Favorable days for sowing winter carrots in 2020 according to the phases of the moon

Growing carrots isn't difficult, and if you follow a few simple steps, you'll have enough of this vegetable to last you all year. The first step to getting a bountiful harvest is choosing the right planting date. For this, you can use the lunar calendar, adjusting for the growing region, weather conditions, and variety.

Conditions for growing carrots

The most suitable soil for carrots is light sandy loam or loamy soil. Unlike onions, this root vegetable requires ample moisture throughout the growing season. Depending on the region, sowing begins in April or May, after frost has passed but the soil has not yet completely dried out.

Further, as necessary, the following is carried out:

• weeding;
• loosening;
• watering;
• fertilizer.

The exact timing of carrot planting, care, and harvesting depends on the variety, weather and climate conditions, and the lunar calendar. Selecting favorable days for carrots requires a comprehensive approach.

How to determine planting time

The lunar calendar has long helped our ancestors choose the optimal time for agricultural work. The main principles—plant during the waxing moon, water during the waning moon, and leave it alone during the new moon—work like clockwork. For those who crave details and precise instructions, our lunar calendar has been created.

Autumn and spring planting

Planting in springPlanting carrots in warm soil in April and May is common among Russian gardeners. But few people know that winter carrots can also be grown. These roots grow at least a couple of weeks earlier than spring carrots, having absorbed plenty of meltwater. They are less susceptible to disease and require less intensive care. The downside is their poor shelf life, so winter carrots are best eaten straight away—fresh and sweet, they're a welcome addition to those hungry for vitamins.

However, planting carrots in the fall isn't always possible everywhere: this practice is more common in southern regions than in the central zone or the Urals, and not every variety is suitable. It's best to choose cold-hardy varieties, such as:

1. Moscow Winter A 515. Mid-season variety (68-98 days, depending on weather conditions). Bright orange, thick fruits, 12-15 cm long, weighing from 100 g. Very juicy and sweet, with a long shelf life.
2. Dobrynya. Slightly longer (about 20 cm), thin and very even, with rounded tips.
3. F1 Nantik Resistantfly. As the name suggests, this hybrid is resistant to carrot fly damage. It is also immune to leaf-sprouting. The carrots are short, plump, and very juicy, suitable for juice and even jam production.
4. Pharaoh. An early-ripening variety. Bright, heavy roots with a rounded tip, averaging 100-110 g each.

If you plan to plant carrots before winter in 2020 according to the lunar calendar, keep in mind that they grow underground, not above ground. Therefore, choose days during the waning moon (crescent moon), when the plant's sap flows downwards, toward the root system.

When to plant winter carrots in 2020 according to the lunar calendar in central Russia.

The timing should be chosen based on the region. The dates above are applicable for planting carrots in the Moscow region and central Russia. As you move further north and northwest, the planting dates will shift forward by an average of one to one and a half weeks, and the lunar time will shift by half a day to a day.

Deadlines by region

Planting timing will depend on the location and weather. Sowing should begin after the "Indian summer" has definitely ended. Temperatures should remain around or just above freezing (0-2°C). If there's a sudden thaw, the carrots will sprout and naturally die at the first frost. If there's already snow, don't worry. Clear the bed and plant.

Deadlines by region:

1. In Kuban, the North Caucasus, and the Rostov region, the optimal time will be the beginning and middle of November.
2. Planting carrots in the Moscow region and central Russia is in the second and third ten days of October.
3. In the Leningrad and Pskov regions and in the North-West region - the first ten days of October and the end of September.

In Siberia and the Urals, weather conditions are harsh, especially in the central and northern regions, but early and mid-September are relatively suitable times.

How to choose the right variety

When choosing which carrot variety you want to see in your garden this spring, pay attention not only to the attractive photos on the bags, but, most importantly, to its growing season. This will determine whether the carrots can be stored at least until mid-winter, or whether they're best eaten right away or processed into lecho and vegetable snacks.

Examples of varieties by maturity period:

1. Early varieties and hybrids won't keep for long, but they're ideal for "bunching." Crisp and often small, the carrots look great in a salad or canned. The most suitable varieties are Artek, Tushon, and Zabava F.
2. Mid-season varieties are best consumed or processed in the fall. These include Nantes, the aforementioned Moskovskaya, Samson, Nandrin, and Shans.
3. Late-ripening carrots store best. Choose carrot varieties that don't crack while still in the ground. These include: Lyubimaya, Karotan, Russkiy Razmer, and Shantane-2461.

In short, you need to choose winter carrots based on the following criteria:

• long (over one hundred days) growing season;
• disease resistant;
• zoned or at least undemanding to climatic conditions.

It is desirable that the variety is not prone to cracking and producing shoots.

Crop rotation and carrot growing technology

It's no secret that some vegetables don't do well in the same garden bed. For example, carrots and onions, which pair so well in a stir-fry, should be grown as far apart as possible in the garden. They require different watering and fertilizing schedules. Onions should not be planted the year after carrots. However, carrots can be planted after onions. Rye and mustard are considered universal options, while cucumbers, tomatoes, and cabbage are optimal. The worst options are beans, parsley, and anything that enriches the soil with nitrogen. In such beds, even after adding fresh manure, carrots should not be planted for at least two years.

First, you need to find a suitable location: level and well-lit, one of those areas that warm up first with the spring sun's rays. You'll need to wait until the temperature settles at least around 0±2°C and the ground begins to freeze slightly. Even better, wait until after the first snowfall. This will ensure the carrots don't sprout prematurely and freeze over the winter.

The bed should be prepared at least a month before sowing. It should:

• dig up;
• loosen;
• level out.

Next, make furrows about 3 cm deep and compact their bottoms. After this, the bed can be covered with plastic or a covering material to prevent it from being washed away in the rain, and left until planting. Separately, prepare soil and peat or humus for filling the furrows to prevent them from freezing into lumps. Both should be stored indoors or at least under cover, in a dry and warm place.

Seed treatment and planting scheme

The seeds don't require any special treatment. Frost will control most pests and diseases. The main requirement is that the seeding material shouldn't be fresh. Two- to three-year-old seeds are ideal. It should be dry: wet seeds will be destroyed by frost. Also, buy seeds in reserve; 10-20% of them won't survive the winter, and only the strongest will germinate.

The planting scheme will not differ from that used in spring:

1. The seeds are sown 5-10 cm apart in pre-prepared furrows using the "salting" method. Each pinch holds exactly two or three seeds.
2. After sowing, the furrows are filled with warm, dry soil, which was also prepared in advance.
3. Cover with mulch (the same humus and/or peat, 2 cm layer).
4. After this, the peat needs to be compacted - otherwise the wind will blow it away - covered with snow and covered with spruce branches.

In spring, the spruce branches are removed, leaving the snow on the bed to melt naturally. Afterward, a plastic dome is installed over the bed to prevent moisture evaporation. The key from this point on is to monitor the soil moisture and loosen it regularly. Carrots, as mentioned at the beginning of the article, love water, and with proper care, a harvest will not be long in coming.

If the soil in the garden is poor, it is better to use specialized mineral fertilizers with:

• potassium;
• magnesium;
• phosphorus.

Nitrogen fertilizers should be avoided, as they cause carrots to become tops, while the roots grow small, ugly, and full of nitrates. Organic fertilizers suitable for carrots include a weak solution of mullein or weak chicken manure, and wood ash as a source of potassium.

Read alsoPlanting and caring for winter garlic in 2020 according to the moon and regions Garlic is a vegetable crop that can be planted in both spring and fall. It's most often planted in the fall. Winter varieties ripen several weeks earlier, producing heads that...

Gardeners' Tips

Like any vegetable, carrots have their own subtleties when it comes to sowing, growing, and even eating. They've been used as a garden crop for many years. Over the decades, people have accumulated considerable experience, made mistakes, and sought ways to correct them. To avoid problems, follow the tips below:

1. At the purchasing stage, the characteristics of the variety and planting times are studied.
2. Regular watering is important. Avoid soil drying out or stagnant moisture.
3. Choose a sunny site for planting. Vegetables grown in the shade will be less sweet.
4. Planting in loamy soil will result in rot.
5. You cannot use acidic, saline soil.
6. If there's too much nitrogen, the plant will develop foliage. Roots will grow very slowly.
7. Imported varieties are more shelf-stable than domestic ones.
8. When harvesting at a temperature of +8°C, the starch will convert to sugar. This will shorten the shelf life.

The garden bed shouldn't be slanted. This can lead to soil erosion around the root crops. Don't ignore these tips. This way, you'll be able to enjoy your harvest. Carrots and damp carrot beds are especially fond of mole crickets. To get rid of them, you must first find and destroy their nests. They're easy to spot—the ground where they crawl will characteristically rise, marking the path they've taken. Then, get rid of the mole crickets themselves by flooding their burrows with soapy water or sealing the entrances with packets of granulated poison (available at any store).

Read alsoFavorable days for planting onions in winter in 2020 according to the moon Winter onions are an easy-to-grow crop that requires minimal care. To avoid premature sprouting and freezing of the bulbs, it's important to adhere to the planting schedule. When…

After potatoes, carrots are the most widely consumed vegetable in our country, and indeed, in the world, and are an essential part of almost every dish in our kitchen. So, be sure to find a place for them in your garden, and you'll always have a supply of vitamins and excellent flavor.