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Carrot
Daucus carota var. sativus Carrots are classified into six types;
being classified by shape and length.
-'Imperator' 8 to 10 in.
long
-'Danvers' 6 to 7 in. long
-'Nates' 5 to 7 in. long
- 'Chantenays' 4 to 5 in. long
-'Amsterdam' 2 to 3 in. long
-'Paris Market' are short and round Within each of these groups are many
different cultivars. SITE:
Plant in full sun. The soil
should be deep, loose, and cool. It
also should be high in organic matter, free of rocks, clumps, twigs and other
obstacles. The moisture should be
plentiful and consistent. Carrots
need a cool season of at least 65 to 80 days between 40 and 85 degrees. HOW
TO GROW: Before planting, till the
soil deeply to loosen the soil. Also
break up the clods and remove the stones so the roots can grow straight.
In the North, plant in the spring two to three weeks before the last
average date of the last frost. Make
subsequent plantings every two to three weeks until the midsummer.
Plant
the seeds 1/2 inch deep and about 1/4 to 1/2 inches apart in rows 12 to 16
inches apart. The seedlings should
be thinned to 2 to 3 inches so they have room to grow straight and thick.
Repeat the thinning process two or three times during the season, since
carrots usually germinate over several weeks.
Heavy or rocky soil can cause twisted or forked roots.
If you have this type of soil grow a short cultivar, or grow in raised
beds or containers. The
soil must be kept moist, particularly when the carrot seedlings emerge.
To prevent cracking, water less as plants near maturity.
Mulch to keep the soil cool and moist, stop crusting and keep weeds at a
minimum. Prevent exposed shoulders
from turning green and bitter by covering with soil. Prevent
maggots and carrot rust flies by covering young seedlings with a floating row
cover. Prevent blight by removing
the carrot plants at the seasons end and by growing the carrots in the same
place only once every three years. TO
HARVEST; pick anytime after the
full color develops; but while they are still tender. CULTIVARS:
Long types remain sweet longer that shorter types. Hybrids:
'Bertan', 70 days, remains sweeter longer, resists splitting, 6 inches;
'Ingot', 55 days, extremely sweet, 8 inches. Imperator:
'King Midas', 65 days, colors early, harvest when baby size or nearly
full sized, nearly coreless, crisp sweet; 'Blaze',
68 days, fresh taste, disease resistant, stores well. Danvers:
'Danvers', 70 days, tolerates heavy soil, high fiber, keeps well. Nantes:
'Napoil', 60 days, sweet, tolerates crowding, resists forking; 'Rondino',
64 days, high yields, sweet, brittle, uniform; 'Nantes Half Long', 69 days,
sweet, 8 inches long, good for heavy soil. Chantenay:
'Royal Chantenay', 70 days, dark orange, juicy, uniform;
'Chantenay Supreme', 70 days, deep orange, smooth skin, small core.
Amsterdam:
'Minicor', quick-rooting, uniform, good for canning. Paris
Market: 'Thumbelina', 60 days, 1- to 1 1/2-inch diameter, good color and flavor,
holds sweetness, tolerates crowding, container growing, and heavy soil;
'Planet', 68 days, orange-red, good flavor;
'Orbit', 50 days, sweet, resists splitting after maturity. |
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