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Every child knows that juicy, sweet, crunchy carrots is not only tasty, but also very healthy. Many gardeners grow it on their plots for subsequent use in the preparation of various culinary dishes. The crop is sown directly into the ground in the spring. Depending on the region, sowing time may vary. So, let's try to clarify when to plant carrots in the Moscow region, and which varieties are best to choose for this.
Best time to sow
Carrots are distinguished by their unpretentiousness, but to get a truly good harvest of root vegetables, you need to know when to sow the seeds of this crop. So, you need to think about sowing after the likelihood of severe and prolonged frosts has passed.
That is why many gardeners traditionally sow the seeds of this vegetable on the May holidays.
Carrot seeds take a long time to germinate. Sometimes it takes up to 22 days from the day the seeds are sown in the soil until the shoots appear. The ripening period of the vegetable depends on the crop variety.Thus, early ripening carrots ripen in 65 days from the moment the grains germinate. Late-ripening varieties ripen in 130-150 days. It is worth noting that seeds of late ripening varieties are sometimes sown in the Moscow region in April under film.
Some farmers use the lunar calendar to determine the sowing date of a particular crop. Carrots are a root crop, which means they need to be sown at a time when the moon is waning, or, more precisely, when it is in its last quarter.
In this regard, it is worth highlighting the periods recommended for sowing crops: from April 19 to 25 and from May 19 to 24.
Sowing rules
Before plant carrots It is necessary to prepare the seeds into the soil: treat them with a manganese solution and soak them for a day in a nutrient medium. The swollen seeds are sown in open ground. In order to avoid crowding of crops, root crop seeds can be pre-glued onto a strip of toilet paper, observing the required intervals between grains. By sowing seeds mixed with sifted dry sand you can also avoid dense plantings.
Carrots are quite demanding of the sun and cannot grow in the shade, which means that a well-lit, sunny piece of land should be selected for it. Good predecessors for vegetables are tomatoes, legumes, cucumbers, potatoes, and onions.
Particular attention should be paid to the choice of “neighbors” for the vegetable. Thus, carrots and onions provide mutual assistance in the fight against onion and carrot flies.
The soil for growing carrots should be loose. Otherwise, the root vegetables will have a distorted shape.The filling and juiciness of vegetables depends on soil moisture. Plants should be watered regularly in large quantities. With each watering, the soil must be moistened to the entire depth of root germination.
Irregular watering can lead to cracks in the root crop. Some other rules and tricks for growing good carrots can be learned from the video:
Which carrots are best to plant in the Moscow region?
In order to get a good carrot harvest, you need not only to sow the seeds in a timely manner and take proper care of the crops, but also to choose the best varieties from those offered on the market.
First of all, you need to decide by what time you need to harvest the root crop. If a vegetable should become a source of vitamins and a fresh delicacy for the whole family, then early ripening varieties should be preferred. When carrots need to be used for preservation, the root crop must ripen at the same time as other vegetable crops, which means that early or mid-ripening varieties of the crop should be grown.
Early ripening varieties
Which carrots should I sow in the spring in the Moscow region in order to treat my children and grandchildren to a vegetable in the middle of summer? The answer to this question is extremely simple: early ripening and the most delicious. Among these varieties with excellent taste, the following should be highlighted:
Saturno F1
"Saturno f1" is an excellent hybrid with excellent external qualities of the root crop and wonderful taste.The vegetable ripens quite early, just 50 days after the planted seeds have sprouted. Thus, owners who sow the “Saturno f1” variety in April under film already receive a good harvest at the beginning of July.
The dark orange vegetable, up to 19 cm long, contains a large amount of sugar and carotene, which means it can become a tasty and very healthy treat for all family members. It can also be used in preparing vegetable puree for feeding very young children.
The Bureau
This is another widely popular variety of early-ripening carrots for the Moscow region. It is distinguished by large root vegetables with tender and juicy pulp. The vegetable ripens quite quickly: after 65 days from the day the seeds germinate, you can begin harvesting.
The external qualities of the "Bureau" carrots are excellent: the roots are bright orange, up to 18 cm long, and have a cylindrical shape. The advantage of the variety is its resistance to cracking. Root vegetables can be stored for 3-4 months.
Among other early-ripening carrot varieties with good taste and agrotechnical qualities, Victoria f1, Artek, Touchon, Amsterdam, and Chanson Royal should be highlighted.
Mid-early varieties
A few pieces of carrots in a jar of canned cucumbers can be used as a garnish for pickles. And making salads is not at all possible without using this unique vegetable. To prepare pickles and other winter preparations, it is better to plant mid-early varieties of carrots, which will ripen at the same time as other vegetables in the garden.
Abaco f1
This hybrid carrot can be sown as early as early April. She is not afraid of cold weather and short-term frosts.Root crops ripen on average 110 days from the day of emergence. Dutch hybrid is resistant to most diseases and cracking. It has high productivity.
Carrot "Abaco f1" grows up to 20 cm long. Its shape is slightly conical and almost perfectly smooth. The root vegetable is great for canning and storage.
Beauty maiden
These carrots really deserve the attention of every gardener. It combines all the best qualities characteristic of the culture: the root vegetables are very juicy and sweet. The concentration of carotene in them is increased, which suggests the benefits of the vegetable. The color of carrots is also largely determined by the content of this substance: carrots are bright orange. The shape of the vegetable is conical, classic, up to 16 cm long, and weighs no more than 140 grams. At the same time, the overall yield of the variety is high: 5 kg/m2. Characteristic qualities of the variety are resistance to blooming and cracking.
The seeds of the “Beauty Maiden” variety are sown in late April - early May. The crop is harvested with this sowing schedule after approximately 130 days. The purpose of root vegetables is universal: they can be widely used in the preparation of winter preparations, baby purees, fresh salads and culinary dishes.
Among other carrot varieties with an average ripening period, we should highlight “Altair f1”, “Negovia f1”, “Olenka” and, of course, the familiar “Nantes” carrot variety.
Late ripening carrots
Harvesting of late-ripening carrots begins in October. The vegetable is not afraid of cold weather and can be kept in the garden until the onset of winter. Adaptability to long-term storage allows root crops to be stored in cellars before the onset of the new harvest season.Among these varieties with a long ripening period, the best for the Moscow region are:
Queen of Autumn
“Queen of Autumn” got its name for a reason. This carrot has a high yield, which can reach 9 kg/m2. The taste of the root vegetable is excellent: the vegetable is sweet and very juicy. The length of the root crops reaches record sizes and can surprise even an experienced vegetable grower. Thus, each carrot has a length of 20 to 25 cm. Moreover, the root vegetables have an elegant conical shape and weigh only 180-200 grams. Carrots of the “Queen of Autumn” variety ripen approximately 150 days after sowing. At the same time, a ripe vegetable is excellent for long-term winter storage.
Emperor
Another carrot variety suitable for the Moscow region is “Emperor”. This vegetable is not characterized by high yield, but its external and taste qualities make it the best among equals. Emperor carrots are dense, but juicy. When a root crop breaks, you can hear a characteristic ringing crunch. The vegetable also has a sweet, fresh aroma. The taste of the root vegetable is excellent because it contains a large amount of sugar and carotene.
This variety of vegetables is sown in early May. It takes at least 160 days to mature. During this time, the root crop acquires a leveled cylindrical shape. Its length reaches 30 cm, and its weight is 150-180 g. You can safely store vegetables until next spring. During this time they will not lose their taste and external qualities.
Conclusion
Surely not a single housewife in the kitchen can do without carrots. It is added to soups, main courses, pies and preserves. Candied fruits and baby purees are prepared from carrots.Every child knows its taste from childhood. This prevalence is justified by the rich microelement composition of the root vegetable and its excellent taste. Growing carrots on your own plot sometimes seems like a very painstaking task, because you need to plant very small seeds at certain distances, wait a long time for the shoots to appear, and then weed, thin out, loosen the crops and protect them from carrot flies in anticipation of a good harvest. But all these worries can become much easier if you know some of the secrets of growing carrots and approach the process competently. At the same time, it is worth remembering that there are no tastier and healthier carrots for family and friends than those grown with love and care with your own hands.
