When are Carrots edible/pickable/ripe?

There are THOUSANDS of wild carrots by my house, and I see them all over the place around here. And yes, I've positively identified them as CARROTS, not other species, and poisonous ones such as water hemlocks, since there are many looks alikes. I am wondering when the best time to pick them is. Can anyone help with this?

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Pretty much any time you want. Give them an occasional try to see when you like them best. When I was a kid, I'd grab them all the time as a quick snack.

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How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?

	TommasisX wrote:
	Pretty much any time you want.

Yep.

If you can identify it as a carrot and the root is big enough to actually eat, dig in. Cool

I think baby carrots are better than the mature ones. Cool

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Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. - Prov. 27:17

Sweet, cause there are millions around here. Maybe I will try some today even. Do they LOOK like carrots? Like are they orange, or are they a dfferent color?

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I think the roots start out white and when they get about pencil width, turn orange. Smile

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Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. - Prov. 27:17

Yeah, they will be a little white at first, but get orange soon after. But they taste like carrots 99% of the time. I liked them best when they were just little sprouts. Embarassed

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Where the Eagles fly, and the Caribou lie is where I want to be, the Wolf waits there for me.....
-Les Stroud

I like the smaller carrots, they are sweeter. And anytime i have taken a carrot from the ground young or old they seem to tast good. Cool

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A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing

Pick them before they flower in spring or they seem to consistently have the texture of wood. The plants are biennial, so any nonflowering ones in summer or early fall should also be good. This is one of the plants I have not used yet, but I am quoting from someone of much greater experience.
-Eric

I have tons around here too.

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-Idleness brings want
To work today is to eat tomorrow
It is best to prepare for the days of necessity