What to do if the carrots are not sweet or juicy and why this happens

Gardeners often wonder why carrots grow unsweetened and juicy. Choosing the right variety is only half the battle. There are several factors that are important to consider when cultivating this vegetable. In the article, we will tell you how to grow large and sweet carrots on the site.

What affects the sweetness of carrots

The sweetness of the vegetable is influenced by the characteristics of the variety, soil or mistakes in care. The most common reasons are:

1. Lack of potassium and phosphorus in the soil. These micronutrients improve the accumulation of sugars in carrots and other root vegetables.
2. Excess nitrates in the soil. They affect not only the taste of a vegetable, but they accumulate when consumed and can harm human health.
3. Late harvest. If you overexpose ripe carrots in the ground, they acquire a salty taste. It can be hidden in dishes, but the vegetable becomes unsuitable for consumption raw.
4. Insufficient watering. The taste of the root vegetable changes especially noticeably during dry seasons. Carrots need frequent watering. As it matures, the amount of moisture can be reduced.
5. Varieties bred for a long storage, may have a slight bitterness and herbiness in taste. Moreover, these qualities do not appear immediately, but 2-3 weeks after excavation.

Factors affecting the quality of the root crop

When growing carrots, attention is paid to soil composition, lighting, watering and other conditions that affect the taste and quality of the crop.

Predecessors

Before planting carrots, check what has been grown on this site before. Crops that have occupied the garden can affect the taste of the root vegetable, positively or negatively.

Ideal “predecessors” that will benefit root crops:

• cucumbers;
• tomatoes;
• potato;
• cabbage;
• garlic;
• onion.

Do not plant carrots after growing:

• parsley;
• dill;
• parsnip;
• celery.

Place of cultivation

The key to delicious carrots is a well-lit place. On darkened beds, the yield drops, and the taste of the vegetable deteriorates sharply. Therefore, it is important to choose a flat area for her, on which the sun's rays fall all day.

Important! It is not recommended to grow carrots in the same place for several years in a row. It is advisable to change it every season.

Soil preparation

Even the best varieties will not be able to fully express their taste in the wrong land. Heavy, clayey or acidic soil is fatal for carrots. In such a soil, the roots are small, deformed and with an unpleasant, herbaceous taste. A large number of small roots on root crops is also a sign of improper soil composition.

To get a sweet and juicy harvest, the vegetable is planted in light sandy or loamy soil. The acidity level should be low or neutral. Carrots prefer loose and fertile soil. It is desirable that the arable layer be at least 28-32 cm.

Important! To improve the quality of the harvest and the taste of carrots, potassium and phosphorus are added to the soil in autumn (before spring planting). They are necessary for the formation of sweet, even and beautiful root crops for the next year.

Boarding time

It can be planted in early spring, early summer or autumn. Carrots are cold-resistant crops. Its seeds will sprout even at a temperature of –3… –4 ° С. But for landing it is advisable to wait until the soil warms up to at least + 3 ... + 5 ° С. Before winter, carrots are planted in late October - early November.

Important! It is not recommended to plant winter varieties earlier than the end of October. Carrots can sprout and die when frozen. The "third wave" of landing is relevant for central Russia. In areas with more severe climates, seeds can die even under a thick layer of covering material.

Early ripening and winter varieties are not suitable for winter storage, but will provide fresh carrots on your table. Vegetables planted in June can easily be stored until spring.

For planting in early spring, the beds are prepared in autumn, the seeds are soaked in water to accelerate germination. The seeds of "summer" carrots are not soaked, they sprout quickly anyway. Sowing is most convenient on a belt, so as not to thin out the beds later.

Fertilizers

For normal development, it is enough to feed carrots 2-3 times per season. The first fertilizer is applied 2-3 weeks after germination.

Use the composition:

• potassium nitrate - 20 g;
• urea - 15 g;
• concentrated phosphorus fertilizer - 15 g;
• water - 10 liters.

The second time, the soil must be fertilized after another 2-3 weeks. A solution is suitable:

• potassium chloride - 20 g;
• complex mineral fertilizer - 20 g;
• water - 10 liters.

If the culture develops poorly, has pale leaves, there may be a lack of nitrogen in the soil. To compensate, the carrots are fertilized with bird droppings or mullein. For 1 bucket of water - 1 liter of the product. To enhance the effect, add a little urea. To keep the crop better, a month before harvesting, the vegetable is fed with potassium chloride. And for the sweet carrot taste, wood ash is used: at the rate of 100 g of ash per 1 m².

Important! Fresh manure is not suitable for fertilization. It will attract pests and aggravate the situation.

Watering mode

Lack of moisture is one of the main reasons for the bitterness and wilting of the root crop. Carrots are watered once every 3-5 days with water at room temperature. Watering directly from a well, well or water supply is undesirable. A weak root system does not absorb low temperature water. It can also provoke root rot. It is better to let the water settle and warm up in a special container.

In order not to flood the plant, especially at the germination stage, a watering can with a splitter and low water pressure is used for watering. Hose watering will have to be abandoned. A garden bed with a grown vegetable is watered so that the ground is moist to a depth of 30 cm.

Important! Water the carrots in the evening. This will protect the plant from moisture evaporation.

Thinning

To get large and even root crops, it is important to avoid thickening of the crops. The first thinning will be needed as soon as real leaves appear on the plants. At this moment, the distance between the "neighbors" is about 2-3 cm. If the seeds were planted sparsely, this stage can be skipped.

The signal for re-thinning is the appearance of two pairs of leaves. Now the distance between the carrots is doubled.

Weeds

Weeding carrots is a must: weeds draw strength and sweetness from carrots. Weeds are removed as soon as they appear, their roots are still weak and can be easily removed from the soil.

If the carrots are planted in even rows, the aisles are periodically loosened. To do this, use a Fokin plane cutter or any other convenient tool. An alternative is to cover the aisles with foil strips.

Diseases and pests

One of the advantages of carrots is that they are less susceptible to diseases and pests. Its main enemy is the carrot fly. The presence of the parasite can be seen by the swirling leaves. However, she will attack the crop only if she makes mistakes in leaving. The carrot fly prefers weedy, thickened or overly damp beds. If an insect has appeared, preparations "Inta-vir" and "Actellik" will help to get rid of it.

With a general immunity to diseases, carrots can be affected by Alternaria ("black rot") or phomosis. To reduce the risk of disease, the beds are treated with a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid.

The sweetest and juiciest varieties of carrots

The best results and yield will be ensured by proper carrot care and the right choice of variety. Here are a few varieties preferred by experienced gardeners.

The sweetest varieties and hybrids:

• Maestro F1;
• Children's sweet;
• Emperor;
• Bolero F1;
• Caramel;
• Amsterdam.

The largest varieties and hybrids:

• Canada F1;
• Nandrin F1;
• Nantes 4;
• Shantane;
• Yellow carrots;
• White carrots.

Conclusion

The sweetness and juiciness of carrots is influenced by many factors from insufficient watering to a lack of trace elements in the soil. To get a decent harvest, choose the right variety and place in the garden, prepare the soil, fertilize and remove weeds on time. Observe the watering regime and prevent the appearance of pests.