Varieties of large carrots

Growing carrots in a summer cottage is a common activity for many gardeners who prefer their own harvest to purchased vegetables. But in order for carrots to be not only tasty, but also large, certain conditions must be observed in the process of sowing and growing.

Often, novice gardeners who want to harvest large carrots for the winter ask themselves: “Why does the chosen hybrid or variety, famous for its large fruits, not give the desired result? What kind of carrots should be sown in order to get a stable, and pleasing to the eye, crop?

What to look for when choosing a variety

The first thing you need to pay attention to is the adaptation of planting material to the climatic conditions of your region. Whatever varieties of root crops you choose, and no matter how well you take care of them, if the seeds are intended for cultivation in the southern regions, and you are in Siberia, you will not be able to get a good harvest. The tops of such a plant will grow profusely, but the fruits themselves will remain small and thin. And vice versa, if you plant varieties of the largest carrots intended for cultivation in the north of the country in the southern region, you will have to wait a very long time for the harvest, since the root crop will develop slowly.

The second important aspect of growing large carrots is in such a characteristic as the growing season. Please note that almost all varieties and hybrids that produce large fruits are medium and late ripening. If you live in central Our Country and the northern regions, then most likely you harvest vegetables no later than the beginning and middle of September. Therefore, large carrots will have to be sown in the middle of spring.

For a plant that produces large fruits, the optimal sowing time is from May 3 to May 15. Of course, it also depends on how warm and prepared the soil is for receiving planting material, but if you get a crop in greenhouses or greenhouses, you should not delay it until the end of spring.

Before buying a new, unfamiliar variety of carrots, remember that all large root crops must be adapted to a long stay in the soil. As a rule, early varieties cannot reach the desired length and gain a lot of weight, because they begin to crack in the ground or lose their taste.

How to help the root crop grow

So, having chosen a variety of large carrots suitable for your region, and having decided on the timing of its cultivation, prepare the planting material well.

Root seeds are soaked for at least 24 hours before sowing, and then mixed with sand or peat. Planting material of large carrots is lowered into the prepared and fertilized soil, having previously made sowing grooves on the beds. Then the planting material is sprinkled with a small layer of ash and fertile soil, watered abundantly. In order for the carrots to quickly strengthen and begin to grow, make small grooves on the sides of the beds to drain excess moisture.

When sowing large varieties of vegetables, you need to ensure that the growing root crop does not interfere with the growth of carrots in its row and in the next one. To do this, make the distance between the rows on the bed at least 15 cm, and the rows themselves in one bed no more than 4. Determine the seeds evenly in the furrow, and in the process of germination, leave the strongest and largest root crops.

Large varieties of carrots: tips for growing

And a few more rules that are mandatory for growing large carrots:

• When sowing planting material in early spring, the groove is deepened by 3-4 cm, with a later planting – from 4 to 5 cm;
• To obtain quick germination of seeds, they are sprinkled with black soil mixed with humus and sand;
• In early spring, when growing large carrots in open ground, seedlings are covered with a film with a small ventilation gap (up to 12 cm);
• 1-2 weeks after germination, additional sowing is carried out on the empty plots of the beds;
• To harvest vegetables for the winter, seeds of early varieties of large carrots are sown in early and mid-August, while the planting material must be sprinkled with mulch (a layer of 3-4 cm, no more).

And the last thing – in order for the largest carrots to grow on your site, do not forget about regular thinning of seedlings. Leave only those seedlings that are firmly rooted, visually higher than the rest, and the tops have 5 leaves or more.

Try to harvest on time. Even if the instructions for growing a hybrid say that it tolerates a long stay in the ground, remember that in this case, the carotene content in the fruit decreases, and the amount of glucose increases. This can significantly affect the taste of the fruit.

Varieties of large carrots: description and photo

Here are just a few varieties and hybrids of carrots, the fruits of which, with proper care and feeding, can reach truly large sizes without losing their quality characteristics. It should be said that gardeners consider “large” fruits that reach a weight of 200 grams or more, regardless of the length of the root crop.

Canada F1

Mid-season large hybrid with even and long cone-shaped fruits. The mass of one vegetable during the harvest period reaches 200-250 g, with an average fruit length of 15-17 cm. The core is medium-sized, juicy, bright orange in color. Distinctive features of the hybrid: high yield and stable long storage. Under proper conditions, “Canada F1” is stored until the next season, without losing its commercial and taste qualities. Vegetation period – 130-135 days. The hybrid was bred with adaptation to cold weather in the air and on the soil, and resistance to root rot and bacterial diseases.

Nandrin F1

A hybrid bred by Dutch breeders specifically for late sowing and harvesting root crops for the winter. Among domestic farmers, Nandrin F1 has received well-deserved popularity and is recognized as the best yielding Dutch hybrid. Seeds are sown in the soil in the middle of summer, and already at the end of September, the carrots are dug up and prepared for long-term winter storage. Fruits during the harvesting period reach a length of 20-22 cm, with an average weight of one carrot – 200 gr. Characteristic distinguishing features – carrots have practically no core, and grow well on any soil and soil. The hybrid is resistant to high humidity, tolerates heavy rainfall, and can grow in shady areas of the garden.

Harvest “Nandrin F1” ripens “amicably”, and all fruits, with proper care, have the same weight and size. Such commercial characteristics have made the variety one of the most popular among farmers who grow carrots in large quantities for sale.

Nantes-4

Those who have been growing carrots for more than a year are well aware of the Nantes hybrid, adapted for sowing and growing in any region of Our Country. “Nantes-4” is an improved variety with such distinctive characteristics as yield and taste. From 1m² collect up to 8-10 kg of large and tasty root crops, intended both for fresh consumption and for long-term storage. Fruit weight – up to 200 g, with an average length of 17-18 cm.

Distinctive features of the Nantes-4 variety are a high content of vitamins and mineral microelements (it contains up to 20% of carotene alone). The term of maturation of the hybrid is 100-111 days.

Losinoostrovskaya

Mid-season variety of large carrots, intended for cultivation in central Our Country and the northern regions. Planting material is planted in open ground and greenhouses at the beginning of summer, and already at the end of August, you can dig up the crop. The mass of one carrot is 150-200 g, and the average size is 15 cm. Despite such seemingly small indicators, the variety is considered large-fruited, since carrots can reach 5-6 cm in diameter, which visually makes it larger and larger ( see photo).

Distinctive features of the Losinoostrovskaya variety are a juicy and delicate fruit. Its skin is colored bright orange, and the carrot itself has a smooth, cylindrical shape and rounded blunt ends. The variety is universal, and quite suitable for harvesting carrots for the winter.

Amsterdam

One of the few varieties of large carrots that belong to the category of early ripening and adapted for cultivation in central Our Country, the Urals and Siberia. The root crop has a regular cylindrical shape, in the period of full maturity it reaches a length of 17-18 cm, with an average weight of 180-200 gr. The core is small, and the pulp of carrots is dense, but very juicy. The ripening period is 90-100 days.

A distinctive feature of the “Amsterdam” variety is a stable and friendly yield and resistance to cracking. Carrots are stored for a long time and fully retain their taste.

Shantane

With proper care and regular watering, carrots can reach truly gigantic sizes. Cases have been recorded when, in open ground conditions, one root crop weighed 580 grams, and its length was 27 cm. Shatane has the correct cylinder shape and a slightly rounded tip.

Distinctive features of the variety – low resistance to pests. If you decide to start growing the Shantane variety, you need to be prepared for constant and long-term spraying of tops from pests and regular feeding of root crops. Ripening period – 130-140 days. From 1m² dig up to 15 kg of large carrots.

yellow carrot

The growing season is 90-100 days. The fruits have a regular cylindrical shape, in the period of full maturity they reach a mass of 400-450 gr. yellow carrots are not intended for use raw and for making juices. Its taste qualities allow only preserving and processing the root crop.

Due to the high yield, yellow carrots have received worthy recognition from farmers who grow vegetables for further sale to markets and canneries.

white carrot

Another variety of large carrots, which has a pleasant unusual aroma and taste. Mature root crops can reach up to 350-400 gr in size. Distinctive features – the plant’s high requirements for regular watering and top dressing. In addition, white carrots require additional loosening of the soil throughout the growing season. During dry periods, the fruits not only do not grow, but also decrease in volume.

Conclusion

Growing large varieties of carrots is an interesting and useful activity only in those cases when you are going to prepare a vegetable for the winter. As a rule, experienced gardeners are not fond of growing only such varieties and hybrids, skillfully alternating large, medium and even small root varieties. But if you still decide to plant one of the above varieties, be sure to consult with farmers about additional methods and rules of care. Do not forget that each variety or hybrid requires its own planting pattern, nutrition and watering frequency.

For more information on how to care for carrots, watch the video: