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Growing carrots in a summer cottage is a common activity for many gardeners who prefer their own harvest to purchased vegetables. But in order for the carrots to be not only tasty, but also large, certain conditions must be observed in the process of sowing and growing.
Often novice gardeners who want to prepare large carrots for the winter ask themselves the question: “Why does the chosen hybrid or variety, famous for its large fruits, not give the desired result? What kind of carrots must be sown in order to get a stable and eye-pleasing harvest? "
What to look for when choosing a variety
The first thing you need to pay attention to is the adaptation of the planting material to the climatic conditions of your region. Whatever varieties of root crops you choose, and no matter how well you take care of them, if the seeds are intended for cultivation in the southern regions, and you are in Siberia, you will not be able to get a good harvest. The tops of such a plant will grow abundantly, but the fruits themselves will remain small and thin. Conversely, if you plant varieties of the largest carrots intended for cultivation in the north of the country in the southern region, the harvest will have to wait for a very long time, since the root crop will develop slowly.
The second important aspect of carrots growing large is such a characteristic as the growing season. Please note that almost all varieties and hybrids that produce large fruits are mid to late ripening. If you live in central Russia and the northern regions, then most likely you harvest vegetables no later than the beginning and mid-September. Therefore, sowing large carrots will have to be done in mid-spring.
For a plant producing large fruits, the optimal sowing time is considered to be from May 3 to May 15. Of course, it also depends on how much the soil has warmed up and prepared for receiving planting material, but if you get a crop in greenhouses or greenhouses, you should not delay until the end of spring.
Before buying a new one unfamiliar to you carrot varieties remember that all large roots must be adapted to stay in the soil for a long time. As a rule, early varieties cannot reach the desired length and gain a lot of weight, because they begin to crack in the ground or lose their taste.
How to help the root crop grow
So, having chosen a variety of large carrots suitable for your region, and having decided on the timing of its cultivation, prepare the planting material well.
Root seeds are soaked for at least 24 hours before sowing, and then mixed with sand or peat. Planting material of large carrots is lowered into the prepared and fertilized soil, having previously made sowing grooves on the beds. Then the planting material is sprinkled with a small layer of ash and fertile soil, watered abundantly. In order for the carrots to quickly harden and begin to grow, make small grooves on the sides of the beds to drain excess moisture.
When sowing large varieties of vegetables, you need to ensure that the growing root crop does not interfere with the growth of carrots in your row and in the next one.To do this, make the distance between the rows on the bed at least 15 cm, and the rows themselves in one bed no more than 4. Place the seeds in the furrow evenly, and leave the strongest and largest roots in the process of germination.
Large varieties of carrots: tips for growing
And a few more rules that must be followed for growing large carrots:
- When sowing planting material in early spring, the groove is deepened by 3-4 cm, with a later planting - from 4 to 5 cm;
- To obtain fast germination of seeds, they are sprinkled with black soil mixed with humus and sand;
- In early spring, when growing large carrots in the open field, the seedlings are covered with a film with a small ventilation gap (up to 12 cm);
- After 1-2 weeks after germination, additional sowing is carried out on empty areas of the garden;
- For harvesting vegetables for the winter, the seeds of early varieties of large carrots are sown in early and mid-August, while the planting material must be sprinkled with mulch (layer 3-4 cm, no more).
If you are preparing a plot for growing carrots in the fall, be sure to cover it for the winter with fallen snow. Experienced gardeners, in order to obtain large carrot fruits, recommend arranging a snow coat on carrot beds, with a height of 50 cm or more.
And the last thing - in order for the largest carrots to grow on your site, do not forget about regular thinning of seedlings. Leave only those seedlings that are firmly rooted, visually higher than the rest, and the tops have 5 or more leaves.
Try to harvest on time. Even if the instructions for growing a hybrid say that it tolerates well for a long time in the ground, remember that the carotene content in the fruit decreases, and the amount of glucose increases. This can significantly affect the taste of the fruit.
Varieties of large carrots: description and photo
Here are just a few varieties and carrot hybrids, the fruits of which, with proper care and feeding, can reach truly large sizes without losing their quality characteristics. It should be said that the "large" gardeners are considered to be fruits reaching a weight of 200 grams and more, regardless of the length of the root crop.
Canada F1
Mid-season large hybrid with smooth and long cone-shaped fruits. The mass of one vegetable during the harvest period reaches 200-250 grams, with an average fruit length of 15-17 cm. The core is medium-sized, juicy, bright orange in color. Distinctive features of the hybrid: high yield and stable long-term storage. Under proper conditions, "Canada F1" is preserved until the next season, without losing its marketability and taste. The growing season is 130-135 days. The hybrid was bred with adaptation to cold snaps in the air and on the soil, and resistance to root rot and bacterial diseases.
Nandrin F1
A hybrid bred by Dutch breeders specifically for late sowing and harvesting of root crops for the winter. Among domestic farmers, Nandrin F1 gained well-deserved popularity and is recognized the best yielding Dutch hybrid... The seeds are sown in the soil in the middle of summer, and already at the end of September, the carrots are dug up and prepared for long-term winter storage. Fruits during the harvest period reach a length of 20-22 cm, with an average weight of one carrot - 200 gr. Characteristic distinctive features - carrots have practically no core, and grows well on any soil and soil. The hybrid is resistant to high humidity, tolerates heavy rainfall well, can grow in shaded areas of the garden.
Harvest "Nandrin F1" ripens "together", and all fruits, with proper care, have the same weight and size. Such commercial characteristics made the variety one of the most popular from farmers who grow carrots in large quantities for sale.
Nantes-4
Those who have been growing carrots for several years know the Nantes hybrid well, adapted for sowing and growing in any regions of Russia. "Nantes-4" is an improved variety with such distinctive characteristics as yield and taste. From 1m2 up to 8-10 kg of large and tasty root crops are harvested, intended both for fresh consumption and for long-term storage. Fruit weight - up to 200 g, with an average length of 17-18 cm.
Distinctive features of the variety "Nantskaya-4" - a high content of vitamins and minerals (only one carotene it contains up to 20%). The ripening period of the hybrid is 100-111 days.
Losinoostrovskaya
A mid-season variety of large carrots intended for cultivation in central Russia and northern regions. Planting material is planted in open ground and greenhouses at the beginning of summer, and already at the end of August, you can dig out the harvest. The mass of one carrot is 150-200 grams, and the average size is 15 cm.Despite such seemingly small indicators, the variety is considered large-fruited, since the carrot can reach 5-6 cm in diameter, which visually makes it larger and larger ( see the photo).
Distinctive features of the Losinoostrovskaya variety are the juicy and delicate taste of the fruit. Its skin is painted in a bright orange color, and the carrot itself has an even, cylindrical shape and rounded blunt ends. The variety is versatile, and quite suitable for harvesting carrots for the winter.
Amsterdam
One of the few large carrot varieties in the category early maturing and adapted for cultivation in central Russia, the Urals and Siberia. The root crop has a regular cylindrical shape, at full maturity it reaches a length of 17-18 cm, with an average weight of 180-200 gr. The core is small, and the flesh of the carrots is firm, but very juicy. The ripening period is 90-100 days.
A distinctive feature of the "Amsterdam" variety is a stable and friendly yield and resistance to cracking. Carrots are stored for a long time and fully retain their taste.
Shantane
With proper care and regular watering, carrots can reach truly gigantic sizes. Cases have been recorded when in open ground one root crop weighed 580 grams, and its length was 27 cm. "Shatane" has a regular cylinder shape and a slightly rounded tip.
Distinctive features of the variety - low resistance to pests. If you decide to start growing the "Shantane" variety, you need to be prepared for constant and long-term spraying of the tops from pests and regular feeding of root crops. Ripening period - 130-140 days. From 1m2 dig up to 15 kg of large carrots.
Yellow carrots
The growing season is 90-100 days. The fruits have a regular cylindrical shape, in the period of full maturity they reach a mass of 400-450 grams. yellow carrot not intended for use raw or for making juices. Its taste can only be used to preserve and process the root vegetable.
Due to their high yields, yellow carrots have received deserved recognition from farmers who grow vegetables for further sale to markets and canneries.
White carrot
Another variety of large carrots with a pleasant unusual aroma and taste. Ripe root vegetables can reach sizes up to 350-400 gr. Distinctive features - high plant requirements for regular watering and feeding. In addition, white carrots require additional loosening of the soil throughout the growing season. In dry periods, the fruits not only do not grow, but also decrease in volume.
Conclusion
Growing large varieties of carrots is an interesting and useful activity only in those cases when you are going to prepare a vegetable for the winter. As a rule, experienced gardeners are not fond of growing only such varieties and hybrids, skillfully alternating large, medium and even small varieties of root crops.But if you still decide to plant any of the above varieties, be sure to consult with farmers about additional methods and rules of care. Remember that each variety or hybrid requires a different planting pattern, nutrition, and watering frequency.
For more information on how to care for carrots, watch the video:
