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The beneficial properties of common carrots have been known to man since childhood. We appreciate this vegetable for its taste, richness of vitamins, minerals and carotene, which is contained in large quantities in the root crop. Few of us thought that initially such a useful and familiar vegetable with a bright orange color was purple.
In ancient times, many useful properties were attributed to this variety of carrots, and for a long time it was even believed that a number of serious diseases could be cured with the help of an unusual root crop. The appearance of such superstitions is closely related to color. It is he who testifies to the high content of carotene, vitamins and minerals, so necessary for the human body.
Today, carrots have firmly entered our lives, have become an indispensable component of any dish. Due to its taste, they began to make juices from it, add it to vegetable salads, not only boiled, but also raw.
Purple carrots – the best varieties
There are several types of this purple vegetable crop. The most popular among them are:
- “Purple Elixir”;
- “Dragon”;
- «Cosmic Purple»
“Purple Elixir”
Root vegetables of the “Purple Elixir” variety can be easily distinguished from all others by their characteristic purple-violet color on the outside. Inside, purple carrots have a yellowish-orange core. Like most members of the species, purple carrots are extremely rich in vitamins and minerals.
«Dragon»
The variety “Dragon” has a bright purple color on the outside and an orange core. The vegetable of this variety is sweet in taste, contains a large amount of vitamin A and beta-carotene.
«Cosmic Purple»
Cosmic Purple is also a purple carrot variety, although inside, as you can see in the photo, the root is completely orange. Raspberry-violet color is present only on the outside in a small amount.
Growing purple carrots
Growing such an exotic culture in your backyard is not difficult at all. A root crop of an unusual color for us, as well as its counterpart, ordinary carrots, does not need to create special conditions for growing and does not require special care.
Purple carrot seeds are extremely rare on retail shelves, but if you really want to, you can find them on the Internet or purchase them in specialized stores.
Sowing seeds in open ground should be carried out in early spring. In summer, seedlings are watered as needed, loosened, fertilized and thinned out densely growing seedlings. Harvesting is carried out in the last months of autumn.
Health Benefits of Purple Carrots
Among the positive qualities of an unusual vegetable crop, the following should be noted:
- Prevents the appearance and development of cancer cells in the body.
- It has anti-inflammatory properties.
- Strengthens the immune system.
- Prevents the development of diseases of the cardiovascular system and diseases of the veins.
- Helps to normalize blood pressure and lower blood cholesterol.
- Improves the appearance of skin, hair, nails.
Carrots are a real pantry of vitamins and nutrients that have come down to us since ancient times. The craving of a person for exotic and unusual things for him, gave rise to a surge in popularity of the long-forgotten predecessor of the well-known carrot, which, due to its color, also turned out to be very useful for the human body.