When to harvest carrots and how heat affects the timing

Along with potatoes and onions, carrots are one of the most popular and healthy vegetable crops in the world. It is known for its rich content of vitamins and minerals and sweetish flavor.

In recent years, climate change and rising temperatures have taken over the world, so gardeners are wondering whether the ripening time of carrots has changed. OBOZ.UA tells how to understand that the vegetable needs to be dug up.

Factors affecting the timing of carrot harvesting

Harvesting carrots depends on several key factors:

• Variety. Different varieties have different ripening periods. Early varieties may be ready for harvest as early as 65 days after sowing, while later varieties may take up to 130 days.
• Climatic conditions. Rising temperatures can affect the growth rate and quality of the crop.
• Shelf life. Before digging up carrots, think about whether you will consume the harvest immediately or want to store it longer.

When to harvest carrots

As a rule, carrots are harvested in Ukraine from September to the end of October. The main thing is to be in time before the frosts begin because their impact can cause root rot.

Early varieties can be harvested starting in mid-summer.

How to tell if a carrot is ripe

In order to understand whether the carrots are ripe, you can dig up one vegetable and evaluate it visually. Another sign of ripeness is the yellowing of the middle and lower leaves and the condition of the roots. If the roots are cracked, you need to harvest them as soon as possible.

How to harvest carrots correctly

Choose a dry, cool, and clear day for harvesting. You should dig up the carrots with a shovel or pitchfork but do so carefully so as not to damage them.

After you have harvested the entire crop, you should leave it in the garden to dry for several hours, and then remove the soil that stuck to the vegetables with your hands and cut off the tops so that 0.5-1.5 cm long tails remain.

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