List of carrot varieties intended for long-term storage
It is not enough to simply harvest a large harvest of carrots; it is much more difficult to create optimal conditions for its long-term storage.
There are many reasons that lead to spoilage of vegetable crops: high air temperature, increased dampness, infection with pathogenic microorganisms.
However, the main factor that determines the shelf life of vegetables is their belonging to a certain species.
Read the article about which varieties of carrots are best suited for long-term winter storage.
Content
Variety selection
The choice of variety is crucial in terms of keeping quality of carrots. Even healthy vegetables will rot and spoil in the cellar if they are not intended for long-term storage.
In order not to get confused in a gardening store, you need to focus on the following points:
- Preference should be given to regionalized varieties and hybrids. Such seeds are initially adapted to a specific climate, so they give a high yield and are better stored.
- If the harvest is planned to be sold, then it is recommended to choose varieties of foreign selection. They are smooth, beautiful and have increased shelf life.
- You can purchase seeds from foreign producers, but you will have to grow them in a greenhouse or with a large amount of fertilizer.
- Consider the final shape and weight of the carrots. Medium-sized root vegetables, not too long and not too small, are best stored.
- You need to be careful when buying round varieties of carrots. They ripen earlier than others, so they cannot lie for a long time.
- Take into account the climate in the region. If the summer period is short, then late-ripening varieties simply do not have time to ripen.
- Buy hybrid varieties marked F1. This provides some guarantee that the harvest will correspond to the properties stated on the seed package (if the manufacturer values its reputation).
If you plan to store the crop until the weather warms up, you should give preference to late-ripening varieties. Carrots collected in the second half of autumn will last longer.
The best
Each gardener has individual preferences in choosing carrot varieties. In order not to be left without a harvest, it makes sense to buy several varieties of seeds.
On sale you can find large, sweet, early and late varieties, which are quite suitable for winter storage.
Large
Large varieties of carrots should be planted in early May. Otherwise, they will not have time to reach maturity. The average weight of each root crop will be 200-300 g. Not all large varieties can be stored for a long time; some of them spoil very quickly.
In order not to lose the harvest, you need to pay attention to the following names:
- Canada F1. The variety ripens late, which ensures its good keeping quality. The weight of root crops is rarely less than 200 g. This variety gives the highest yield in central Russia.
- Russian size. The name of the variety is “talking”. The length of the root vegetables reaches 30 cm. The weight of one carrot can be equal to 1 kg!
The huge size does not affect the taste characteristics of the fruits or their keeping quality.In order for the crop to meet all the declared characteristics, it must be grown in light soil and do not forget to feed it with organic fertilizers.
- Losinoostrovskaya. This is a mid-season variety, the weight of which reaches 200 g, but the diameter of the carrots can be up to 6 cm. Vegetables are grown in central Russia and in the northern regions. Root vegetables keep well until the end of winter.
Sweet
Carrots will be sweeter the more sugar and carotene they contain. On sale you can find hybrids that are stored for a long time and do not lose their taste. These carrots can be eaten fresh and processed at your discretion.
The following varieties have sweetness and increased keeping quality:
- Darling. These are early-ripening vegetables that are resistant to cracking, so they can be stored until mid-winter. The length of the root crops is 15 cm, and the weight reaches 150 g.
- Karotan. The variety was bred in Holland. It belongs to the late-ripening variety and is harvested 40 days after germination.
Root vegetables contain a lot of sugars, carotene and dry matter, which has a positive effect on their taste.
With the right approach, the harvest will last until the weather warms up.
- Emperor. This is a late-ripening variety with a high carotene content. The fruits have a juicy, rich taste, dense and aromatic pulp. During storage, the Emperor only improves its taste characteristics. Under good conditions, vegetables remain edible for up to 9 months.
Early
Early varieties do not store very well, but this does not mean that you should stop growing them. You just need to eat such vegetables first.In addition, some varieties of early carrots can last until January.
The seeds are sown at the end of June and the harvest is harvested at the end of September.. The average growing season is about 3 months.
The best varieties of early carrots that can be grown for long-term storage:
- Alenka. The ripening period of the root crop is up to 85 days. The vegetables have a cylindrical shape, a pleasant taste and sufficient juiciness. The surface of the carrots is smooth, without bumps. In order for the harvest to last for a long time, the seeds must be planted in fertile soil and watered frequently. The average weight of 1 root vegetable is 100 g, and the length is about 15 cm.
- Artek. Seeds give high yields when planted in various types of soil. The variety was developed at the Transnistrian Research Institute of Agriculture.
It can be planted throughout Russia with the exception of the Middle Volga region.
Root crops ripen in 52 days, but for winter storage they are left in the ground for up to 65-86 days. Average weight – 80-110 g, length – 15 cm.
- Kuroda. The variety has high adaptive abilities, so it can be planted in any conditions. It is not afraid of heavy soils and diseases, and has high shelf life. The fruits can reach 20 cm in length.
Carrots of different varieties should be stored separately from each other.
Mid-season
When choosing seeds, you need to pay attention to the following names:
- Autumn King. Carrots store well. During the first 5 months, it accumulates vitamin A, so its benefits do not decrease. In general, the crop can remain edible for about 8 months. The average weight of the fruit is 150-200 g, and the length is 16-25 cm.
- Nandrin. This hybrid was bred by Dutch breeders, but it produces high yields and stores well. Carrots are successfully grown in the North-Western, Central, Ural, East Siberian and Far Eastern regions. Root crops have a flat, smooth surface and a cylindrical shape, and fully ripen in 105-115 days. The average weight of one copy is 100-120 g. The hybrid is resistant to disease and is suitable for long-term storage.
- Samson. The seeds were introduced in Holland; vegetables have been successfully grown in Russia since 2001. Samson carrots are cultivated throughout the country. The harvest is harvested 120 days after emergence. Root crops have a high shelf life. After 6 months, up to 86.7% of the crop remains fit for consumption.
Late
Late varieties of carrots are called autumn varieties. For their full ripening it takes 120 days or more. They give a high yield and are perfectly stored until spring..
If optimal conditions are created for them, the humidity level is adjusted and air temperature, then you can eat carrots until June.
Seeds under such names as:
- Dolyanka. The variety was developed by Polish breeders and has been successfully grown in Russia since 1997. The fruits have a conical shape and an average weight of 94-144 g.
Harvesting begins 140 days after emergence. Seeds are sown in the soil no later than May 5, and harvested from October 1 to October 30.
- Queen of Autumn. Russian breeders have been planting it since 2005. It gives an excellent harvest in the Central regions and the Far East.Harvesting begins 130 days after the first shoots appear. Without loss, you can keep the harvest in the cellar until spring.
- Flakke. This universal variety feels great both in central Russia and in Siberia. The variety was bred in Holland. The length of the root crops reaches 30 cm, and the weight is 200 cm. The crop does not lose its characteristics during long-term storage.
For winter storage
The following are best stored in winter: varieties:
- Forto,
- Queen of autumn
- Samson,
- Shantanay,
- Nuance,
- Lagoon,
- Caramel,
- Moscow winter,
- Dolyanka,
- Nandrin,
- Alenka,
- Artek,
- Canada,
- Romos,
- Sweet tooth,
- Perfection,
- Abledo et al.
For canning
Medium-sized root vegetables are chosen for preservation. They should not show signs of rot or deterioration.
You need to start preparing the preparations as soon as possible after harvesting:
- Lagoon. A universal variety that is good for canning and eating fresh.
- Non-Cancer. Root vegetables are cylindrical in shape with a bright red color. These carrots in jars look very beautiful.
- Carlena. Instances reach a length of 20 cm and weigh no more than 70 g. This variety is ideal for pickling.
For making juice
To prepare juice, it is better to choose early-ripening varieties that have juicy and sweet pulp, for example:
- Caramel. Carrots get their name from their sweet taste, which comes from their high saccharide content.
- Princess. Root vegetables have a sweet, delicate taste. If the entire harvest was not used to prepare juice, it can be safely sent to the cellar for storage. When fresh, it will last until mid-summer.
- Napoli. This Dutch hybrid has an excellent taste, so it makes an excellent juice that does not require added sugar.
How to increase the period?
Fresh carrots are stored in the cellar. To increase the shelf life of products, you need to consider a number of factors:
- Carefully sort the crop before storing it. Diseased, cracked or rotten fruits should not be placed in the common box.
- Take care of the cleanliness of the room. It must be thoroughly disinfected.
- Create optimal storage conditions: the air temperature should remain between 0 and +2 degrees, and the humidity should not exceed 95%.
- Avoid temperature changes.
- Use suitable containers. Carrots can be stored in clay, in sand, in wooden boxes (in onion or garlic peels) and in plastic bags.
Conclusion
The variety has a direct effect on the period carrot storage. Late-ripening varieties last the longest, although among early and mid-ripening varieties you can also find seeds that remain edible until the end of winter.
When choosing hybrids, you need to take into account many factors, ranging from weather conditions, characteristic of a particular region and ending with the final shape and weight of carrots.