Carrots rotting in the cellar are a problem that many gardeners face. There are many reasons for spoilage of the root crop, this is an infection in the cellar, dampness and high air temperature during storage... But in most cases, flabby carrots in winter are the wrong variety choice.
The best varieties of carrots for winter storage
Every spring summer residents have the question of how to find the best carrots for storage for the winter among the abundance of beautiful bags of seeds... Many people choose by the photo on the package, but this is wrong. First, let's get acquainted with the most mature species. Then we will find out by what principle you need to choose a variety that retains its taste and presentation well in winter.
Mid-season
The mid-season group includes fruits with a growing season of 100 - 120 days. According to experts, these roots are sweeter and more juicy.
Mid-season carrots accumulate a maximum of nutrients by the time of harvest.
Consider the famous and popular among experienced gardeners:
- Nantes-4.
- Samson.
- Chance.
- Moscow.
Nantes-4
An old variety that gardeners in Siberia, the Urals, the Moscow region, in general, all regions, without exception, have been growing since the middle of the last century. It takes 120 days to mature... Bunch ripeness occurs after 50 days from germination. Carrots planted in May are ready for harvest in September. If there is not enough time for cleaning, it can be left in the ground until October. Nantes-4 in such a situation does not lose its presentation and taste. Average weight parameters - 150 g. Average length, within 20 cm. Important characteristics: yield from 6 kg per sq.m. and the shelf life is February.
Samson
Large carrots, which are stored in a cellar until May next year. Experienced agronomists recommend Samson to novice gardeners. It can be grown in any soil, in any climate. With timely sowing in early May, Samson will delight you with even, orange roots, almost without a core. The average length of the Samson root crop is 20 centimeters or more, weight up to 170 g... Ripens in 110 days from the appearance of the first shoots.
Chance
Stored until March. Root crops weighing up to 130 g have a good taste, are juicy, and have a classic conical shape. Subject to the sowing scheme recommended by the manufacturer (20 * 4 cm), the yield from 1 sq. m - 5 kg... Chance carrots love the sun, loose soil with a high percentage of humus (sandy loam, light loamy.).
Late, suitable for storage
Vegetable varieties with a growing season of more than 120 days are classified as late... Ripe carrots can be stored until the next harvest. This group of plants suffers less from diseases, carrot flies, rarely shoots.
Autumn queen
A wonderful variety from Altai breeders, deservedly named the queen. Root crops grown on fertilized, loose soil usually exceed the manufacturer's stated characteristics: weight 230, length 25, yield 9 kg / m².
Dolyanka
An interesting Polish representative, can be stored until spring. If the soil is infested with carrot fly larvae, then this strain will be a good choice for the next season. Resistant to fusarium and carrot fly... Forms fruits long, weighing from 130 g.
Flaccoro
Deserves attention, productive (from 8 kg / m²), with large (200 g), long (28 cm) rootscontaining a high percentage of carotene.
Sweet carrot varieties
The best root vegetables for baby food are sweet. They are more beneficial due to the high percentage of carotene. Among the late varieties that are sweet and can be stored for a long time, one can distinguish:
- Karotan;
- Beloved;
- Emperor.
Karotan
World renowned carrots are rich in carotene. It is recommended to be used as a raw material for processing. Carotan can be stored for a long time, its characteristics: deep orange color, cross-sectional diameter from 5 cm, length of root crops at least 25 cm.
Beloved
Sweet, perfect cylindrical shape. Ripe roots have an average length (15 cm) and weight (160 g), and are well stored. When sown in autumn, Favorite gives an early harvest in years rich in precipitation, does not crack.
Early
Already in June, you can enjoy fresh fruits if you plant an early variety with a growing season of 80 to 90 days in early spring. You can pick up a fruitful variety that will feed the family in the summer and will be well stored in the cellar.
Touchon
These are cylindrical, thin root crops, average length 15 cm, weight - 100 g. Productivity - 5 kg / m²... For winter consumption, can be sown in mid-June. To get early root crops, autumn sowing (October, November) is recommended.
Artek
An easy-care early variety. Artek can be stored well in the cellar. Burgundy-orange root crops with an average weight of 150 g and a length of 15 cm do not rot, juicy, tasty... For summer consumption, the fruits are ready in 1.5 months.
Fun F1
An early hybrid, ideal for summer beam production. Can be grown for winter consumption. Root vegetables are bright orange, not large from 50 gare of medium length.
Large
Large carrots are good for making healthy juice and Korean dishes. Here are the varieties to look out for next season:
- Canada F1;
- Nandrin F1;
- Russian size.
Canada F1
Unpretentious mid-late hybrid, gives good yields on heavy soil. Fruit weight from 130 to 500 g, length 20 cm, section up to 5 cm... The plant is characterized by sweet, juicy orange pulp.
Russian size
A variety that yields root crops weighing up to 1 kg on light, fertile soils. Norm for carrots - large diameter (6 cm)... The length is also not small - from 25 to 30 cm.
Nandrin F1
A popular hybrid from Dutch breeders among farmers. Short growing season up to 100 days. Carrots with a small core, cylindrical shape, do not crack. The average weight of Nandrin F1 is 150 g. Root crops grow up to 20 cm long.
How to choose carrots for storage
For beginners in the gardening business, choosing carrots suitable for long-term storage is a certain challenge. In a huge selection, it is easy to get lost and take the first packet with a beautiful picture. This is not worth doing. Here is a list of characteristics that will help you choose the right variety for storage:
- growing season from 115 days and more;
- does not crack;
- not susceptible to disease;
- suitable for growing in any climate, on any soil;
- does not arrow.
Conclusion
Long-term storage is not only the right type of carrot. This is the optimal planting time, proper care and the choice of the optimal way of storing root crops.