Features of planting carrots in the Urals
Carrots are planted in almost all regions and climatic zones, since the diet cannot do without this vegetable. It is grown even in temperate regions such as Siberia, the Urals and others. But planting carrots in the Urals requires a special approach that takes into account climatic conditions and soil.
Features of planting carrots in the Urals
Features of planting carrots in the Urals
The Ural climate, types and qualities of soils differ from other regions of Russia. To get a good harvest there, it is important to take into account the peculiarities of planting carrots in the Urals. It is important to choose the time and place for sowing seeds, to properly prepare the beds.
Landing dates
You need to plant carrots in the Urals from mid to late April at an average air temperature of 12 ℃ during the day and 6 ℃ at night. The minimum temperature at which planting is possible is 5 ℃. If you plant seeds in cold ground, then the first shoots will appear late and they will grow much slower. However, in different territories of the Urals, the weather and climatic features are different, they affect the timing of sowing seeds:
- The South Urals is characterized by a relatively warm climate. The air temperature in the middle of spring is correct and suitable for sowing seeds.
- In the Middle Urals, carrots are planted in early May, but only if the ground is not covered with snow. Sometimes the sowing time is extended until the end of May. If the humidity level is high and the rules of agricultural technology are followed, the vegetables will grow quickly and store well.
- In the regions of the Northern Urals, planting is carried out from the end of May, since the climate there is colder.
In some cases, carrots are planted in the fall, but this is done very rarely, because Ural winters are very cold. Autumn sowing is best done after the soil temperature has dropped to 7 ℃. If you plant carrots in warmer soil, then it will sprout, which will immediately freeze with the onset of cold weather.
Seed preparation
The preparation of seeds before sowing has a great influence on the yield. Even if the seeds are sown in well-heated soil, they will grow slowly. To speed up this process, you need to germinate them. To do this, you need a damp cloth, it is better to moisten it with a solution of medium-strength ash. Wrap the seeds in this cloth and refrigerate for a few days.
After a certain time, the seeds will sprout. After taking them out of the refrigerator, dry them a little for 30 minutes. Then they will be ready for sowing.
Preparing the beds
For the harvest to be large and of high quality, prepare the beds for planting. Better to do this in the fall. For this:
- dig up the ground 10-15 cm deep so that the roots grow even and long;
- apply mineral fertilizers using a mixture of 10-15 g of urea, 15-20 g of potassium chloride, 30-40 g of superphosphate and 50 g of ash per 1 m²;
- add sand if the soil is not sandy and mature compost if the soil is lean.
You can not fertilize the beds with manure - the roots grow "shaggy", the roots acquire an irregular shape and lose their taste, and the duration of their storage decreases.
In the territories of the Middle and Northern Urals, where groundwater lies shallow underground, it is better to make carrot beds 1 m wide and 40 cm high. In the southern regions it is much warmer, therefore, the beds are made 70 cm wide and 30 cm high.However, the higher the beds are, the better the root crops will grow. This also prevents them from decaying.
The carrot beds are pretty tiny
Planting methods
The usual way
Planting in the usual way involves using simple purchased seeds. Take a cotton cloth, wrap the seeds in it and place in a special solution for 2 minutes. To prepare it, add 6 drops of Epin to a glass of water. Then remove the cloth, squeeze it out of the water well and leave the seeds to soak in the remaining moisture for 4 hours. After a while, rinse them with clean water and lay them out on a flat surface to dry.
Make transverse holes in the garden bed, the distance between which should be at least 10 cm. Place the seeds in the holes 3 cm deep and gently compact the soil. The first shoots will appear in 10 days in good weather conditions. The peculiarity of this sowing method is that thinning is required after germination. Experts also recommend covering the beds with material to protect the crop from carrot flies.
Sowing seeds in granules
Some carrot seeds are sold as granules that are large in shape. This method is simpler, but the disadvantage is incomplete germination of seeds. Because of this, sowing has to be repeated. Also, the disadvantage is that such seeds cannot be treated with special preparations that stimulate growth.
Compared to the conventional method, the first shoots of granular seeds appear much later. They require constant soil moisture. Large root crops grow from such seeds, but their taste is deteriorating.
Joint landing
Onions or garlic are planted next to the carrots, which scare away the carrot fly. The disadvantage of this method: when it comes time to harvest onions and garlic, they cannot be watered for several days the day before, but the carrots need moisture at this time. Therefore, there is a good option: divide the bed lengthwise into 2 parts, sow carrot seeds in the lower part, and plant onions or garlic in elevated areas.
Variety selection
There are many varieties of carrots, but not all of them are suitable for growing in the Urals. The most suitable are domestic varieties and their hybrids, which were specially bred and zoned for the Ural regions. Compared to foreign varieties, they have better taste and a longer shelf life. These are such species as: Viking, Alenka, Samson, Napoli F1, Vita Longo and many others - all of them are distinguished by good growth when the temperature drops.
When choosing a variety, read its description and features. Pay attention to the time of sowing the seeds, the ripening time of the root crops and the duration of their storage.
- imported varieties are suitable for quick sale - they are poorly stored;
- some species are suitable for late sowing, they keep well in winter;
- if you want to get unusual root crops, then select seeds of such varieties, in the description of which their characteristics are indicated: purple peel, round shape of fruits similar to beets, carrots with a smell resembling a nut, lack of a core in root crops;
- choose varieties that are resistant to cracking and various diseases.
It is better not to use carrot varieties that are not designed for the Ural weather conditions.
Conclusion
The Ural has its own climatic characteristics, therefore, in order to get a good harvest of carrots, you need to adhere to the rules of agricultural technology and choose the appropriate varieties of this crop.Also, proper care of the crop throughout the entire growing process plays an important role in obtaining high-quality root crops.