How to Grow Large and Sweet Carrots

Carrots need to be sown at different times. Grow varieties for storage, processing, and summer consumption. The root vegetable should be a staple in the diet year-round. Carrots are a cold-hardy crop, so they are planted in the garden in late fall and early spring. The quality of the harvest depends on the structure, acidity, and health of the soil, as well as the quality of irrigation.

How to prepare beds

Carrots can suffer from insufficient moisture even with regular watering. This happens all the time in gardens. Gardeners don't level the surface of the beds. When watering, water runs off. The soil becomes unevenly moist. This results in a variety of root vegetables being harvested from the same bed.

In the fall, dig up the small pieces if the vegetable is planted in the shade. If there is insufficient light, the tops are frail, and the underground part is thin and short. In early summer, the plant begins to fly. carrot flyHer offspring, hatching from eggs, feed on carrots. They prevent infestation of the soil with carrot fly larvae. alternating vegetable crops.

A carrot bed is made where the following plants grew before:

• nightshade;
• melons;
• legumes;
• green manure;
• onion turnip.

Carrots absorb nutrients well in normal to slightly acidic soil. In soils (heavy loams, clay, and peat) with a pH < 5.5, root quality is poor. Optimal pH values ​​for carrots range from 5.5 to 7.0.

Phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium are poorly absorbed in acidic soil. To normalize pH levels, add acidifiers to the soil in the fall:

• slaked lime - 0.5-0.7 kg/m²;
• dolomite flour - 0.45-0.6 kg/m²;
• ash – 0.2-0.3 kg/m².

The soil is dug thoroughly. The denser the soil structure, the deeper the dig—35-40 cm. In loose soil, carrots form straight, long roots. In uneven garden soil, they grow gnarled.

Separately from the deoxidizer, mineral additives that do not contain chlorine are added:

• nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers 50 g/m²;
• nitrophos - 50 g/m²;
• ammophos – 60 g/m².

All standards are given for depleted soil. In fertile soil, mineral fertilizers are applied at 2-3 times lower rates. They can be replaced with organic matter such as ash and humus.

Techniques for increasing carrot growth

It's easier to grow large, even root vegetables in a narrow bed. Sow seeds in 2, maximum 3 rows. They contain essential oils, which hinder germination. You can speed up sprouting with this simple method:

• a small bag is sewn from fabric;
• carrot seeds are poured into it;
• for 2-3 days, give them a warm shower - hold them under running warm water several times a day;
• dry before planting.

Furrows for landing The seeds are planted 15 cm apart. Water them well the day before sowing. Sow the seeds closely, 2-3 cm apart, and cover with a 1 cm layer of humus. After heat treatment, seedlings appear on the 7th day.

Thin them out immediately. Over the summer, the carrot bed is weeded several times. When planting in two rows, this takes minimal time:

• along the edges of the ridge they go with a flat cutter;
• Weeds are pulled out between the rows by hand.

The rules for thinning carrots during the season are very simple. The first concerns timing. It's recommended to thin seedlings after the first true leaf appears. By the 2-3 leaf stage, thinning is too late, as it can damage neighboring plants. The second rule concerns soil moisture.

This one is straightforward. The soil must be moist during thinning. Therefore, the procedure is carried out immediately after rain or heavy watering. The third rule concerns the distance between carrot seedlings. It should be 6-7 cm. Never less. If planted too closely, carrots will grow unevenly sized and gnarled.

To grow large carrots, don't forget about watering. This is especially important in early summer. After the seedlings emerge, keep the soil regularly and thoroughly moist.

What to feed carrots to make them large and sweet

Carrots overfed with mineral fertilizers have tasteless flesh. The roots don't store well. To enhance sweetness, they need to be fertilized three times:

1. On the 20th day after the panicles emerge, the bed is watered with a solution of Kalimag fertilizer (20 g/m²). It contains potassium and magnesium sulfates.
2. Three weeks after the first root feeding, carrots are watered with a solution of the complex fertilizer Kemira-universal - 50 g/m².
3. After another three weeks, sprinkle the carrot bed with ash (20 g/m²). Ash contains potassium, which makes carrots sweet.

Growing a crop is one thing. You also need to know how to preserve it. By following simple rules, carrots in the cellar will last until the next harvest. Preparing for storage involves several steps:

• trim the tops;
• wash root vegetables;
• dry;
• cut off the "butts";
• are lowered into the cellar.

Store carrots in untied bags or plastic boxes.

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In conclusion, we can draw a conclusion. Growing large carrots doesn't require a lot of time. Simply choose a good variety. Thin the carrots out promptly, and don't forget about generous watering in early summer. Timely root and foliar mineral fertilizers won't harm the crop. top dressing.