the teaching is: When the decisive decree has gone forth from the Most High that a man shall die, as the spirit leaves the body to return again to him who gave it, first of all it adores the glory of the Most High. 79 And if it is one of those who have shown scorn and have not kept the way of the Most High, and who have despised his law, and who have hated those who fear the Most High -- 80 such spirits shall not enter into habitations, but shall immediately wander about in torments, ever grieving and sad, in seven ways. 81 The first way, because they have scorned the law of the Most High. 82 The second way, because they cannot now make a good repentance that they may live. 83 The third way, they shall see the reward laid up for those who have trusted the covenants of the Most High. 84 The fourth way, they shall consider the torment laid up for themselves in the last days. 85 The fifth way, they shall see how the habitations of the others are guarded by angels in profound quiet. 86 The sixth way, they shall see how some of them will pass over into torments. 87 The seventh way, which is worse than all the ways that have been mentioned, because they shall utterly waste away in confusion and be consumed with shame, and shall wither with fear at seeing the glory of the Most High before whom they sinned while they were alive, and before whom they are to be judged in the last times. 88 "Now this is the order of those who have kept the ways of the Most High, when they shall be separated from their mortal body. 89 During the time that they lived in it, they laboriously served the Most High, and withstood danger every hour, that they might keep the law of the Lawgiver perfectly. 90 Therefore this is the teaching concerning them: 91 First of all, they shall see with great joy the glory of him who receives them, for they shall have rest in seven orders. 92 The first order, because they have striven with great effort to overcome the evil thought which was formed with them, that it might not lead them astray from life into death. 93 The second order, because they see the perplexity in which the souls of the ungodly wander, and the punishment that awaits them. 94 The third order, they see the witness which he who formed them bears concerning them, that while they were alive they kept the law which was given them in trust. 95 The fourth order, they understand the rest which they now enjoy, being gathered into their chambers and guarded by angels in profound quiet, and the glory which awaits them in the last days. 96 The fifth order, they rejoice that they have now escaped what is corruptible, and shall inherit what is to come; and besides they see the straits and toil from which they have been delivered, and the spacious liberty which they are to receive and enjoy in immortality. 97 The sixth order, when it is shown to them how their face is to shine like the sun, and how they are to be made like the light of the stars, being incorruptible from then on. 98 The seventh order, which is greater than all that have been mentioned, because they shall rejoice with boldness, and shall be confident without confusion, and shall be glad without fear, for they hasten to behold the face of him whom they served in life and from whom they are to receive their reward when glorified. 99 This is the order of the souls of the righteous, as henceforth is announced; and the aforesaid are the ways of torment which those who would not give heed shall suffer hereafter." 100 I answered and said, "Will time therefore be given to the souls, after they have been separated from the bodies, to see what you have described to me?" 101 He said to me, "They shall have freedom for seven days, so that during these seven days they may see the things of which you have been told, and afterwards they shall be gathered in their habitations." 102 I answered and said, "If I have found favor in thy sight, show further to me, thy servant, whether on the day of judgment the righteous will be able to intercede for the ungodly or to entreat the Most High for them, 103 fathers for sons or sons for parents, brothers for brothers, relatives for their kinsmen, or friends for those who are most dear." 104 He answered me and said, "Since you have found favor in my sight, I will show you this also. The day of judgment is decisive and displays to all the seal of truth. Just as now a father does not send his son, or a son his father, or a master his servant, or a friend his dearest friend, to be ill or sleep or eat or be healed in his stead, 105 so no one shall ever pray for another on that day, neither shall any one lay a burden on another; for then every one shall bear his own righteousness and unrighteousness." 2 Esdras 2:31 '''''''''''''
If you're just starting out gardening in 2023, please check out my Amazon Affiliate links below to get the right tools for the job! It doesn't cost you a cent, but this channel receives a small incentive for any items purchase through Amazon. Happy Gardening!
Seedling Trays!
Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3xiKAgi
Amazon USA: amzn.to/3DWD2DR
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3RRlrCQ
pH/Water/Light Meter
Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3yafmrV
Amazon USA: amzn.to/3OKRW30
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3nvEIM4
Composting Tumbler!
Amazon Canada: amzn.to/39CgtYw
Amazon USA: amzn.to/39Dha49
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3yLsKVf
Handy 12-piece Garden Tool Set!:
Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3jsNIyk
Amazon USA: amzn.to/2YZhFwx
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3qapNql
Hand Pruners:
Amazon Canada: amzn.to/2YSIFxP
Amazon USA: amzn.to/3q3Oftq
Amazon UK: amzn.to/2YR3Xf8
Watering Can:
Amazon Canada: amzn.to/39U4nIc
Amazon USA: amzn.to/2YR3p94
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3oX7hAa
Spray Gun:
Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3aBxijm
Amazon USA: amzn.to/3aL7UHS
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3ruol1Z
Gardening Gloves:
Amazon Canada: amzn.to/2Lt6ZDx
Amazon USA: amzn.to/3tzJ32t
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3jpf1cU
Way to go Jeff, i made the mistake of letting my four year old son, help daddy to pick a few carrots. His first one was a really big one so i said that will do us. About a week later i noticed all the green leaves were dying, so i picked one and it was so loose in the soil, it was like it had been picked already and put back into the ground. You can guess what had happened? My little gardener friend had checked them all out to see if he could get a bigger one than the first. Hahahaha twenty years later I still remind him of this day.
OMG Kev....been there every year for the last 4 years!!! They STILL don't understand that once you pick 'em, that's it, no more growing. Sigh....so many wasted carrots, LOL!
Hi Jeff, here is my favorite recipe for the green:
Ingredients:
- Greens from 2-3 carrots (washed and roughly chopped)
- 1/3 cup nuts (such as pine nuts, walnuts, or almonds)
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese
- 1 garlic clove (peeled)
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Toast the nuts:
- Lightly toast the nuts in a pan without oil until fragrant and golden brown. Be careful not to burn them. Then set aside and let them cool.
2. Prepare carrot greens:
- Allow the roughly chopped carrot green leaves to drain in a sieve and shake them slightly to remove excess water.
3. Make the pesto:
- In a blender or food processor, combine the toasted nuts, grated cheese, garlic clove, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Blend the ingredients until coarsely chopped.
4. Add carrot greens:
- Add the drained carrot greens to the mixture and continue blending until all the ingredients are well combined.
5. Add olive oil:
- While the blender is running, slowly pour in the olive oil until the pesto reaches the desired consistency. You can use more or less olive oil depending on how creamy you like the pesto.
6. Taste and season:
- Taste the pesto and add salt, pepper, or more lemon juice as needed to balance the flavors.
7. Serve and store the pesto:
- The carrot green pesto can be used as a pasta sauce, on crostini, as a spread, or as a condiment. You can also store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days or freeze it in ice cube trays for later use.
Greetings from Germany 🙂
Thank you so much for this recipe 😊. I love carrots 🥕 but have never grown them successfully because of wire worm in our soil. Thanks to Jeff's advice and your recipe, things are going to be alot different from now on ❤😊❤.
Thanks Jeff. You're a wealth of gardening knowledge.
Appreciate that, thanks so much for watching. 🙂
hi 🤗
i sprinkle chopped carrot greens in my rice when i cook it to add to savory dishes-really brings out a light, fresh and very slightly sweet-ish flavor (but not "sugary"). try it! tfs
Thanks for the tip! 😊🙏🏾
I had carrots that overwintered in the greenhouse and then went to flower this year because I let them grow too long. I haven't checked if the taproot is still edible, but at least I got some seeds out of them, and the pollinators appreciated the flowers. The best way to get seeds though is to replant carrot tops.
Yup, I quite like the flowers hey? Very elegant looking. Unfortunately, no dice on the taproots, they'll be inedible at this point.
My first ever carrots are growing great in a 30 gallon grow bag. Timely video, as always! 👍🏻
I grow mine in 25 gallon grow bags! (Zone 7a New England)
Great, glad to hear! Love the grow bags!! 🙂
Year 4 for me, w/ 7 gal. for tomato, 5 gal for pepper, 25 gal for carrot, onions, potato, 10 gal. for squash and cukes
@@gregbluefinstudios4658 25 gallon is just insane!! Like how big of a diameter is that across??
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms About 3 ft across.
this video is me planting my Potato in them. I started it at the 24 second mark where you can see the size. th-cam.com/video/Uxjn95ass1U/w-d-xo.html
We freeze our carrot greens in olive oil in ice trays, our favorite thing to do with them, slice a fresh tomato and lightly toast in a skillet with the olive oil cubes containing the carrot greens, add whatever other seasoning you like. We add these tomatoes to sandwiches, toast, or even as a replacement for the sauce in homemade pizza, just layer the toasted tomatoes on the bottom and add cheese and toppings.
Love it!
All sounds good, but we've had our best harvests of carrots using square foot gardening
using pelleted seed. Mix some Espoma, veg and tomato fertilizer (3-5-6) into the soil,
moisten deeply, set seeds just into the surface using a 2-3" grid and lightly cover with
compost, potting soil or garden soil. Then lightly moisten the soil. (heavy mist)
Planting on a 2" grid will result in 288 carrots in a 2x4' bed. 128 on a 3" grid.
Harvest these carrots by pulling every other carrot. The grid planting also allows you to
easily see any spaces that don't germinate to be replanted. We plant pelleted Bolero
variety from Johnny's. It's seems it's easier to reseed than thinning.
We also plant a second bed to use up the seeds left over when we pull our Garlic, mid
July, and leave them to grow well into October, early November watching the weather.
The pellet clay coating makes them easy to plant and holds moisture to help keep the
seed moist, so better germination. We've experienced 90 %+ with these seeds.
TYFS Jeff
'
He speaks very well, has patience, and is clear. I really enjoyed listening. He was informative about every aspect of growing carrots. Excellent.
Thanks Jeff! Glad you're doing well.
I think with such details we should all grow good carrots.
Hi Jeff. I'm so grateful for you making this easy to follow video. I wasn't sure when to thin. I've been doing it the same way you just explained. I didn't want waste so I waited. I'm wondering if I've done it earlier if they could be transplanted. At least the strong looking, of course. Being here visiting my grandchildren, they are catching on quickly. I give them a container, let them fill with soil, then seed. Have them water. Even the 4 year old. The kindergarten 5 yr. old I have water before school. My granddaughter 11 doesn't need reminding. Well, enough bragging about my grand babies. Thanks so much. See you on the next. Take care, and God bless ❤
How nice you can how carrots this time a year. Our summers are to hot but we can grow all fall winter and spring
Nice! What varieties do you like?
Thanks Jeffe! Central coast zone 9,🌊☀️ I’ve been using your harvest-to-thin method with my carrots all year! We just used the carrots along with herbs from the garden for our chicken noodle soup Friday ❤️💪😎, it’s very rewarding and satisfying to eat what we grow! That you for the helpful vids 💓🌱🌿🥕😘
Right on mama!! Any use for the tops? Do they go in the soups/stews as well?
I'm in 9B. Have you noticed a significant difference in taste/sweetness with carrots that mature in warmer weather vs cooler temps? Thanks
@@ObsessiveAboutCats Hi amanda, normally the cooler ones are sweeter...but for some reason, even during the heat waves, the carrot taste has been unreal this year!
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms yes! 😆 chop them up and also throw them in the soup! 🥕0 waste 💪😎💓🥕🌱🌿
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms yesss! They, still taste delicious throughout the year, pleasantly surprised,🤷♀️
This is perfect, I have two small rows of carrots about a week and a half old and a few more rounds almost ready to pick in containers
Right on zach, what zone are you growing in?
Don't forget they pickle beautifully! (Especially with a little garlic and jalapeno! 😉)
Now THAT I have to try!
Appreciate the summary at the end of the videos with so much information 👍🏻
Thanks elizabeth, it really does help. For me too....just a recap to make sure I don't forget anything! 🙂
AND we had carrots 🥕 for dinner 😄
@@elizabethshumanski2659 Ha ha elizabeth, same!! Raw in the salad and grilled!
we're a bit too late for carrots now. living vicariously through your videos, Jeff! I still have a big batch growing but only 6-7 weeks to frost! Radish and lettuce time LOL
Wow that comes fast Dave! How was the year overall?
Thank you brother! God bless stay safe
Thanks so much for watching!
It is hot here so we should plant carrots this month!
Yes, get a great germination rate and a head start heading into fall!! 🙂
Amazing information again. Always come to you for information I can easily digest and share with carers and family.
Thank you
Thank so much cheryl, that means a lot! 🙂
Great information. As always another fabulous video, filled with knowledge.
Thanks elizabeth....means a lot! 🙂
Just planted my fall carrots last week!
Perfect timing! What varities?
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Cosmic Purple, Rainbow Blend and I plan on starting some Royal Chantenay this weekend!🥕🥕🥕
This has helped me so much! Thank you!
Cheers, happy to hear that! 🙂
Oh by the way I'm in Washago Ontario. Zone 5b, thank you for all your amazing videos Jeff.
Nice! You got a frost date coming up pretty soon eh?
Best tutorial I've seen on carrots. Thanks, Jeff! Re what to do with those tops: I make a chimmichurri (sp?) sauce. Don't have a recipe handy, but you can Google ideas. Batches are freezable.........and deelish!
Thanks maureen!!! Is that sauce like a salsa verde? Or more zip to it? Sounds absolutely delish!!!
It's more of a condiment. It's usually made with parsley, olive oil, garlic, spices &. perhaps cilantro blended up like pesto. Traditionally from Argentina used to top their beef, but can be used as a topper on almost any meat or fish. Lots of recipes out there!@@TheRipeTomatoFarms
Awesome video, thank you ❤
Cheers leeanne...thanks so much for watching! 🙂
I have never had much luck growing carrots, but I'm giving them another shot this year. They have started to sprout, so I'm hopeful that this will be the year for a successful harvest!! :) I love your harvesting to thin idea. I don't have the heart to thin plants, so that's a great compromise. Thanks for all the tips!
Right on Lisa, positive thoughts that this time is different! And yes, the harvest to thin really does work... I did it with beets this year too!
THANK-YOU! As usual, you are perfectly on time! I was just thinking of planting carrots. With your help, I'm sure my next harvest will be better than my last one. Happy thoughts to you from South Florida!
Right on Patricia! Best of luck!
Thanks Jeff! Great to know the length sizes, although i did have one with a massive top but when we pulled it out it had obviously was bolting and the carrot was small and woody! Tops were great though. Lol At least we know now what to look for if the odd carrot prefers to just grow leaves as the base of the greens get quite thick .
I use the carrot tops and greens as a substitute for celery in making veg stocks that then can be used in stews, soups or gravy. I would have them in a salad too but the others don't like the celery taste. It is lovely also with boiled egg, chives or spring onion(scallions) and salad cream.
First time successfully germinating carrots this year, probably because of the wet weather we have had and it is in a free standing raised bed on legs. It's quite exciting doing a carrot reveal to see what you are going to get!
I think one lesson i have learnt growing carrots, is that when i reset the bed, i will till the soil more and add some sand as initially i had to bulk out the tub by filling the legs with pebbles and putting in some twigs and cardboard. It should have broken down a bit now, so i can also add some more compost now we have some too. I think we were short on it at the time of setting it up and i wasn't convinced that we would get any. I used wet cardboard on top too instead of a plank of wood, which some also suggest. We haven't had many as it is a small container about 3 ft wide but i think it is a fun thing to do and great for the kids to go out every 2-3 weeks and sprinkle some seeds down!
Been there with the big ones!! 9 time out of 10 you can harvest-to-thin by pulling the biggest greens which will have the biggest baby carrots...but sometimes you get that giant one with like a shriveled up taproot, LOL! As for the tops..wow, they even SMELL just like celery sometimes!
Wet cardboard is genius.....no question it works pretty much every time!!!
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Yes i was a bit disappointed as the top was thumb size too. This plastic free standing container is about 3ft high about a foot deep. It comes with a cold frame lid, with adjustable vents so it sowed some mid Nov and then late Feb. No slug or snail damage but the ants and woodlouse/ rolly polly's liked being in there. I think the ants were attracted to white aphids funnily enough on that same carrot plant but again i think the wet weather and me spraying it kept the white aphids down. When it got hot in June i put in 4 canes and used clothes pegs to peg up an old net curtain around it to any more getting in there too as i heard carrot fly was a thing that can spread if they can smell them.
We did build the frame in the end for the main bit and finally bought mesh but it was too late and i also forgot to buy mesh clips. No point in buying polytunnel plastic as it is far to warm and humid here.
It is so high now that it trips off our smoke alarms in the house! The top two floors are interlinked now with the conversion, so it is hard to know which one is setting it off but we replaced the backup batteries to be sure. It went off at 3.30 am last night and we also woke up to no hot water as the pressure dropped to the low pressure and the very low, below avg temps this year. Quite simple to fix but we had to visit my Dad for birthday and pick up the family friend.
Veggie packs and home made preserves are the best easiest pressies too for people who don't want anything for their birthday. My Dad is diabetic, so we gave the jar of rhubarb, orange and ginger jam to his friend, who had a birthday a few days earlier.
Have you been affected by the wildfires much? It has been really awful watching the news of how big it has got.
@@AnyKeyLadyOh yes, the wildfires are just insane this year. We're on Vancouver Island at the southern tip, so fairly fortunate to have just little ones here. But smoke everywhere right now.
Helpful topic thanks. Can the grow bag come into the greenhouse for late fall.
Thanks Sheryl! Yes, it definitely can, but I pull all carrots before winter truly hits. 🙂
I love your channel. It's full of knowledge and your voice reminds me of the fun science videos we used to watch in school. 🥰❤
This is great information - love the thin to harvest idea!!!
Thanks Michele, me too! :-)
If put plant seeds in the soil before putting compost on top as mulch, can i put the compost on top before the seeds sprout up?
Should be no problem there....just not too deep...carrot seeds are sown very shallow!
Love your videos! Is composting the tops a good idea?
Definitely bryce! The tops make excellent compost!
👍Great info! Thanks!
Cheers margaret, thanks for watching! 🙂
Hello Jeff ❤😊. Thank you so much for this wonderful video 😊. We have never had any luck growing carrots 🥕 because we have wireworm in our soil. Now thanks to you, we are going to use old water bottles and raised beds with fresh new soil😊. I love carrots 🥕 so much, but the shop bought ones are yucky. I only use them in stews. Your storage ideas were fantastic. The tops and root ends are always on them when I buy them. From now on, until mine are ready to pick, I will cut the tops and bottoms off to store. I learned off another site to do this with radishes. Will it work the same with beetroot until I am ready to pickle? Once again, thank you 😊❤😊.
Right on Carol! You going to be planting them this spring?
Do the wire worms attack any other crops? Potatoes?
@TheRipeTomatoFarms hi. Yes. It's the last month of spring here in the south island of New Zealand but it's still very cold. We're late with all our planting because of it.
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms not that I know of. There are holes in some potatoes. There is a grub that is yellow with a black head. There are hundreds of them. We don't know what they are.
@@carolblackler9386 yeah, such crazy weather worldwide.... You must be excited to get the season going!
I like to use the dirt from the mole hills, it's very fine. I'm wondering how I can overwinter carrots in Saskatchewan as I would like to harvest seeds the following year. I should mention the the moles don't eat my vegetables just bugs.
My garden got off to a great start but between cutworms, squirrels and racoons it has been a challenging year. Parsnips are doing great, tomatoes are good, 2 rounds off the bell peppers and still going strong, plus the carrots are just starting to grow nicely (rainbow and regular are both about 3 inches tall now). Now if I can keep the racoons off the pumpkins, I'll have a great fall harvest. lol Poor plants must think they are in Alcatraz I've had to put up so much wire mesh. lol
Chicken wire gardens here in South Florida for me, too! Possums & raccoons. The worst, though was some human varmint who ripped off my Tomato plants & yanked one of the basil's right out! At least the 4 footed critters aren't extra destructive, they just want to eat. Leaving ravaged plants dying in the pots was just mean. 😟
Loved your comment, it did make me laugh! Thanks. 😀
@@patriciatinkey2677 Oh I am so sorry you are dealing with the 2-legged louts! Never understood why people are destructive.....maybe add a good marine battery to all that chicken wire to improve their manners????
@@patriciatinkey2677 Laughter is the best medicine.....especially in the garden. 😎
My carrots germinated in 4 days her in zone 8b. But im have to mist them everyday since its been 107 average here. I'm hoping they don't turn out bitter. I will plant some back ups in September.
Oh wow, 4 days??? That's so fast! But then again, 107F is ridiculously hot!
Hi, I am in zone 7, east coast, can I still plant carrots like rt now in late August, say in a raised garden bed with a drain spout ?
I think you can for sure if you get started ASAP. Best of luck!! 🙂
This was awesome. Is there a reason you cut the top of and not just the green. I feel like this is a stupid question but I'm new to all this 😊😅
What type of mulch do you use? It looks like shredded pine. And when do you apply in spring? If I apply too early birds scratch in it and make a mess, or scratch up my seeds.
Yeah, birds really are a nuisance. The mulch I use is clean straw.
I live in Western Kentucky -
Can I plant Nantes variety in late July early August?
So I can use straw mulch on top of the seeds to help keep moisture in instead of cardboard/wood???? ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ I was gonna try that for my next carrot run too.
Question: Can this be done with most seeds? I put straw mulch in all my containers, so it’s be one less step after sprouting.
Also, I tried square foot method for carrots… terrible idea for a newb who wants as many carrots as possible. Definitely doing rows then thinning next time ❤❤❤
What kind of compost do you use Jeff? Thanks brother
Hey great question. For compost, I always just make my own. I'll cut it with coco-fiber 50/50 to expand it and make it go further, but I don't buy compost anymore.
I noticed my carrots plants are getting few. Seemingly dying out. Upon closer inspection I notice grey little insect at the bottom and on the stems). Won’t make sense to spray them off. So thinking mixing dish soap, vinegar, baking powder and bit of oil to spray and see.
Thank you for infos
what is this straw that you use for mulch? do you buy a specific brand?
I've read to let your last carrot to finish off after the first frost to become sweeter. What are your thoughts on that?
Definitely is a thing. Beets too. Kale as well. The plants send sugars to the cells as natural anti-freezes as soon as the temperature dips. Its for sure a thing! 🙂
I planted my Nantes carrots in mid June, I have foliage but I'm not seeing any orange tops yet! I had no idea they took so long to get to the baby stage😢
LOVE IT
Thanks! Appreciate it!
Should the small carrots be moved to another plot, or just taken as is, or just discarded?
The tiny tiny ones are just discarded.... The small baby ones are eaten greedily! Lol
I have a question, so if you start carrots in a seeding humidity box, can you replant them into a bigger space? Orr just go for the big space is there another way I can contact you to ask you some other things
Carrot tops are awesome for making soup and stew base, along with other pot herbs.
Agreed!
Great 👍👍
I live in tropical. When should I plant carrot seeds
its impossible
I became allergic to carrots from harvesting the seeds. I remember being nauseous twice while playing with the flowers and collecting the seeds. Later eating the carrots made my throat close up a bit and I also broke out in a nasty rash/flushing episode. Maybe it’s just my body but I recommend a mask.
Oh wow, no way. Never heard of that before todd. So even cooked carrots you can no longer eat?
You can naturally 'become allergic' to nearly anything, even things you've handled and eaten your entire life then one day, you're allergic. This happens more often than you'd think and sounds like what happened here. The allergy to carrots would have occurred in time no doubt whether you'd handled the flowers/seeds or not and wouldn't have been caused purely as a result of contact with the seed/flower.
@@MK-ti2ooVery interesting.....sand a little scary. -_-
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms I always knew it could happen (before I was a homesteader I was a bioengineer with a good deal of immunology experience) but I got to experience the phenomenon first hand when I was around 30. I'd taken amoxicillan throughout my life for bacterial infections and was taking a ten day course for whatever reason at the time, was 6 days in and woke up the seventh to take my dose and went into anaphylaxis. I've gradually developed severe allergies to sulpha based antibiotics as well, another that I'd utilized throughout my life with no issues until the day I did.
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms I am still figuring it out. Yes cooked carrots made me super flush. I want to see if time away from the field helps with severity? I’m going to give it a few months and nibble one one to see how my body reacts. Benedryl at hand!!
You forgot to tell people how to store them in the root cellar. We tried using sawdust, some folks use sand. We would cut the greens off but not the top of the carrot, then we would put a layer of the moist sawdust a layer of carrots then sawdust and repeat till your box or bin is full. I didn't try the moist sand method. I thought it might be too hard to clean off. I will try it someday though.
i never had any luck with root crops. cant be good at everything lol.
I hear you on that rosemary! 🙂
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms thank you, sir. i do enjoy ur vids tremendously. i am famously good at growing most everything else.
@@rosemaryus-ct6151 Ha ha awesome! What's your best, most favorite crop that you've aced backwards and forwards?
@@TheRipeTomatoFarms that's like asking who i like more my mother or my father lol. i've been growing things since before u were born; practice makes perfect. while i typically successfully grow several varieties of tomato, hot pepper, fresh herbs and other vegetables, i was most famous for my 700 sq ft raised bed flower garden in ct. people changed the way they drove home from work to look at it. i am much more limited in nc in a rental home. but i'll tell u my favorite food i've grown. nothing beats a ripe tomato warm from the sun. it is the stuff of legends.
Learn to compost and you will see great results!
If i grow them as a beginner i wont thinning the carrots green i let them grow together whether
there are tubers or not just enjoy growing
@@TheGohbomba they are definitely a nice cover plant.... Especially when healthy and super green!
I'm surprised you added straw. I thought they wouldn't be able to push their way through.
I know Wendy! I trialed it for years with peas and radishes....thicker and thicker. Eventually tried it on beets and carrots and now I'll never NOT use it!
It looked to me that you still had too many not thinned enough. I used to plant a few radish seeds in the same row to mark the row since carrots take so long to sprout and to help in the thinning process. The radishes were finished in a month when the carrots were just getting started. My soil was too hard , so my carrots grew like ginseng with lots of legs. Next time I will add more potting soil or nice compost.
Yup, that's the idea.... The row is always in a state of needing to be thinned.... So I can ALWAYS harvest a carrot as needed, every day. When I was growing for market, of course this wouldn't work because I needed uniform size.... But for the backyard gardener it's brilliant because you can extend harvest for weeks with no wastage and no storage needs
I just subscribe👍
my oh my ... perhaps one minute of info stretched out for a 16:24 video
Do you have a mint video?
carrots 😂😊😂😊😂yummy
Nature's candy!!
😍😍
🙂
Sweat potato’s are the worlds tastiest root crop
Challenge accepted!!
why so many ads today
😊 I made that fertilizing mistake last year not this year 2025
I answered and said, "If I have found favor in thy sight, O Lord, show this also to thy servant: whether after death, as soon as every one of us yields up his soul, we shall be kept in rest until those times come when thou wilt renew the creation, or whether we shall be tormented at once?" 76 He answered me and said, "I will show you that also, but do not be associated with those who have shown scorn, nor number yourself among those who are tormented. 77 For you have a treasure of works laid up with the Most High; but it will not be shown to you until the last times. 78 Now, concerning death, the teaching is: When the decisive decree has gone forth from the Most High that a man shall die, as the spirit leaves the body to return again to him who gave it, first of all it adores the glory of the Most High. 79 And if it is one of those who have shown scorn and have not kept the way of the Most High, and who have despised his law, and who have hated those who fear the Most High -- 80 such spirits shall not enter into habitations, but shall immediately wander about in torments, ever grieving and sad, in seven ways. 81 The first way, because they have scorned the law of the Most High. 82 The second way, because they cannot now make a good repentance that they may live. 83 The third way, they shall see the reward laid up for those who have trusted the covenants of the Most High. 84 The fourth way, they shall consider the torment laid up for themselves in the last days. 85 The fifth way, they shall see how the habitations of the others are guarded by angels in profound quiet. 86 The sixth way, they shall see how some of them will pass over into torments. 87 The seventh way, which is worse than all the ways that have been mentioned, because they shall utterly waste away in confusion and be consumed with shame, and shall wither with fear at seeing the glory of the Most High before whom they sinned while they were alive, and before whom they are to be judged in the last times. 88 "Now this is the order of those who have kept the ways of the Most High, when they shall be separated from their mortal body. 89 During the time that they lived in it, they laboriously served the Most High, and withstood danger every hour, that they might keep the law of the Lawgiver perfectly. 90 Therefore this is the teaching concerning them: 91 First of all, they shall see with great joy the glory of him who receives them, for they shall have rest in seven orders. 92 The first order, because they have striven with great effort to overcome the evil thought which was formed with them, that it might not lead them astray from life into death. 93 The second order, because they see the perplexity in which the souls of the ungodly wander, and the punishment that awaits them. 94 The third order, they see the witness which he who formed them bears concerning them, that while they were alive they kept the law which was given them in trust. 95 The fourth order, they understand the rest which they now enjoy, being gathered into their chambers and guarded by angels in profound quiet, and the glory which awaits them in the last days. 96 The fifth order, they rejoice that they have now escaped what is corruptible, and shall inherit what is to come; and besides they see the straits and toil from which they have been delivered, and the spacious liberty which they are to receive and enjoy in immortality. 97 The sixth order, when it is shown to them how their face is to shine like the sun, and how they are to be made like the light of the stars, being incorruptible from then on. 98 The seventh order, which is greater than all that have been mentioned, because they shall rejoice with boldness, and shall be confident without confusion, and shall be glad without fear, for they hasten to behold the face of him whom they served in life and from whom they are to receive their reward when glorified. 99 This is the order of the souls of the righteous, as henceforth is announced; and the aforesaid are the ways of torment which those who would not give heed shall suffer hereafter." 100 I answered and said, "Will time therefore be given to the souls, after they have been separated from the bodies, to see what you have described to me?" 101 He said to me, "They shall have freedom for seven days, so that during these seven days they may see the things of which you have been told, and afterwards they shall be gathered in their habitations." 102 I answered and said, "If I have found favor in thy sight, show further to me, thy servant, whether on the day of judgment the righteous will be able to intercede for the ungodly or to entreat the Most High for them, 103 fathers for sons or sons for parents, brothers for brothers, relatives for their kinsmen, or friends for those who are most dear." 104 He answered me and said, "Since you have found favor in my sight, I will show you this also. The day of judgment is decisive and displays to all the seal of truth. Just as now a father does not send his son, or a son his father, or a master his servant, or a friend his dearest friend, to be ill or sleep or eat or be healed in his stead, 105 so no one shall ever pray for another on that day, neither shall any one lay a burden on another; for then every one shall bear his own righteousness and unrighteousness." 2 Esdras 2:31
'''''''''''''
All my carrots got wiped out by aphids. I didn’t even know they were there since it was under the soil. The soil is still infested! 😬
For some reason unbeknownst unto myself, all my carrots are white.
M'okaay
Thinning is painful to me. Lol