Carrots are one of the easiest vegetables to cultivate, yet it can be tricky knowing when they're at their prime. Many gardeners pick their carrots too soon and end up with bland or tough vegetables; others leave them in too long and end up with woody roots with bitter flavors. Luckily, there are some simple steps you can take to ensure that your carrots reach their sweetest and most flavorful state.
First, review the days-to-harvest listed on your seed packet or online research to get a sense of when to harvest your variety of carrot. Keep in mind this figure is an approximate guide; environmental conditions like temperature and weather can alter its accuracy considerably.
Watch for greens to change to vibrant orange and grow larger; depending on the variety, this usually signals that it's time to harvest carrots. At this stage, thin out any remaining rows so they have adequate room to mature before beginning harvest.
Pull up a carrot to evaluate how it feels; it should be firm to the touch and easy to pull from its soil, with no signs of rot or decay visible. Harvest in the morning as carrots tend to quickly lose moisture once removed from their roots.
