Carrots and Weeds

Hi Stan.

2 questions: When is the latest I can leave carrots in the ground -can I store them in peat moss? This is the first summer I have grown anything in this garden - moved here in Dec/00 (Wetaskiwin). It has been abused and ignored. Potatoes and carrots grew very very well because of high sand content. It dries out very quickly and seems to repel rain at first. but that is not the problem-- WEEDS!!! They have taken over. Chickweed I can handle but there is purslane and mallow(malva) which have settled in quite deeply. My question is, I need a safe herbicide - may the gardening gods forgive me -I practice organic gardening but I cant go through another summer doing what I had to do - have no time and physically I can't pick out every tiny little leaf or stem. What can I use now or in spring safely? The bed is surrounded with cotoneaster hedge, raspberries, ferns, hostas and other perennials. Is spot treating an optio -granules? I want something quick and fast. I don't have a very disposable income so something cheap as well. I am mulching but material is slow in coming and limited. Please answer by email -I work Sunday mornings and don't have the chance to always catch your show.

Thanks Janice

Janice: Two good questions... I had answered your concerns on air last week, but will give you the highlights. Leave the carrots in the cold ground, as they need the cooling to set their taste and storage capabilities. Don't t scrub them, but wash them to rid the soil and sand etc. Temps of 35 to 38 F are best. An extra fridge or very cool room is fine. Use shavings or dry peat moss as an insulate. Weeds are best controlled by thickly [4 to 6 inches] mulching with dry leaves mixed with dry grass clippings. You will find that using this process and making sure the mulch is well under the leaves of the plants, and around the multi stem plants will drastic limit the weed growth, without the use of chemicals or granules.

Do It !!