Carrots are widely distributed throughout the world. It is grown in America, Australia and even Africa. This root crop is unique because it is used not only in cooking, but also in medicine and cosmetology. The composition of carrots includes a wide range of useful substances: carotene, flavonoids, ascorbic and pantothenic acid, lycopene, B vitamins, essential oils and other elements. Such a useful root crop as carrots, of course, is also grown in domestic latitudes. There are more than 300 names of this root crop, among which you can choose suitable varieties of carrots for the North-West.
Variety of varieties of carrots
Carrot varieties are represented by domestic and foreign breeding companies. At the same time, domestic species are characterized by higher taste qualities: such root crops have a high content of nutrients and excellent keeping quality. The main focus of foreign breeders is aimed at achieving the ideal external qualities of the root crop – the correct shape, bright color, etc.
Each variety has certain agrotechnical characteristics, the main one being the ripening period. So, allocate:
- early ripening (ripen in 85-100 days);
- mid-season (may ripen in 105-120 days);
- late-ripening (maturing in more than 125 days).
As a rule, early ripe domestic varieties are distinguished by a short root crop, which reduces the yield of a vegetable. Therefore, for commercial purposes, it is recommended to sow early-ripening foreign varieties of carrots, which are distinguished by a long, even root crop with excellent appearance.
Varieties for the North-West of Our Country
For cultivation in domestic latitudes, more than 200 varieties of carrots have been proposed for gardeners to choose from. All of them differ in appearance, taste of the root crop, cultivation features. Among all the variety, one can single out the best carrots, zoned for the North-West region, from foreign and domestic producers.
Domestic varieties
The most useful and tasty, of course, are domestic varieties. Among them, the most popular are:
Alenka
Each vegetable “Alenka” weighs about 400 g. Its length is 14-16 cm, diameter 4-6 cm. The shape of the root crop is conical, the color is orange. Its taste is excellent: the pulp is dense, fragrant, sweet. The variety can be used to prepare baby food.
The ripening period of carrots is early. Root crops ripen in 90-100 days from the day of sowing the seed. The variety has a high yield of 10 kg / m2. Another advantage of this variety is its excellent keeping quality, which allows you to store the root crop throughout the winter.
Vitamin
The variety is characterized by an orange-red color of carrots. Each root crop has a length of 15-20 cm. Its average weight is 100-150 g. The variety is distinguished by a particularly high content of carotene. Carrot pulp is tender and juicy. The shape of the vegetable is cylindrical, obtuse.
The variety ripens in 80-110 days. Its high yield reaches 10,5 kg/m2. The vegetable is used fresh and canned. The variety is characterized by good adaptability to storage.
Children’s taste
Bright orange, juicy, crunchy carrots are truly loved by children because they have tender, sweet flesh. Carrot length up to 15 cm, conical shape.
The variety is early ripe, its crop ripens after 78 days from the day of sowing the seed. The culture is characterized by high resistance to cold. You can sow the seeds of this carrot in April, May. The yield of root crops is low – up to 5 kg / m2.
Moscow winter
Orange carrots are mid-season crops, since the fruits ripen in 67-98 days. The variety is characterized by a relatively equal length of root crops (about 16 cm). At the same time, the weight of carrots directly depends on compliance with the rules for growing crops and can vary from 100 to 180 g. The shape of the vegetable is conical with a rounded tip.
The variety is thermophilic and requires a film cover for early sowing. Its yield is up to 7 kg/m2.
Nastena
Carrots of the Nastena variety are distinguished by excellent external and taste qualities. The length of the cylindrical root reaches 18 cm, its average weight is 100-120 g. The flesh of the carrot is juicy, sweet, orange. A feature of this variety is a thin, small core. It is used for the preparation of dietary and baby food.
Sowing seeds of this variety in the conditions of the North-West should be carried out in mid-May. The root crop ripens in 80-100 days. The crop yield depends on growing conditions and can vary from 3 to 7 kg/m2.
First collection
A feature of the variety “First collection” is a high content of sugar and carotene. This gives carrots an original appearance and amazing taste. At the same time, the pulp of the root crop is juicy, especially tender. Its shape is conical, with a pointed end, the color is bright orange.
Harvest ripening period early: 90-100 days. Grade yield 7 kg/m2.
Slav
Variety “Slavyanka” combines excellent external qualities and excellent taste of the root crop. Carrots are high in carotene and sugar. Its shape is conical, thickened. The pulp is dense, juicy. The length of the root crop reaches 17 cm, the weight varies from 100 to 250 g. The variety is resistant to cold and can be sown in April, while the crop will ripen in 70-120 days.
Carrot “Slavyanka” is perfectly stored. One of the advantages of “Slavyanka” is a high yield – up to 9 kg / m2.
Helen
A variety of domestic selection, the fruits of which are distinguished by excellent appearance: carrots up to 16 cm long, have an even, cylindrical shape and bright orange color. The weight of the vegetable is approximately 150 g. The core of the root crop is very thin.
The period from sowing the seed to harvesting is 80-85 days. The total yield is 5 kg/m2.
Dobrinya
Orange carrot “Dobrynya” up to 20 cm long, weighs about 100 g. Its shape is conical, even. For full growth, it needs loose soil and abundant lighting. When sowing seeds, it is recommended to form rows at a distance of 20 cm.
For the North-West of the country, the recommended sowing time is at the beginning of May. The crop ripens in an average of 90-100 days. The total yield reaches 4 kg/m2.
Beautiful virgin
One of the most popular varieties. The root crop of a conical, thickened shape is colored orange-red. Its length is up to 16 cm, the average weight is not more than 150 g. The pulp is sweet and juicy. Due to its excellent taste, the root vegetable is widely used in the preparation of multivitamin juices.
For the ripening of root crops, 105 days are required from the day of sowing. The crop yield is 4.3 kg/m2.
Granddaughter
Carrot “Granddaughter” has a special, round shape. The root crop is very sweet, it is considered a favorite of the children. The diameter of the original vegetable is 3-5 cm. Such a root crop weighs no more than 50 g. Its color is bright orange. You can see the variety “Granddaughter” in the photo below.
Carrots ripen in 80-90 days from the day of sowing.
Favorite
The very name “Beloved” speaks of the many fans of this variety. Its popularity is due to the excellent appearance of carrots: its length is 16 cm, weight is up to 160 g, the shape is cylindrical, even, the color is bright orange. At the same time, the vitamin composition of the root crop surpasses analogues of other varieties. The vegetable is used in cooking and canning. Gardeners noted the high adaptability of the variety to storage.
It is recommended to sow the seeds of the “Beloved” variety in mid-May. Between rows, a distance of 18-20 cm should be maintained. With sufficient lighting, carrots will spoil in a volume of up to 7 kg / m2.
mother-in-law F1
This hybrid has absorbed the best qualities of progenitor varieties. It has an excellent delicate, sweet taste. Differs in special juiciness. At the same time, its external qualities are excellent: the length of the root crop is up to 11 cm, the weight is about 200 g. Inside the carrot, one can observe dark orange flesh and a thin core.
The culture belongs to the early ones, its fruits ripen in 80-90 days. A distinctive feature of the hybrid can also be considered a high yield of up to 10 kg / m2.
Uralochka
Having decided to sow early ripe, high-yielding carrots, you should pay attention to the Uralochka variety. This root crop ripens for a period of not more than 70 days. Yield exceeds 10 kg/m2. Seeds can be sown as early as April, as the culture is resistant to cold.
Red-orange carrots are very sweet and juicy. Used for preparing baby food, fresh salads, culinary dishes and storage. The length of the root crop reaches 20 cm, the weight does not exceed 150 g.
The above domestic varieties are the most common and adapted to the conditions of the North-Western regions of Our Country. They have an early ripening period, resistance to diseases, lack of light and cold.
Carrots of foreign selection
Below are the most successful varieties and hybrids of carrots obtained by foreign breeders. They are well suited to the domestic climate of the northern regions. The taste qualities of the proposed varieties are also on top.
Amsterdam
The variety is a representative of the Polish selection. “Amsterdam” carrots have a rich orange color. Its length is about 20 cm, weight is about 150 g. The root pulp is tender, very juicy, suitable for making baby food.
The variety is early ripe, its fruits ripen in 70-90 days from the day of sowing the seed. Its yield is 7 kg/m2.
Bangor F1
The homeland of the Bangor F1 hybrid is Holland. The hybrid of the first generation combines excellent external and taste qualities. Each root crop does not exceed 16 cm in length. Depending on the growing conditions, its weight can vary from 100 to 400 g. The root crop is suitable for long-term storage.
It takes at least 110 days for carrots to ripen. Its total yield is 6,7 kg/m2.
Parmex F1
The Dutch hybrid is the prototype of the domestic variety “Vnuchka”. It has a high content of sugar and dry matter. Round, orange carrots weigh no more than 50 g. Their diameter is 3-4 cm.
When sowing Parmex seeds, it is recommended to observe intervals between rows of at least 30 cm. The period of root ripening is 100 days.
Espredo F1
Bright orange hybrid. The length of the Espredo root crop reaches 20 cm, weight up to 200 g. The shape of the carrot is elongated-cylindrical. Sowing seeds is recommended in March. After 120 days after that, you can harvest. The total yield of a vegetable reaches 9 kg / m2.
Tucson
The representative of the European selection is an increased source of carotene. In the general trace element composition, there are more than 11% of this substance. Juicy, sweet carrots weigh about 200 g. Its length does not exceed 18 cm. The shape of the root is cylindrical, the color is bright orange. The variety is good for fresh consumption and processing.
Resistant to cold, allows you to sow seeds in April. The aging period is 80-90 days. The yield of the root crop is low – up to 4 kg / m2.
Royal Forto
Seeds of Royal Forto should be sown immediately after the snow melts, with the onset of the first warm weather. This is due to the fact that with high resistance to cold, the culture has a long period of fruit ripening (120-130 days).
The length of the Dutch carrot is 18-21 cm, its weight is up to 120 g. The core of the root crop is thin, bright orange. Carrots are excellent for fresh consumption and storage. Its total yield is up to 5 kg/m2.
Conclusion
It is worth noting that in addition to choosing a variety, it is important to pay attention to the growing conditions of the crop, since the root crop is demanding on sunlight and loose fertile soil. Sandy loam is ideal for growing carrots. Other growing rules can be found on the video:
Carrots are a natural source of vitamins and useful trace elements that are available to humans all year round. In the storage of carrots, as well as in the process of growing, there are no special tricks, so every gardener will be able to stock up for himself a storehouse of vitamins grown in his own garden, for the benefit of health and longevity.