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Every child knows that juicy, sweet, crunchy carrots are not only tasty, but also very healthy. Many gardeners grow it on their plots for later use in the preparation of various culinary dishes. Sow the crop directly into the ground in spring. Sowing times may vary by region. So, we will try to clarify when to plant carrots in the Moscow region, and what varieties are best for this.
The best time to sow
Carrots are notable for their unpretentiousness, but to get a really good harvest of root crops, you should know when to sow the seeds of this crop. So, you need to think about sowing after the likelihood of strong and prolonged frosts has passed.
That is why many gardeners traditionally sow the seeds of this vegetable on the May holidays.
Carrot seeds take a long time to germinate. Sometimes it takes up to 22 days from the day the seeds are sown into the soil until the shoots appear. The ripening period of the vegetable depends on the variety of the crop. So, early-ripening carrots ripen in 65 days from the moment of grain germination. Late-ripening varieties ripen in 130-150 days. It is worth noting that the seeds of late ripening varieties are sometimes sown in the Moscow region in April under a film.
Some farmers use the lunar calendar to determine the date of sowing a particular crop. Carrot is a root crop, which means that it must be sown at a time when the moon is waning, or rather, is in the last quarter.
In this regard, it is worth highlighting the periods recommended for sowing crops: from April 19 to 25 and from May 19 to 24.
Sowing Rules
Before planting carrots in the ground, it is necessary to prepare the seeds: treat them with a manganese solution and soak for a day in a nutrient medium. The swollen seeds are sown in open ground. In order to avoid crowding of crops, root crop seeds can be pre-glued on a strip of toilet paper, observing the necessary intervals between grains. By sowing seeds mixed with sifted dry sand, dense plantings can also be avoided.
Carrots are quite demanding on the sun and cannot grow in the shade, which means that a well-lit, sunny piece of land should be chosen for it. Good predecessors for vegetables are tomatoes, legumes, cucumbers, potatoes, onions.
Particular attention should be paid to the choice of “neighbors” for the vegetable. So, carrots and onions provide mutual assistance in the fight against onion and carrot flies.
The soil for growing carrots should be loose. Otherwise, the roots will have a distorted shape. The filling and juiciness of vegetables depends on soil moisture. Watering plants should be carried out regularly in large volumes. With each watering, the soil must be moistened to the entire depth of root germination.
Irregular watering can lead to cracks in the root crop. Some other rules and tricks for growing good carrots can be found in the video:
What carrots are best planted in the suburbs
In order to get a good harvest of carrots, it is necessary not only to sow the seeds in a timely manner and take proper care of the crops, but also to choose the best varieties from those offered on the market.
First of all, you should decide by what time you need to get a root crop. If the vegetable should become a source of vitamins and a fresh delicacy for the whole family, then early-ripening varieties should be preferred. When carrots need to be used in conservation, the root crop should ripen simultaneously with other vegetable crops, which means that early-ripening or mid-ripening crop varieties should be grown.
Early-ripening varieties
What kind of carrots to sow in the spring in the Moscow region in order to treat children and grandchildren with vegetables in the middle of summer? The answer to this question is extremely simple: early ripe and the most delicious. Among such varieties with excellent taste, it is worth highlighting:
Saturn F1
“Saturno f1” is an excellent hybrid with excellent external qualities of the root crop and wonderful taste. The vegetable ripens early enough, just 50 days after the planted seeds have sprouted. So, the owners who sow the variety “Saturno f1” in April under the film, already in early July get a good harvest.
A dark orange vegetable, up to 19 cm long, contains a large amount of sugar and carotene, which means that it can be a tasty and very healthy treat for all family members. Including it can be used in the preparation of vegetable puree for feeding the smallest children.
The Bureau
This is another widely demanded variety of early ripe carrots for the Moscow region. It is distinguished by large root crops with tender and juicy pulp. The vegetable ripens quickly enough: after 65 days from the day of seed germination, you can start harvesting.
The external qualities of the Bureau carrots are excellent: the roots are bright orange, up to 18 cm long, and have a cylindrical shape. The advantage of the variety is resistance to cracking. Root crops can be stored for 3-4 months.
Among other early ripe varieties of carrots with good taste and agrotechnical qualities, Victoria f1, Artek, Touchon, Amsterdamskaya, Chanson Royal should be singled out.
Medium-Early Varieties
A few pieces of carrots in a jar of canned cucumbers can be a pickle garnish. And rolling salads is not at all possible without the use of this unique vegetable. For the preparation of pickles and other winter preparations, it is better to plant mid-early varieties of carrots that will ripen simultaneously with other vegetables in the garden.
Abaco f1
This hybrid carrot can be sown as early as the beginning of April. She is not afraid of cold weather and short frosts. Root crops ripen on average for 110 days from the day of germination. The Dutch hybrid is resistant to most diseases and cracking. Differs in high productivity.
Carrot “Abaco f1” grows up to 20 cm long. Its shape is slightly conical and almost perfectly even. The root crop is excellent for canning and storage.
Beautiful virgin
This carrot really deserves the attention of every gardener. It combines all the best qualities characteristic of the culture: the roots are very juicy and sweet. The concentration of carotene in them is increased, which allows us to talk about the benefits of the vegetable. The color of carrots is also largely determined by the content of this substance: carrots are colored bright orange. The shape of the vegetable is conical, classic, up to 16 cm long, and the weight is not more than 140 g. At the same time, the total yield of the variety is high: 5 kg / m2. Characteristic qualities of the variety are resistance to coloring and cracking.
Seeds of the “Krasa maiden” variety are sown in late April – early May. Harvest with this sowing schedule in about 130 days. The purpose of root crops is universal: they can be widely used in the preparation of winter preparations, baby purees, fresh salads and culinary dishes.
Among other varieties of carrots with an average ripening period, one should single out Altair f1, Negovia f1, Olenka and, of course, the familiar to many carrots of the Nantes variety.
late ripening carrots
Late-ripening carrots are harvested in October. The vegetable is not afraid of the cold and can be in the garden until the onset of winter. Adaptability to long-term storage allows you to lay the root crop in the cellar before the onset of the new crop season. Among such varieties with a long ripening period, the best for the Moscow region are:
The Queen of Autumn
The “Queen of Autumn” got its name for a reason. This carrot has a high yield, which can reach 9 kg/m2. The taste of the root crop is excellent: the vegetable is sweet and very juicy. The length of root crops reaches record sizes and can surprise even an experienced vegetable grower. So, each carrot has a length of 20 to 25 cm. At the same time, the roots have an elegant conical shape and weigh only 180-200 grams. Carrots of the Queen of Autumn variety ripen in about 150 days after sowing. At the same time, a ripe vegetable is great for long-term winter storage.
The Emperor
Another carrot variety suitable for the Moscow region is the Emperor. This vegetable is not very productive, but its appearance and taste make it the best among equals. Carrot “Emperor” is dense, but at the same time juicy. When the root crop breaks, you can hear a characteristic sonorous crunch. A feature of the vegetable is also a sweet, fresh aroma. The taste of the root crop is excellent, because it contains a large amount of sugar and carotene.
A vegetable of this variety is sown in early May. It takes at least 160 days to mature. During this time, the root crop acquires a leveled cylindrical shape. Its length reaches 30 cm, and its weight is 150-180 gr. You can safely store vegetables until the next spring. During this time, they will not lose their taste and external qualities.
Conclusion
Surely not a single housewife in the kitchen can do without carrots. It is added to soups, main courses, pies and preservation. Candied fruits and baby purees are prepared from carrots. Every kid knows her taste from childhood. This prevalence is justified by the rich microelement composition of the root crop and its excellent taste. Growing carrots on your plot sometimes seems like a very painstaking task, because you need to plant very small seeds at certain distances, wait a long time for seedlings to appear, and then weed, thin out, loosen the crops and protect them from carrot flies in anticipation of a good harvest. But after all, all these worries can become much easier if you know some secrets of growing carrots and approach the process with skill. At the same time, it is worth remembering that for relatives and friends there is no tastier and healthier carrot than the one that is grown with love and care with your own hands.