For me all the effort to grow them is about the fresh taste though. Not sure if they keep their goodness if frozen? One of the things that got me into doing the veg plot was buying 'fresh' carrots that kept disintegrating even in the fridge if they were not eaten within a couple of days. It made me think they couldn't be all that 'fresh'. Mine last well over a week from the garden in the fridge, though usually I like 'em fresh out of the ground.
I do very much agree with Gemma JF but with carrots it appears to me as soon as you dig some up the damned carrot fly attacks unless you have got heavy duty fleece or they are fenced off with insect proof netting , so I thinking if you have not got that protection better to dig them all up
The RHS say that you can leave the carrots in the ground until needed [so long as they are protected with fleece or mesh, of course] or stored in wooden boxes filled with damp sand.
I read last night that growing carrots with onions helps both the onions and the carrots regarding root fly. I had done this without knowing it was a benefit. Trouble is the onions were out of the ground and hung up ages ago!
I'm with you GWRS, the problem is there so it is about being practical. I had no problems earlier in the year (perhaps because of the onions). So it is either prevent the little &***$ getting to them, or take their carrots away from them in the Autumn and store in boxes I think I'll try making up a box for next year and see how both methods work. If they do get to them in the ground again, I might have some left in the box.
Still main thing is we know our enemy! A few days ago I hadn't even heard of them, so I'm thankful of the knowledge from the forum
I don't know, black keeled slugs, carrot root flies, it feels like I'm getting involved in a war lol.
Slugs, snails, carrot fly, onion fly, flee beetle, cabbage white, crows, sparrows, rabbits, badgers - and if you are really unfortunate - deer. These blighters are only doing what is natural to them, and they were here long before us, but it is difficult not to take it personally.
As for carrot fly, many of the 'old hands' on my allotment, having used all the traditional deterrents such as chives, onions and marigolds, with no success, have given up even trying. I think it is a case of once you have them in any given area, like club root, you are stuck with them !
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For me all the effort to grow them is about the fresh taste though. Not sure if they keep their goodness if frozen? One of the things that got me into doing the veg plot was buying 'fresh' carrots that kept disintegrating even in the fridge if they were not eaten within a couple of days. It made me think they couldn't be all that 'fresh'.
Mine last well over a week from the garden in the fridge, though usually I like 'em fresh out of the ground. 
I do very much agree with Gemma JF but with carrots it appears to me as soon as you dig some up the damned carrot fly attacks unless you have got heavy duty fleece or they are fenced off with insect proof netting , so I thinking if you have not got that protection better to dig them all up
sounds defeatist but practical
The RHS say that you can leave the carrots in the ground until needed [so long as they are protected with fleece or mesh, of course] or stored in wooden boxes filled with damp sand.
Thanks Mel M.
I read last night that growing carrots with onions helps both the onions and the carrots regarding root fly. I had done this without knowing it was a benefit. Trouble is the onions were out of the ground and hung up ages ago!
I'm with you GWRS, the problem is there so it is about being practical. I had no problems earlier in the year (perhaps because of the onions). So it is either prevent the little &***$ getting to them, or take their carrots away from them in the Autumn and store in boxes
I think I'll try making up a box for next year and see how both methods work. If they do get to them in the ground again, I might have some left in the box.
Still main thing is we know our enemy! A few days ago I hadn't even heard of them, so I'm thankful of the knowledge from the forum
I don't know, black keeled slugs, carrot root flies, it feels like I'm getting involved in a war lol.
Slugs, snails, carrot fly, onion fly, flee beetle, cabbage white, crows, sparrows, rabbits, badgers - and if you are really unfortunate - deer. These blighters are only doing what is natural to them, and they were here long before us, but it is difficult not to take it personally.
As for carrot fly, many of the 'old hands' on my allotment, having used all the traditional deterrents such as chives, onions and marigolds, with no success, have given up even trying. I think it is a case of once you have them in any given area, like club root, you are stuck with them !