Как обеспечить богатый урожай моркови

Carrots require the right balance of nutrients, as a deficiency can lead to issues such as splitting with dark centers, leaf chlorosis, and reduced yield.

When growing carrots, it's important to consider not only fertilization but also soil pH. Carrots grow best in soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. If the pH is too low, you can add lime in the fall or two months before planting. If soil tests show a magnesium deficiency, use dolomitic lime.

Carrots thrive in soils high in organic matter, although using fresh manure at the beginning of the season is not advisable due to possible forking. Instead, it's better to use mineral fertilizers at the beginning of the season and organic fertilizers in the fall. If you plan to use manure or poultry manure, you can lime the soil no earlier than 10 days after applying these organic materials.

Carrots can be enjoyed raw, cooked, roasted, canned, or frozen. They are rich in vitamin A and grow well in full sun. Carrots are often planted near tomatoes, onions, garlic, lettuce, and beets.

Carrots planted near tomatoes have the brightest taste. However, it's important to maintain a certain distance between the carrots and their neighbors to avoid competition for soil phosphorus.

Today, we will discuss the method of growing carrots in rows.

Growing carrots involves more than just planting seeds in the ground and watering. To achieve a good harvest of uniform and beautiful roots, several steps need to be taken.

Carrots, like potatoes and radishes, produce the edible part underground, so proper soil nutrition is a key factor at the early stages. Proper fertilization allows for an impressive yield.

The first fertilization is done when preparing the bed. Nitrogen is key for abundant leaf growth and strong stems, but phosphorus and potassium are equally important for root development.

Use a complete NPK fertilizer - it will provide the necessary ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Choose a fertilizer low in nitrogen but high in phosphorus and potassium.

Distribute the fertilizer in the soil: use one cup measure per every 3 meters. Mix the fertilizer into the topsoil. It's important to evenly distribute the fertilizer to avoid clumps that can damage delicate seedlings.

After preparing the bed and setting planting rows, place a small amount of wood ash at the bottom of the planting furrows and rows. It contains soluble potassium needed for carrot growth and development.

Plant carrot seeds in rows and thin them out when the seedlings reach 10 cm in height.

The second fertilization is done after thinning.

Use the same complete NPK fertilizers, but with less nitrogen. Evenly spread two tablespoons of fertilizer per every three-meter row. Do not incorporate the fertilizer into the soil, simply distribute it evenly. Press the granules with your hand to prevent them from washing away in the rain.

The third fertilization is done when the foliage reaches 15 cm in height.

Pay attention to the color of the leaves and the overall condition of the foliage. If the foliage is weak and pale, it may indicate a boron deficiency. Use commercial liquid boron fertilizers or prepare a solution yourself.

To prepare the solution, take 2 grams of boric acid per 10-liter bucket of water. Distribute the remaining boric acid packets to use later for other plants. Spray the carrots once or twice during the season.

If the top leaves are pale, it may indicate a nitrogen deficiency. Add two tablespoons of mineral fertilizer per row, as indicated above.

If the leaves curl and the edges are scorched, it may indicate a potassium deficiency. Spray the plant with potassium foliar fertilizer or water the root with homemade fertilizer made from banana peels and eggshells.

The fourth fertilization is done at the end of June.

By the end of June, after the soil has warmed up, phosphorus fertilizers can be applied to carrots. You can use fish heads or liquid leaf fertilizers with phosphorus. Instead of mineral fertilizers, it's better to use bone meal to avoid splitting of the roots.