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Carrot remains one of the most common and useful vegetable crops. Today there are many hybrids available. They differ in size, ripening period, taste and even color. In addition to the usual orange carrots, you can grow yellow, red, white and purple root vegetables on your plot.
What determines the color of vegetables
As noted, vegetables can come in a wide range of colors. Colored carrots differ in their content of other plant pigments. These substances not only give fruits their color, but also have a positive effect on the body. The following shows what pigments form the color of carrots and other vegetables.
- Carotene (provitamin A) gives fruits Orange color.
- Lutein is responsible for yellow color.
- Anthocyanin forms purple, magenta and black colors.
- Lycopene adds richness red tint.
- Betaine causes coloration in burgundy color.
These substances are beneficial to the human body.They improve the condition of blood vessels, stimulate the immune system, improve vision and act as antioxidants.
Yellow varieties, white and red carrots have stable colors. But purple root vegetables lose color when cooked. Therefore, they are more often used for salads and cold dishes. It is worth considering that purple carrot stains all products it comes into contact with.
Some varieties are purple
Multi-colored vegetables decorate dishes and salads. There are many varieties of purple carrots. Some varieties have an orange core, others are evenly colored. The following is an overview of the most common names.
Dragon
This purple carrot has an orange center. Belongs to early ripening varieties. The length of the root crop is 20-25 cm, the diameter is up to 3 cm. The shape is elongated, cone-shaped. It has a pleasant, spicy taste. It has an unusual aroma that dissipates during the cooking process.
Purple Haze F1
This hybrid is characterized by the same color: purple surface and orange core. As a result of heat treatment, the color is lost. Therefore, the fruits are recommended for fresh consumption.
Purple Sun F1
The hybrid bears fruits that are entirely purple. The plant resists diseases. Carrots have high levels of antioxidants. Excellent taste, often used for making juice.
Cosmic Purple
The plant bears fruit that is purple on the outside with an orange core. One of the most common varieties. It has a short ripening period.
Varieties of yellow carrots
Yellow carrots taste sweeter than orange ones.Home-cooked dishes will look more elegant if they contain sun rings or bars. This addition will make the vitamin salad more appetizing for kids. To grow yellow carrots, you need to stock up on the following varieties of seeds.
Yellowstone
These root vegetables have a canary yellow color. Carrots are consumed both fresh and stewed. Belongs to late varieties. The root crops are large - about 20-25 cm, weighing on average 200 g. They grow in the form of a spindle. They are characterized by high productivity.
Solar Yellow
The variety bears bright yellow fruits. Carrots grow 16-19 cm in length. It has juicy and crispy flesh.
Jaune De Doubs
This carrot variety originated from France and has a long history. The fruits are yellow, uniformly colored. They grow in the shape of a cone, quite large - about 15-30 cm. They have an excellent taste - sweet and juicy. Carrots store well; they are used both fresh and for cooking.
Amarillo
An intense yellow variety of carrots. Root vegetables are uniformly colored. An excellent addition to summer vitamin salads. The fruits grow from 12 to 17 cm in length. They have juicy and crispy flesh. Well preserved.
Mirzoi
Another variety of bright yellow carrots. It is evenly colored and has a slightly sweet taste. Root crops grow about 15 cm long. They ripen within 80 days. Used for preparing salads, pilaf and other dishes. Suitable for children's kitchens.
White varieties and their differences
White carrot varieties may differ in shade. In any case, their flesh is sweet and crispy. These vegetables will be a good addition to summer salads and other dishes.
White Satin F1
This white carrot variety is considered one of the best. The root crop has a snow-white color and a smooth surface. The pulp is juicy, has a sweet taste, and has a pleasant crunch.
Lunar White
One of the recently bred varieties. It produces fairly large root vegetables, reaching 30 cm in length. The surface is almost white, the flesh is tender and pleasant to the taste. The harvest can be harvested either ripe or very young.
Crème de Lite ("Clean Cream")
The variety produces uniformly colored, creamy fruits. They have sweet, juicy flesh. The variety is early ripening. Carrots grow 25 cm long and require no more than 70 days. The plant resists many diseases. Root crops are elongated, tapering closer to the roots. Used for salads and other dishes.
Characteristics of red carrots
If you want to grow red carrots on your plot and surprise your friends and relatives, you should pay attention to the varieties listed below.
Red Samurai
This variety of carrot comes from Japan. It has a rich red color and is colored evenly. The core and outer surface are practically the same in tone. It has a pleasant, sweet taste, not too crispy flesh. The fruits ripen within 100-110 days. The carrot size is up to 20 cm. The variety is widely used in the kitchen. Used for salads, pilaf, juices, soups. It is also used in folk medicine.
Atomic Red
The variety continues the parade of varieties of red carrots. It has a coral tint, which becomes even more intense after heat treatment. The root crop grows to 25-27 cm in length.The carrots are fragrant and crispy. Grows well when the weather is cool.
How to diversify your garden: unusual varieties
In addition to red, purple and yellow carrots, you can plant varieties that produce black or multi-colored fruits.
Black Jack
This variety of carrots is distinguished by its rich black color, the root vegetables are evenly colored. Taste with a sweetish tint. Carrots grow up to 30 cm in length and require 120 days to ripen. The pulp is not very dense. Root vegetables can be used for juices and main courses.
Rainbow
In fact, this is not a separate variety, but a mixture of carrot seeds of different colors. The set includes white Lunar White, red Atomic Red, yellow Solar Yellow and purple Cosmic Purple. As a result, a real carrot rainbow grows in the garden bed.
Useful tips for growing colored carrots
Popular varieties include Cosmic Purple, which produces fruit with purple skin and orange flesh. It is an early ripening variety and grows better when the air is cool. This is not only healthy, but also an original vegetable. It is recommended to consume it fresh so that the fruits do not lose color and vitamins.
The seeds are pre-soaked and then planted in open ground. Considering the characteristics of this variety, they can be sown in early spring. After 70 days, the first harvest ripens.
These plants require:
- moderate hydration;
- loosening the soil;
- cool air (in extreme heat, the root crop becomes deformed);
- before planting, digging up the soil to a depth of 30 cm (important for the growth of straight carrots);
- sowing seeds in rows with a gap of 5 mm, between the rows make a spread of about 35 cm;
- thinning of seedlings;
- Sprinkling root crops with soil, when the top appears above the soil as they grow (will help avoid greening).
To make your summer salads colorful and original, you should sow carrots of different colors in your garden plot. In addition to the traditional orange ones, you can grow yellow, red or purple root vegetables. For interest, seeds of varieties of different colors are sometimes mixed in equal proportions. Then each extracted root crop will be a surprise for the gardener.
