Winterizing Your Carrots and Beets

Here in Central Pennsylvania (technically Zone 5 where I'm at), the temps can dip as low as single digits in the coldest winter months but surprisingly, beets, carrots, and other root crops will survive and you can harvest them all winter with just a little protection.  If you expect to harvest your crops before the ground freezes, all they need is a little straw mulch at ground level to protect the tops of the roots sticking out.  If you want to harvest all winter, all you really need to do is cover with a foot-thick layer of straw keeping the greens exposed so they can keep growing.  When there's snow all around and you move the mulch, you'll be delighted to pull out a fresh carrot in the dead of winter.    Here's a good link from Organic Gardening that may be helpful.  Enjoy!