[tillytup]

hi, can anyone help me? i have grown lots of carrots and they have turned out lovely. my only problem is that after less than a day out of the soil they go really bendy and can't be eaten. have i missed something i've tried keeping the tops on, cutting them off, putting the carrots in the fridge, leaving them out. not sure why it's happening or what to do. any advise would be greatly appreciated. 

[chris.selvey]

when you take them out of the ground, fill a seed tray with compost and bury them back in there, then very lightly water. The carrots will absorb the the little amount of water and stay strong.

[DD.]

I drop mine in a bucket of water.

Simples.

[strangerachael]

I find that by cutting the leaves off and not washing them they stay fresh for a little bit longer, but they really need to be eaten within a couple of days.

[peapod]

Chris is right for storage, and DD is right for freshening them up.  You can also freshen up lettuce in the same way (use very cold water)

[beansticks]

Just goes to show how much the supermarkets must interfere with them to make them rigid weeks after being harvested.Must be bombarded with all sorts of chemicals.

[peapod]

The 'fresh' carrots Ive bought from asda in the last few months have literally rotted within two days.  Frozen for me until mine are ready (hopefully next week)

[DD.]

"Storage" for me is defined as one day - max!

[LivvyW]

I wash and top my carrots. Then put them in a plastic ziploc bag, and keep them in the bottom of the fridge. They stay crisp for days. Works with most veg including lettuce.

Wouldn't be without them now.  Wash and re-use them of course

[Bombers]

Carrotts to cooker...... 30 foot away. Pull as required. Simples.

[The Norfolk Turkey]

DD you dont keep them in the water though, do you?Just checking?! Was going to put ours in compost - how much is 'a little water'?

[tillytup]

thankyou all. i think i'll go with the bucket of water and eat them sooner. 

[Muddylou]

I wash and top my carrots. Then put them in a plastic ziploc bag, and keep them in the bottom of the fridge. They stay crisp for days. Works with most veg including lettuce.

Wouldn't be without them now.  Wash and re-use them of course

That's what we do with our veg Livvy, on other threads I've just said I store the veg in bags and it keeps for a long time, I should have mentioned that they were ziploc bags.
            Hadn't thought about reusing them before, but will now, so thanks. 

[DD.]

DD you dont keep them in the water though, do you?Just checking?! Was going to put ours in compost - how much is 'a little water'?

As I said - that's only for a day or so, as a fresh supply is brought in as and when I need them.

I don't store carrots at all, this thread may give an insight.

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=42311.0

As for how much water - just enough to cover the root - and I'll just repeat - this is not for long term!