greentapestry : A Happy Carrot Moment!

Sunday 23 August 2009

A Happy Carrot Moment!



Yesterday saw one of those magical "Eureka!" moments at the allotment, when I unearthed the first of the 'Yellowstone' carrots. I have been picking some little round 'Parmex' carrots for a while. These were sown into cells in the greenhouse and then transplanted. I sowed 'Yellowstone' though directly into the ground at the allotment. I grew them at the recommendation of The Pigtailed One, aka Bob Flowerdew during a talk we attended back in March. I sowed them sometime in May - as usual I wish I had kept accurate records. Apart from thinning out and the occasional watering I have left them to their own devices. Yesterday I had a delve around in the soul and tried to gently tug one out. Nothing happened - it was anchored firmly, so out came my trowel. The moment of truth - out from the soil emerged a veritable monster of a carrot, unblemished by the dreaded carrot fly. I have lived in trepidation of encountering this invisible creature, especially as I did not protect my carrots with fleece. I have had great fun imagining what a carrot fly looks like in my more idle moments at the lottie. However all was well and although I know that big is not always beautiful, especially when it comes to taste, I was so excited by my harvest.

Sadly there was nobody else around at the lottie for me to show them to at the time, so I just had to jump up and down with a smug look on my face - a sublime happy carrot moment. They were much admired though later in the morning by my plot neighbours - of course by then I had dug another one up. I have not grown carrots before so this could well be beginner's luck but oh respect Pigtailed One ! I only wish that my tomatoes were just as happy but there's a story for another day.

9 comments:

  1. Hurray, hurrah, harroo! I've found carrots to be a rather troublesome crop, so I can well understand your excitement!

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  2. Well done, those are very nice looking carrots.

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  3. Congrats - my veg have been a complete disaster this year so I am really pleased that you have been successful.

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  4. Very impressive. I have little success with carrots - I think the words erratic and disappointment were invented especially for them!

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  5. Gosh what lovely big carrots and lovely coloured sweet peas.

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  6. These are looking so good - mine are all bendy and odd, owing to trying to grow them in stony soil I think. Respect to your carrots (and the pigtailed one, who, say what you like about his hair, really does know his stuff!).

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  7. Anna, LOL, I often jump up and down with a smug look on my face in my own garden! The rest of the contents of the basket look good, too. Are those turnips to the right of the glorious carrots?

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  8. Hi Anna~~ You are definitely a carrot grower. I've been purchasing bunches at the Farmers' Market and they are such a treat!

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All your comments are much appreciated and treasured. I wil try to reply to everyone who leaves a comment, but it may take me a few days, especially when I start spending more time in the garden and at the lottie. I know that you will understand :) I am sure that I will also visit your blog if I have not already done so. If you have any specific questions I will either reply to them here or you can email me at : thegreentapestry@gmail.com

Namasté

- Anna.