Can you leave carrots in the ground over winter?

Overwintering carrots properly allows you to turn your garden into a year-round food source. Just a few cold-tolerant" varieties, like Napoli & Autumn King, will withstand freezing temperatures, given appropriate protection. The process entails the right timing and insulation methods. I harvest carrots throughout winter in my zone 5b garden, & these strategies work like a charm for me.

Apply insulating mulch when soil temperatures hover near 40°F (4°C). Use straw or shredded leaves 8-10 inches deep, and cover the bed with a blanket. I put wooden boxes around my carrot beds to keep the mulch in place for winter storms. This acts as a windbreak and offers a relatively stable soil temperature.

Harvest during thaw windows, when the soil is soft enough to dig. Use a garden fork a few inches from the carrot root to minimize damage. Plant hardiness zones 6 and above can harvest throughout the winter, while those in colder zones should harvest before the first frost hits, typically below 20°F (-7°C). The cold weather will convert the starch in the carrots to sugars, making them incredibly sweet.

Avoid freeze-thaw freezes. Temperature changes are tough on carrots, as freeze-thaw cycles can create root cracks and lead to rot. Keep an eye on mulch depth, especially after heavy snow or rain. Personally, I have found that placing row covers or similar materials underneath the mulch provides better protection. It's nice to have fresh carrots when all the other produce is off in the garden.

Make the transition to spring slowly. Remove the mulch slowly as temperatures warm up to prevent generating heat spikes. Pull the remaining carrots before you see new green growth this spring. This method adds 4-6 months of harvesting for you, nothing like pulling sweet carrots on the coldest days of winter.

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