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Gardeners, who are closely involved in planting and cultivation, as a rule, try to plant a variety of vegetables on their plots, which are many and often eaten. One such culture is Carrot, which is used to prepare various dishes, can be preserved, frozen and kept fresh. Root crops are especially preferred when planted in early spring, but which variety to choose to get a tasty early ripe crop and prepare a significant amount of root crops for the winter? How to make a choice and what does it depend on?
How to choose the best variety
Today, breeders are breeding a variety of varieties of vegetable crops, differing in yield, taste and size of the fruit. But the main thing that interests each gardener when choosing a planting material is the ripening time of carrots. Varieties and hybrids are divided according to this criterion into three subspecies: early ripening (the growing season begins on 50-60 days from seed hatching), mid-ripening - from 90 to 110 days, and late-ripening - over four months.
At the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to what growing conditions the manufacturer recommends for a particular hybrid. Carrots, as a root crop, are quite resistant to temperature extremes in the air and on the soil, but they can be demanding on certain types feeding and regular abundant watering.
In addition, the instructions will definitely indicate the region and climatic conditions that are optimal for growing root crops. An early variety of carrots in open ground gives stable and high yields in the southern regions and central Russia.
Key steps and tips for growing early carrots
Those who undertake the cultivation of carrots for the first time should carefully approach not only the choice of planting material, but also the conditions for planting and caring for the root crop. The first thing that you need to pay special attention to is the preparation of the garden.
Carrots are planted in open ground in three ways:
- Flat bed. A fairly popular and widespread method of planting carrots, often used for open areas in small summer cottages. It has several disadvantages: inconvenience of watering the plant and removing it from the soil;
- Stitching fit. It greatly facilitates the care of the plant. In the center of each row, small combs are made, where the root crop is planted. Convenience lies in the fact that a mature plant can be watered simply by pouring water into the longitudinal grooves. It is convenient to huddle and feed carrots.
- High bed. The seeds are planted in several lines on a high bed. In this case, the soil requires the necessary preparation. It should not contain excess large lumps and stones.
Another important stage for planting early carrots is the preparation of planting material. If the culture requires special hardening and disinfection, most likely you will find out about this by reading the description of the variety.
When soaked, early seeds varieties of carrots it is necessary to hold for 1.5-2 hours in water at room temperature, and then 24 hours in a damp cotton cloth. After this procedure, the planting material doubles in volume. To prevent the seeds from sticking together after swelling, mix them with a small amount of fine river sand.This will greatly facilitate the process of planting the material.
Regardless of the proposed schemes you planted planting material in the ground, with the first leaves that appear, you can still observe the thickening of the planting. Weeding between strong shoots and rows must be done without fail. In order for the carrots to grow even and large, leave a distance of at least 6-7 cm between future root crops.
And the last, important factor in the fact that the carrots will grow large and have excellent taste is top dressing. It is carried out 4-5 times a season, and the first fertilizers are introduced into the soil with the first loosening of the soil, when the carrot tops will give 3-4 leaves.
For 1m2, a solution is prepared from the following components:
- 10 liters of water;
- 30-50 mg of ammonium nitrate;
- 30-50 ml of superphosphate.
The first watering is carried out very carefully - from a small watering can with a very narrow and long spout. In order for fertilizers to give effects faster, make small narrow grooves between the seedling lines.
Remember that during the seasonal feeding of early carrots, the amount of nitrate in solutions should decrease with each subsequent time. And the fourth and fifth feeding must be carried out without this component at all.
The best early varieties of carrots
When choosing early varieties for planting, you need to understand that this carrot must have another important quality - long shelf life. Consider several varieties of carrots that have this quality.
Alenka
High-yielding medium-early variety of carrots with a root crop ripening period of 80-90 days. The length of one carrot in the period of full maturity is 15-16 cm, and the diameter is about 4 cm. The variety has excellent taste, allowing you to use "Alenka" raw, for making juices and baby food. The fruit is fragrant, slightly sweet in taste, has an amazing ability to persist for a long time in low temperatures (cellars, cellars, balconies). Up to 10-12 kg of ripe carrots are harvested from one square meter. "Alenka" is recommended for cultivation in greenhouses and in open areas practically throughout Russia.
Amsterdam
The earliest variety of carrots is universal, and is intended for cultivation in greenhouses, greenhouses and open beds in the southern regions and central Russia.
The root crop is dense with an even bright orange skin, during ripening the weight can reach 150 grams, and the length can reach 15 cm or more. Distinctive features of the Amsterdam variety: unpretentiousness in feeding and regular watering, resistance to cracking of the fruit.
Boltex
The variety belongs to early maturing, universal. The first fruits can be obtained already on the 60th day, and full-weight friendly harvests can be harvested for 70-75 days. Thanks to the tasty and juicy pulp, slightly sweetish in taste, Boltex carrots can be grown both for fresh consumption and for cooking. The fruits have an even cylindrical shape, the skin is painted in a rich orange color. Distinctive features of the Boltex variety - even if the fruits are overripe in the ground, they do not crack and do not taste bitter. The plant is resistant to low air temperatures, therefore it is suitable for growing in central Russia, the Urals and Siberia.
The Bureau
This early fruitful variety has an enviable shelf life and, at the same time, does not lose its taste at all. Early carrots "Bureau" have a ripening period of 75-80 days. The root crop is elongated, slightly elongated, even. The fruit can reach a length of 18-20 cm. The skin is even, dense, painted in a bright orange color. The plant is highly resistant to shooting.
Mango
An early variety with small, round, cone-shaped fruits.Possesses good taste and high resistance to long-term storage. Having prepared "Mango" for the winter, even in early spring you can eat fruits that do not differ in taste and presentation from the original ones. The size of carrots is up to 15 cm, and the average weight is 100-120 grams. The ripening period begins at 75-80 days. “Mangoes are planted in early and mid-spring, and in order to harvest the fruits for the winter, a later planting is used - mid-to-late July.
Nantes-4
An excellent early hybrid with a very early growing season. Fruits can be harvested as early as 50-55 days from the first germination. Carrots are perfectly preserved in the ground, do not crack or outgrow, therefore, for harvesting fruits for the winter, it is recommended to keep "Nantes-4" in the ground for up to 2.5-3 months. The length of carrots during the harvesting period is no more than 12 cm, with an average weight of the fruit - up to 120 grams. The skin is dense, even, painted in a rich orange color; when harvesting for the winter, planting material is sown in the second half of summer.
Red As
Since this variety belongs to the mid-early, the fruits can be dug up already 95-100 days after seed germination. "Red AS" is a versatile variety, therefore it is widely used for salads, culinary processing and preparation for the winter. A distinctive feature of Red Asa is its high yield and excellent taste. The variety is resistant to temperature drop and shooting.
Tuchon
This is the most popular early variety among gardeners, the seeds of which are adapted for sowing in open ground in early spring. Each carrot during the ripening period can reach a length of 20-22 cm, and weigh 150 grams and more. The skin of the carrot is firm, with small symmetrical eyes. The fruit has a bright orange color, dense structure and a sweet juicy taste. Used for the preparation of salads, side dishes, preparation for the winter.
Shantane
This is a mid-early variety of carrots with excellent yields with large, classic-shaped roots. Shantane carrots in the period of full maturity can reach sizes of 20-25 cm, with an average fruit weight of 250-300 gr. Ripening occurs 90-95 days after the seedlings emerge. A distinctive feature of the fruit is certain storage and transportation conditions. The best place to store root vegetables is dry sand in boxes.
Artek
Another bright representative of early ripe carrots, intended for cultivation in greenhouses and open field. The variety is adapted for planting seeds in open ground already in the middle of spring, and the first carrots can be scooped up already on the 60th day. Root crops are even, cylindrical in shape, with rounded tips. Carrots rarely grow more than 15-16 cm, and their weight does not exceed 150 grams. The main features of the variety include the fact that "Artek" is the most capricious variety of early carrots, requiring timely digging up. It is not recommended to overexpose carrots in the ground - the skin is cracked, and the fruits lose their presentation.
Vitamin
The variety that received such a sonorous name, in fact, is distinguished by a high content of sugar and carotene in its composition. During the ripening period, carrots reach a fairly large size. The average weight of one "Vitamin" carrot can reach from 150 to 200 grams. The skin has a bright orange color and small eyes, the fruits are even, cylindrical with rounded tips.
How to choose a variety of carrots and properly plant seeds in open ground, see the video:
