White core in carrots - why this happens

Ripe carrot root vegetable orange outside and inside. But it often happens that root crops grow in the garden, not with an orange, but with a white or pale yellow core. Having collected such a crop, summer residents wonder whether it is safe to eat this vegetable and why the color of the pulp has changed.

Why can carrots have a large and white core?

Wild carrots were originally white and had a pungent flavor. The vegetable acquired its usual orange color and sweet taste only in the 18th century thanks to Dutch breeders.

Reference! All modern vegetable varieties are, to one degree or another, hybrids. There are not only orange, but also yellow, white, red and even purple carrots. All of it is useful, but only if the pulp is evenly colored or its color is due to persistent varietal characteristics.

Root vegetables that are too large and white are not considered normal. If carrots with unusually colored pulp have grown in the garden, it is worthwhile to understand the reasons for this phenomenon and try to eliminate them.

Why are the carrots inside white or yellow, and not orange

The structure of the carrot root resembles a tree... In the transverse section of the vegetable, two parts are clearly visible. Above is the pulp (bark), and inside is the core (wood). A thin layer of cambium is located between them.

The most valuable are the varieties that have a thin core of the same color as the rest of the pulp. However, there are also multi-colored hybrids. For example, the Purple variety was created in the USA. From above it is colored purple, and the core is bright orange. These carrots are safe, healthy and look great in salads.

But if the manufacturer claims that the roots are colored in one color, but in fact the core turned out to be white or yellow, this means that the vegetable has accumulated an excess amount of nitrates.

Excess nitrogen

An incorrect feeding schedule often leads to changes in the color and shape of the root crops.

Reference! Any nitrogen fertilizers are aimed at stimulating the growth of green mass, so they are applied at the beginning of the growing season.

In the case of carrots, fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers is stopped at the beginning of July. An excess of this element causes the following problems:

1. Ugly hairy roots are formed on the root crop. This worsens the presentation of the vegetable, and the roots themselves deprive the plant of the nutrients necessary for the formation of a root crop with a uniform pulp.
2. Excess nitrogen leads to the fact that roots grow irregularly. In addition, nutrients are consumed to build up the tops, not to strengthen the root crop.
3. The high nitrogen content in the soil reduces the keeping quality of the vegetable. It becomes loose and watery and starts quickly rot during storage.

Lack of potassium and phosphorus

Potassium and phosphorus are key micronutrients necessary for growing a juicy, tasty and healthy vegetable. Lack of these substances leads to the formation of rough fibrous areas on the surface. Voids and loose areas of yellow or even white are formed inside the root crop.

Important. To get crispy and healthy carrots, special minerals are used - both complex and "salt" versions (superphosphate, potassium sulfate, etc.).If there is no desire to use industrial fertilizers, they are replaced with an aqueous solution of ash.

Poor quality seeds

The times when gardeners independently collected seeds from their gardens are long gone. Today, planting material is bought in specialized stores. But if the manufacturer did not follow the rules of agricultural technology, in the process of growing, they do not get orange roots, but white ones or with a light core.

The main rule is that cultivated carrots should not be cross-pollinated with wild species or other crops that produce white root crops... As a result, among the orange vegetables, either absolutely white specimens appear, or an outwardly full-fledged carrot has a white center.

Unfortunately, this process cannot be influenced. The only possible way out of the situation is not to buy seeds from a dubious producer.

Improper care

Improper care of carrots, as a result of which root crops with a white core appear, mainly consists in non-compliance with the feeding schedule.

For example, nitrogen fertilizers that stimulate the growth of green mass are applied to the soil only at the very beginning of the growing season, and in the middle of summer they are replaced with potassium and phosphorus preparations. Then the pulp of the root vegetables will be colored in a uniform orange color, will be sweet and crispy.

Diseases and pests

The disease itself or insect pests not able to change the color of the carrot pulp inside. But you can notice the manifestation of pathologies on the surface of the vegetable.

During the growing season, the following diseases most often occur:

1. Brown leaf spot: petioles and leaves are covered with small brown spots. Over time, the color of the leaves becomes brown and the tops dries up. As a result, defective root crops are formed. The only prevention method is the disinfection of the soil and planting material. There is no effective treatment for brown leaf spot.
2. Bacteriosis: manifested by yellowing of the tips of the leaves. Over time, they turn brown. Root crops are covered with brown rot spots. To prevent the development of pathology, soil disinfection and observance of crop rotation will help.
3. Felt disease: affects already grown root crops in warm and rainy weather. Gray spots are clearly visible under the skin. They contain spores of the fungus, which quickly spread throughout the garden. In order to prevent mass infection, the affected specimens are disposed of.

Other reasons

Failure to comply with crop rotation is one of the main reasons why the core of carrots may turn out to be light instead of orange.

It is extremely important to choose the right crops that will grow next to carrots. Do not plant celery, parsnips, root parsley and other root crops in the immediate vicinity. There is a high risk of cross-pollination, due to which the color of the flesh will change.

What to do and how to avoid a white heart in carrots

In order for the pulp to be crispy and evenly colored, some rules must be followed:

1. Disinfect the soil and planting material. The seeds are soaked in a pink solution of potassium permanganate, and the garden itself is watered with a hot dark pink solution of this substance. Such an event prevents disease and pest infestation.
2. Buy only quality seeds from trusted sellers. If the manufacturer of the planting material does not follow the basics of agricultural technology, carrots grow with a white core. This can be checked only at the stage of harvesting. If you managed to find a manufacturer with high quality seeds, it is better not to experiment and buy planting material only from him.
3. Follow the rules of agricultural technology. For carrots, a separate bed must be set aside, next to which there are no other crops that give root crops.During the growing season, vegetables are periodically fed, and nitrogen fertilizers are used only at the initial stage of growth, and later they are replaced with potassium and phosphorus preparations.

Is it possible to eat carrots with a white or yellow core

If the orange carrot with a white core was purchased from a store and not grown in the garden, it is better not to eat it. An unusual color indicates that the pulp contains a lot of nitrates, and the root crop is more likely to be harmful than beneficial. The high nitrate content is also evidenced by the greenish tint of the root crop top. Such carrots can be eaten, but the greenish area is cut off and discarded.

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Conclusion

On the modern seed market, there is a huge variety of varieties of carrots, not only orange, but also white, yellow and even purple. All these vegetables are good for the body, but if poor-quality seeds were used or the recommendations for growing were not followed, the core of the root vegetable often turns white or yellow. Therefore, it is extremely important to properly care for the plants, buy only high-quality seeds and strictly follow the recommendations for growing crops.