maybe the veg forum is more active??? .. ken

I'm thinkin that. Giving it time.

Susan, you must contact your local county Cornell extension office. Cornell Extension offers diagnostic services and can instruct you about how and when to take soil tests that will identify the presence of soil nematodes.

My first thought, upon seeing your image, was of root knot nematodes.

Thank you. It didn't look like any of the online pictures, but this sounds like what it is. The weird thing is, I planted 2 types of carrot seed, with their rows only about 8 inches apart. Only one row of carrots had this (Little Finger). The other (Red Core Chantenay) was fine and very sweet. Both are from Botanical Interests.

I haven't planted carrots in many years due to all the soil borne worms and diseases and tasting like soap. But this year I said what the heck and did a late planting (end of August), hoping for a different outcome, and had a deliciously sweet crop with no problems other than this. I did make sure they were evenly watered and moist, though. They are planted where I had peas this spring.

I'll get a soil test done at the co-op nearby. Thanks. Maybe they can tell me why only one kind had the problem. Maybe it's in the seed itself...

i highly doubt it has anything to do with the seed ... especially since you provide a history of prior problems ...

are the one pictured.. the ones planted in late august.. im really surprised you could get a crop in that late in the season ...

ken

Yes, Ken, it's from this August and I intend to start planting carrots that late every year now to avoid the early worms, IF I can get rid of this root knot nematode thing. I've been buying carrots at the local organic farmers market but I prefer to grow them myself.

By "in the seed" I meant maybe it's genetically susceptible moreso than other varieties.

Susan, you'll want a nematode assay, not a regular soil test. I suspect that your extension office personnel will tell you that this is not the time of year for that type of test.

If you can visit your county's office in person, you can show them pictures or the carrots. HERE, let's find your local Cornell Extension pros.

Thank you Rhizo. I know where it is. I have gone through the Master Gardener course. Of course I will mention the carrot nematode issue! I simply could not find any online pictures to match the carrot problem, so I asked here. But thank you.

I would also question the root knot nematode connection. My garden in SoCal was heavily infested and, even though my carrots were attacked -- I planted them once then never again -- the affected roots looked far different.

Jean, please explain. You don't think it's root knot nematode? You never planted carrots again or you never saw the damage again? Roots looked different than mine or different than the ones you planted?

Thankyou.

I never planted carrots again. The reason: Because the heaviest RKN infestations are on susceptible plants grown from seed.

My search for images of RKN-infested carrots reveal what I call "a knobby string of pearls" on the fine roots. (And that's precisely what happened to my carrots.)

In my experience, RKN doesn't produce a large heavy gall/tumor as in your image. That suggests crown gall to me. But your image doesn't match that either.

Tomatoes are also susceptible to RKN. So, in order to get a crop, I had to use transplants of tomatoes with resistance to RKN.

I suggest you check with your county's Extension Service office as they are most familiar with local problems. Use this interactive map to locate that office: http://npic.orst.edu/pest/countyext.htm

Then please let us know what you learn.

I just received a bag of carrots with the same type of odd growth.

This site is the only place on the internet with any mention of it.

Since your still eating these carrots, keep writing and let us all know how turns out.

I did peel one of the carrots. They look fine after some cleaning.

I looked at a few of these carrots.

What appears to be odd growths feels more like sand.

It looks like some of the roots grew into clumps of sandy-dirt and got tangled.

Note: I have not heartened of these carrots yet.