Content
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 carrots to be not only tasty, but also large, certain conditions must be observed during the process of sowing and growing them.
Often, beginning 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 should be sown in order to get a stable and pleasing harvest?”
What to look for when choosing a variety
The first thing you need to pay attention to is adapting the planting material to the climatic conditions of your region. No matter what varieties of root vegetables you choose, and no matter how well you care for them, if the seeds are intended for growing 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.And vice versa, if you plant varieties of the largest carrots intended for cultivation in the north of the country in the southern region, you will have to wait a very long time for the harvest, 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- and late-ripening. If you live in central Russia and the northern regions, then most likely you harvest vegetables no later than the beginning and middle of September. Therefore, large carrots will have to be sown in mid-spring.
For a plant that produces large fruits, the optimal sowing time is considered to be from May 3 to May 15. Of course, this also depends on how warm the soil is and how prepared it is to receive the planting material, but if you are getting the harvest in greenhouses or greenhouses, you should not delay until the end of spring.
Before buying a new one that is unfamiliar to you carrot varieties remember that all large root crops must be adapted to a long stay in the soil. As a rule, early varieties cannot reach the required length and gain much weight because they begin to crack in the soil or lose their taste.
How to help root vegetables 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 for large carrots is lowered into prepared and fertilized soil, having previously made seeding furrows in the beds. Then the planting material is sprinkled with a small layer of ash and fertile soil and watered abundantly. In order for the carrots to quickly strengthen and begin to grow, make small grooves on the sides of the bed 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 neighboring one. To do this, make the distance between the rows in the garden bed at least 15 cm, and the rows themselves in one bed should not be more than 4. Place the seeds evenly in the furrow, and during the germination process, leave the strongest and largest root crops.
Large varieties of carrots: growing tips
And a few more rules that are mandatory for growing large carrots:
- When sowing planting material in early spring, the furrow is deepened by 3-4 cm, when planting later - from 4 to 5 cm;
- To obtain rapid germination of seeds, they are sprinkled with black soil mixed with humus and sand;
- In early spring, when growing large carrots in open ground, the seedlings are covered with a film with a small ventilation gap (up to 12 cm);
- 1-2 weeks after germination, additional sowing is done on empty areas of the bed;
- To prepare vegetables for the winter, seeds of early varieties of large carrots are sown in early and mid-August, and the planting material must be sprinkled with mulch (a layer of 3-4 cm, no more).
If you are preparing a plot for growing carrots in the fall, be sure to cover it with fallen snow for the winter. Experienced gardeners, in order to obtain large carrot fruits, recommend creating a snow coat on the carrot beds, 50 cm or more in height.
And lastly, in order for the largest carrots to grow on your plot, do not forget about regular thinning of the seedlings. Leave only those seedlings that are firmly rooted, visually taller than the rest, and whose tops have 5 leaves or more.
Try to harvest on time. Even if the instructions for growing a hybrid say that it tolerates being in the ground for a long time, 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 gardeners consider “large” fruits that weigh 200 grams or more, regardless of the length of the root crop.
Canada F1
Mid-season large hybrid with smooth and long cone-shaped fruits. The weight 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 stored until the next season, without losing its commercial and taste qualities. The growing season is 130-135 days. The hybrid was bred with adaptation to cold weather in the air and 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 has received well-deserved popularity and is recognized the best productive Dutch hybrid. The seeds are sown in the soil in mid-summer, and at the end of September the carrots are dug up and prepared for long-term winter storage. During the harvest period, the fruits reach a length of 20-22 cm, with the average weight of one carrot being 200 grams. Characteristic distinctive features - carrots have practically no core, and grow well in any soil and substrate. The hybrid is resistant to high humidity, tolerates heavy rainfall well, and can grow in shaded areas of the garden.
The Nandrin F1 crop ripens together, and all fruits, if properly cared for, have the same weight and size. Such commercial characteristics have 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 many years are well aware of the Nantes hybrid, adapted for sowing and growing in any region of Russia. “Nantskaya-4” is an improved variety with such distinctive characteristics as yield and taste. From 1m2 They collect up to 8-10 kg of large and tasty root vegetables, intended both for fresh consumption and for long-term storage. Fruit weight is up to 200 g, with an average length of 17-18 cm.
Distinctive features of the “Nantes-4” variety are its high content of vitamins and mineral microelements (it contains up to 20% of carotene alone). 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 the harvest can be dug up. The weight 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 carrots can reach 5-6 cm in diameter, which visually makes them larger and larger ( see photo).
Distinctive features of the Losinoostrovskaya variety are the juicy and delicate-tasting fruit. Its skin is painted a bright orange color, and the carrot itself has a smooth, cylindrical shape and rounded blunt ends. The variety is universal and quite suitable for harvesting carrots for the winter.
Amsterdam
One of the few varieties of large carrots belonging to the category early ripening 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 g. The core is small, and the carrot flesh is dense, but very juicy. The ripening period is 90-100 days.
A distinctive feature of the Amsterdam variety is its stable and consistent yield and resistance to cracking. Carrots are stored for a long time and fully retain their taste.
Shantanay
With proper care and regular watering, carrots can reach truly gigantic sizes.Cases have been recorded when, in open ground conditions, one root crop weighed 580 grams and its length was 27 cm. “Shatane” has the correct cylinder shape and a slightly rounded tip.
Distinctive features of the variety are low resistance to pests. If you decide to grow the “Chantane” variety, you need to be prepared for constant and long-term spraying of tops against pests and regular feeding of root crops. Ripening period is 130-140 days. From 1m2 dig up to 15 kg of large carrots.
yellow carrot
The growing season is 90-100 days. The fruits have a regular cylindrical shape and at full maturity reach a weight of 400-450 g. yellow carrots It is not intended for use in raw form or for making juices. Its taste qualities only allow it to be preserved and processed.
Thanks to its high yield, yellow carrots have received worthy recognition from farmers who grow vegetables for further sale to markets and canneries.
White carrots
Another variety of large carrots with a pleasant unusual aroma and taste. Mature root vegetables can reach sizes of up to 350-400 g. Distinctive features are the plant’s high requirements for regular watering and fertilizing. In addition, white carrots require additional loosening of the soil throughout the growing season. During dry periods, 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 cases where you are going to prepare the vegetable for the winter. As a rule, experienced gardeners do not get carried away with cultivating only such varieties and hybrids, skillfully alternating large, medium and even small varieties of root vegetables.But if you still decide to plant one of the above varieties, be sure to consult with farmers about additional methods and rules of care. Do not forget that each variety or hybrid requires its own planting scheme, nutrition and frequency of watering.
For more information on how to care for carrots, watch the video:
