Can carrots survive winter growing conditions?

To successfully overwinter carrots, it is essential to understand their cold tolerance limits and take proper preparation. Some varieties, including Napoli, tolerate frost surprisingly well with proper protection. The trick is proper mulching and timing. I have harvested carrots all winter in zone 5b with these techniques.

Before the first hard frost, prepare your carrots. When soils reach about 40°F (4°C), apply heavy mulch. (8-10 inches of straw or shredded leaves covering the entire bed). The heavy layers insulate the soil and will prevent it from freezing solid. I like to put wooden boards around beds to contain the mulch after winter winds.

You can harvest frozen overwintered carrots when the ground thaws and becomes soft. Use a digging fork carefully, keeping it away from the carrot's roots to prevent damage. You can harvest from Zone 5+ gardens all winter long. Still, for cooler zones, it is best to harvest before freezing temperatures, which are typically deeply below 20°F (-7°C). The cold causes carrots to sweeten through the conversion of some starch to sugars.

Guard your crop against freeze-thaw cycles. These fluctuations can cause damage and decay to your produce. Keep mulch uniform, checking after storms. Personally, I've found that row covers below the mulch provide extra protection. The payoff is sweet, earthy carrots when other garden bounty is limited.

Spring presents fresh complications. Rake away the mulch slowly as the temperature rises. Refrain from sudden snow removal to avoid a sudden spike in heat. Fry up your last carrots right before they start to grow again in the spring. This would give you 3-5 months of additional carrot harvest. Shaking fresh carrots in the middle of winter is unparalleled.

Read the full article: When to Plant Carrots: Expert Growing Guide