Hybrid varieties of carrots are gradually leaving behind their parents – ordinary varieties. They are vastly superior in yield and disease resistance. The taste characteristics of hybrids deserve special attention. Taking the best from two common varieties, they can greatly impress the gardener with their taste. Marmalade F1 belongs to such hybrids-discoveries. It is one of the sweetest bred hybrid varieties in the world.
Characteristics of a variety
Carrot Marmalade is mid-season. This means that the gardener should not wait for the first carrots before August. But this expectation is fully compensated by a rich red-orange harvest.
The carrot of this hybrid has the shape of a cylinder with a blunt tip. All carrots are approximately the same in size, no more than 20 cm. The average weight of a root crop will be about 200 grams. The core of this hybrid variety is almost absent. The taste of carrot Marmalade is excellent. It is quite juicy and incredibly sweet. It is ideal for fresh consumption, cooking and juice preparation. In addition, the increased content of carotene in root crops makes Marmalade one of the best varieties for children. It also goes great as a diet food.
In addition to its increased productivity, Marmalade still has something to brag about. It has excellent resistance to major carrot diseases and excellent shelf life.
Recommendations for growing
Despite the fact that the Marmalade hybrid variety is quite unpretentious, the place for planting it must meet the following criteria:
- good illuminance;
- loose and fertile soil.
If there is no place on the site that meets these criteria, then you can plant carrots after:
- cucumbers;
- zucchini;
- potatoes;
- tomatoes;
- port.
Marmalade carrot variety can be planted both in spring and before winter. The best time for spring planting will be the end of April – the beginning of May. The first thing to do is to prepare furrows with row spacings of no more than 20 cm and a depth of 2 cm. Seeds are lowered into them and covered with earth. It is better to mulch the finished bed to protect the seeds from temperature changes.
The first shoots of carrots appear for a very long time, within three weeks.
It is recommended to thin out carrots of the hybrid variety Marmalade. This is done in 2 stages:
- Two weeks after germination.
- With a root diameter of 1 cm.
Care of young plants should include:
- Watering. At the same time, it is important to know the measure. The lack of moisture will make carrots more rigid, and its excess will contribute to the growth of the green mass of the plant.
- Weeding and loosening. These procedures are carried out together. There are no special requirements for weeding. But loosening should be careful so as not to damage the root crop.
- Additional fertilizing. When choosing a fertilizer for carrots, there is one taboo – fresh manure. Its application both to the soil before planting seeds and to existing plants is highly undesirable.
Harvesting takes place in August, September or early October. Unharvested before frost, the crop will be stored much less. Only whole, undamaged root crops should be left for storage.
Sowing before winter is done in a similar way – in the furrows, followed by mulching.
When planting before winter, the first crop of carrots can be harvested in April – May.