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When choosing carrot seeds to grow in your garden, pay attention to varieties that have small-sized fruits. Small carrots, bred by breeders specifically for canning and freezing, will delight you with stable, stable yields and excellent taste. In addition, all varieties and hybrids of mini-carrots are famous for their high carotene content and are widely used in children's and dietary nutrition.
Features of growing small carrots
Mini carrots are grown by gardeners before winter, and therefore require several different planting and care rules than regular carrots. If work on growing root crops was planned in advance, fertilize the beds for planting seeds in the spring. The soil after winter needs mineral and organic fertilizers. Chalk, lime or dolomite flour must be added to highly acidic soil. Nutrition is administered at the rate of 1 cup of the substance per 1 m2 soil.
Planting material is prepared for sowing in advance. The seeds are kept for several hours in settled water at room temperature, and then for a day on a damp rag or cotton wool.As soon as the seeds swell, carry out the hardening procedure by placing the planting material in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. This will enable the plant to withstand early frosts in the air and on the soil.
Dwarf carrots are planted according to the following scheme:
- Longitudinal furrows are made in the garden bed, 2-2.5 cm deep;
- The distance between planting rows is at least 20 cm;
- It is necessary to retreat 10-12 cm from the edge of the bed to the first row.
Since mini-carrots have small root crops, for quick germination and good rooting, the bed is covered with film after sowing. Remove it only after the plant produces 3-4 leaves. Check regularly to ensure that the soil under the shelter remains moist.
The first feeding of dwarf carrots is carried out 10-14 days after mass germination. Before carrying out work, be sure to thin out the plants, leaving only the largest and most stable seedlings, and loosen the ground. Fertilizers are prepared at the rate of 30-50 grams of potassium magnesium per 10 liters of water.
To further feed the small carrots, use standard fertilizers: for 10 liters of water - 15 grams of urea and superphosphate and 20 grams of potassium nitrate.
The best varieties of mini carrots
Today, varieties of dwarf carrots adapted for planting and cultivation in central Russia, the Urals and Western Siberia are very popular among domestic farmers.
Karotel
A universal variety of mini-carrots, used for long-term storage, freezing, canning and fresh consumption. The growing season ranges from 100 to 110 days. The variety is a high-yielding mid-early variety that has proven itself well when planted for the winter in central Russia.The bright, orange root vegetable reaches a size of 10-12 cm during harvesting, with an average weight of about 100 grams.
The main features of the “Karotel” variety are resistance to pests, rot, fruit cracking, and viral diseases. It has good taste characteristics and tolerates transportation and long-term storage well.
Marlinka
A mini-carrot variety, Shantane variety, bred for cultivation in the central and northern regions of Russia. Domestic planting material has a high reproductive capacity. The fruits are small, regular conical in shape. The skin is smooth, with a minimal content of eyes, and is painted in a rich orange color. During the period of full ripening, the weight of one carrot does not exceed 100-120 grams, with a root length of up to 10 cm.
Distinctive features of the “Marlinka” variety are high yields with relatively short growing seasons. From the first shoots to harvest it takes just over 90 days. At the same time, up to 70 tons of tasty and juicy fruits are obtained from 1 hectare.
Caracas
This is one of the best varieties of dwarf carrots, intended for growing in open ground in small summer cottages. "Caracas" is adapted for sowing in central Russia, the Urals and Western Siberia. Even with very dense planting in a row, “Caracas” produces even and tasty root crops, up to 10 cm long. The average weight of one carrot does not exceed 100 grams, but if you use a standard root crop sowing scheme, then this figure may well increase to 150.
Features of the “Caracas” variety are the powerful leaf apparatus of the plant. This greatly facilitates the harvesting of root crops on large sown areas using specialized lifting-type equipment.
For more information on growing carrots for the winter, watch the video:
