Mini carrots
Content:
Before you start picking carrot seeds, you first need to find the best variety that will work well in your soil. Mini carrots were bred by specialists specifically for the preparation of various dishes, preservation. Different varieties have different taste, appearance, but they all have a good, and most importantly, constant harvest. Scientists say that it is in mini-carrots that there is a large amount of carotene, which is necessary for children's health.
Mini carrots: where does it grow?
Gardeners usually plant such carrots during the winter. Therefore, planting and caring for mini carrots is slightly different. Cultivation work should be planned earlier, fertilizing the land before planting in the spring.
After winter, the earth needs various fertilizers, especially organic and mineral fertilizers. If your soil is highly acidic, lime or chalk should be added to it. Substance solution: (300 ml) per 1 square meter.
Note: mini carrots need a soil with a high humus content, as well as good air and moisture permeability. If you want to get a good harvest, then drainage is essential.
Planting material must be prepared before sowing begins. The seeds of mini-carrots should be kept for 2-3 hours in warm water, and then kept in a damp cloth for 24 hours.
After the seeds have swollen, they must be hardened. This process consists in keeping the seeds in the refrigerator for 72-96 hours. Hardening will allow the plant to fight frost on its own while in the soil.
Planting mini carrots
Mini carrots: photo
Mini carrots are planted according to certain instructions:
- In the selected area, make longitudinal grooves, the depth should be 2-3 centimeters.
- There should be more than 20 centimeters between furrows.
- The distance from the end of the ridge to the original row should be 13-14 centimeters.
Since mini-carrots have small roots, they can be covered with foil for better growth and development. So the carrots will take root faster. The film can only be removed after 5 sheets appear on each carrot.
Daily inspection of carrots is very important, as the ground must always be moist, otherwise the plant will dry out.
The very first feeding of mini carrots is carried out 2 weeks after numerous shoots. Before fertilizing the plant, it must be thinned out and only strong shoots should be left. Weak and small seedlings should be removed. After the carrots have been thinned, you need to loosen the soil well.
The fertilizer recipe is very simple. You will need 50 grams of Kalimagnesia and 10 liters of warm water. All components are mixed, and the resulting solution is poured over the carrots. Further feeding is standard, 20 grams of urea, 25 grams of nitrate and 10-12 liters of warm water are used.
Mini carrot varieties
Mini carrots are quite popular as they adapt well in many parts of the world.
The most popular varieties are as follows:
- Caracas
Mini carrots Caracas: photo
This variety is one of the best, as it must be grown in a small area in the open field. This variety grows well in all regions and regions of the Russian Federation, as well as in Western Siberia.
If this variety is planted too tightly together, it will still have smooth fruits with an interesting taste. Usually, the root crop reaches a length of 12 centimeters, and its weight ranges from 70 to 90 grams. But when you follow the sowing instructions, the weight of the carrots increases to 160 grams.
Caracas has a lot of leaves, so the collection of this variety is simplified, especially if you have a large planting area.
- Carotel
Mini carrots Caracas: photo
This variety differs from the others in its long shelf life. It is often used for freezing and transportation, as it perfectly retains its appearance and taste of the root crop. It is also used in conservation.
The ripening period depends on weather conditions, but on average it is 90-105 days. This variety brings a very large harvest, which is why it is popular in the Russian Federation.
The root crop has a very beautiful appearance, bright orange in color. The length can reach up to 14 centimeters, the mass ranges from 60 to 80 grams. The most important feature of this variety is that it copes well with viruses, diseases and pests, as it has good immunity.
- Marlinka
Mini carrots Caracas: photo
This variety belongs to the Shartane type, it was bred by scientists specifically for the cold regions of the Russian Federation. The fruits of this variety have the correct cone shape, they are small in themselves. The surface of the carrot is smooth and practically has no eyes, the root crop is bright orange.
The mass of the root crop ranges from 70 to 140 grams, the length does not exceed 9 centimeters. A feature of the variety is that it has a very large harvest, and it also ripens quickly, about 85 days after planting. On average, about 65,000 kilograms of mini carrots can be obtained from 1 hectare.