Causes of carrot curvature and formation of gnarled fruits

Carrots are a fickle plant, so it's common for gardeners to dig up unsightly squiggles in the fall instead of the expected cone- or cylinder-shaped roots. The causes of crooked carrots vary, but in most cases, it's due to poor agricultural practices. To avoid problems in the future, you need to figure out why the vegetable is not growing straight in a particular case and take appropriate measures.

Unsuitable soil

Not only carrots but also other root vegetables grow poorly in heavy soil. The delicate roots are unable to penetrate the heavy soil and must take a detour. This results in small, coarse, and misshapen vegetables. Therefore, in the fall, the soil for future carrot beds should be dug to a depth of 20-25 cm and amended with sand or rotted sawdust.

In the spring, 10-15 days before planting, the soil should be dug over again and mixed with compost. These measures are most effective with medium-heavy soils. Heavy, stony, and clayey soils are more difficult to resolve. In these cases, be prepared for the fact that achieving full results will require considerable time and effort. For such soils, experts recommend choosing varieties with short, conical roots (such as Shantane).

Incorrect watering

Carrots need frequent watering during the first month after germination, when they are actively growing their tops. If the plant experiences a moisture deficit during this period, the young root will dry out first. Later, the plant will develop several roots instead of one, resulting in a horned appearance. When the growth of the greens slows and the root accelerates, the soil should be watered generously but infrequently. Otherwise, the root will not reach downwards in search of water, but will instead spread across the topsoil, sending out shoots to collect available moisture.

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It's important not to be fooled by precipitation. Sometimes it rains heavily and there are even puddles, but when you check the soil, it turns out it's only a couple of centimeters wet. Therefore, it's important to periodically check the soil moisture at a depth of about 15-20 cm. Keep in mind that heavy clay soils are difficult to moisten because they absorb moisture poorly.

Root damage

One of the most common causes of multiple "tails" on carrots is damage to the young root during the early stages of plant development. This can occur in the following situations:

1. When the seeds take too long to germinate, and the roots have already emerged, but were damaged when planted deep.
2. Dry soil during the first weeks of carrot cultivation. In the most severe cases, moisture deficiency can even lead to the death of young roots.
3. Mechanical damage to the roots during carrot thinning. A similar problem can also arise if the procedure is performed too late. Thinning should be done for the first time after the first two leaves appear, and the second time approximately three weeks later, when the roots reach 10 cm in length. This should be done after the soil has been moistened. The optimal distance between roots is 8 cm.

Incorrect feeding

Add nitrogen and organic fertilizers to the soil Carrots can be fertilized only in the first few weeks after germination, when the tops are actively growing and forming. This is necessary for normal photosynthesis, which is also crucial for the development of a large and beautiful vegetable. Carrots require nitrogen, however, not in the same quantities as, for example, peppers or strawberries.

In the fall, a small amount of superphosphate and humus should be added to the soil. In the spring, you can skip fertilizing the soil or use compost if you didn't add organic matter in the fall. Mineral fertilizers should be applied 15 days after emergence. You can mix 30 g of superphosphate, 40 g of urea, and 30 g of potassium nitrate, dilute the mixture in 20 liters of water, and water the beds with the mixture. After another two weeks, you can apply Nitrophoska. Subsequently, it is recommended to feed the root crop with potassium and phosphorus fertilizers. Therefore, during the carrot growth period, ash or potassium-phosphorus preparations should be added to the soil twice more.

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Carrots thrive in warm, light, and loose soil rich in humus. Therefore, to ensure a bountiful and healthy harvest with a marketable appearance, carrots should be planted in cultivated, light loamy, sandy, or peaty soils with a neutral pH. The site should be well-drained and free of weeds.