how can you tell?

feel very silly asking this but I've never grown carrots or parsnips before,how can you tell when they're ready?the carrots look a bit pathetic and their orange  tops are just starting to show above the surface.

Another slight clue is a) when did you plant them? Or... b) how long have they been in the ground?

Some people prefer their carrots very tender and tiny while others like to leave them to get to a good size.

The alternative is, either early morning or late evening to avoid attracting carrot fly, pull a few and see.

Look for the biggest orange root tops you can see and gently tease them out. Pick those that seem crowded (thinning out) to give the others a chance to grow on and get bigger.

Firm the soil down again to prevent those left in the ground from drying out and also to discourage those rotten little, low flying carrot fly from smelling them as they belt about in the warmer parts of the day.