Overview of the sweetest and most productive varieties and hybrids of carrots

Juicy, crispy carrots are one of the few vegetables that adults and children alike enjoy eating. Bright orange root vegetables are used to prepare soups, broths, salads, preparations for the winter, as well as light and healthy desserts.

Carrots do not require special growing conditions. The culture is unpretentious, undemanding to heat and grows on almost any soil. What varieties of carrots are the sweetest and most productive - we will tell in the article.

What determines the sweetness of carrots

The sweetness of the root vegetable depends on the variety chosen. Breeders have developed varieties and hybrids with a high sugar content. They even have names that say: Lakomka, Rafinad, Karamelka.

The amount of moisture in the soil during the growing period also affects the sweetness of carrots. With irregular or insufficient watering in the second half of summer, the sugar content in root crops decreases.

Another factor that influences the sweetness of root vegetables is soil acidity. Despite the fact that carrots grow well in both slightly acidic and slightly alkaline soils, pH above 6.5-7 units negatively affects the absorption of nutrients by plants and the taste of root crops.

The sweetest and most productive varieties and hybrids

Sweet crunchy carrots are a real treat that kids love. It is not only tasty, but also healthy. Root crops contain vitamins, fiber, as well as macro- and microelements necessary for the full functioning of the body.

Council. When choosing a variety, give preference to domestic varieties. Although the appearance of our root crops loses to foreign ones, the carotene content in them is higher, and the taste is better.

What is the sweetest and most fruitful carrot? Here is a description of several popular varieties and hybrids.

Sweetheart

Medium late grade. From the moment of emergence of seedlings to the onset of technical ripeness, 110-120 days pass. The shape of the root crops is cylindrical, with a blunt tip. The average weight of fruits is 100-140 g.

A distinctive feature is the high content of sugary substances in the pulp (up to 8.6%) and carotene (up to 16.5 mg / 100 g). This carrot is resistant to cracking and blooming.

Slastena is suitable for winter laying, fresh and frozen. Delicious in preparations and pickles.

Sweet crunch

Mid-season and high-yielding carrots... The weight of roots reaches 150 g. Fruits are cylindrical, blunt-pointed. The pulp is juicy and sweet, with a rich taste.

The advantages of the variety are resistance to cracking, flowering, good keeping quality. Judging by the reviews, sweet crunch carrots make a delicious juice.

Nantes 4

Popular mid-season carrots. It ripens in 80-100 days. It is undemanding to growing conditions, it is successfully cultivated in the Moscow region, and in the Urals, and in Siberia.

The pulp is orange, juicy, moderately sweet. The carotene content is increased (up to 19 mg per 100 g). Productivity - from 2.5 to 6.5 kg per m². The shape of the fruit is cylindrical, with a blunt, rounded top. The mass of root crops is from 100 to 160 g.

During storage, Nantes is not very susceptible to rot damage, retains its juiciness and firmness for long winter months.

Olympus

A late-ripening French variety. Yield indicators - from 5 to 12 kg / m². Root crops are large, even, weighing up to 130 g. The pulp is orange, juicy. Grows well in slightly acidic light soils.Keeps fresh for a long time without loss of taste.

Bolero F1

Early ripe hybrid... Root crops are medium in size, cylindrical in shape with a blunt top. The pulp is orange in color, juicy, high taste.

The advantage of the Bolero F1 hybrid is immunity to temperature extremes, resistance to Alternaria, powdery mildew, root rot.

Late sweet F1

This is the latest of the sweet hybrids. Root crops ripening period - 130 days or more. Fruits are conical in shape with a wide base. The pulp is sweet and juicy. Root crops grow up to 220 g.

From 1 m² collect from 4 to 6 kg of root crops. Suitable for processing and winter storage.

The earliest varieties of sweet carrots

The obvious advantage of the early varieties is the opportunity to enjoy sweet carrots in June. But they also have common drawbacks: short shelf life and less sweet taste than mid-season and late varieties.

Root crops in early varieties are medium-sized, yield is also inferior to mid- and late-ripening ones.

Interesting fact. Holtville, California, the world's carrot capital, hosts a carrot festival every year. At the festival, they choose the carrot queen, use orange fruits instead of sports equipment and prepare delicious carrot cakes.

First collection

Matures in 90-100 days. Roots are bright orange in color. The shape of the fruit is conical, with a pointed tip. The average length is 12-13 cm. The pulp is juicy, tender and sweet, with a high content of carotene.

Lenochka

The crop is harvested 80-85 days after germination. Fruits are cylindrical, large, up to 16 cm long. Weight - up to 150 g. The core is thin. The average yield is 4-5 kg ​​per m².

Hybrid Mother-in-law F1

Ripens in 80-90 days. The taste is delicate and sweet. Root crops are orange, cylindrical, blunt-pointed. The core is thin. Fruits grow up to 11 cm long, average weight is 150 g. The advantage of the hybrid is resistance to carrot fly attack.

Sweet varieties of carrots for children

Juicy crispy carrots are eaten with pleasure by children. This is not only tasty, but extremely healthy delicacy. Here is a description of the varieties that kids especially like.

Baby sweet

Medium early grade. The pulp is beautiful, bright orange in color. Differs in a high content of carotene (up to 15 mg per 100 g) and sugary substances (up to 8%). Root crops are cylindrical, blunt-pointed, up to 20 cm long. The pulp is juicy, tender and sweet.

The variety is recommended for fresh consumption, making juices and purees. Differs in high keeping quality. Resistance to diseases average.

Caramel

Medium late carrots... Root crops are of medium length, conical, blunt-pointed. The color of the skin and pulp is orange. Differs in excellent taste. It is good both fresh and in blanks. Suitable for freezing. Keeping quality is high. The variety is resistant to cracking and blooming.

Honey

One of the best varieties of carrots, both in appearance and in taste. Root crops are long, straight, cylindrical in shape... The color is orange-red, the core is small.

Honey carrots are recommended for baby and diet food. A distinctive feature is resistance to bacterial and black rot, powdery mildew. The best yield indicators are on sandy loam and loamy soils.

Sweet Tooth F1

Late ripening carrots. It ripens in an average of 120 days. Root crops are conical, large (up to 20 cm in length and 2.5 cm in diameter). The pulp is firm, juicy and sweet. Differs in a high content of carotene.

The sweet tooth carrot variety is characterized by excellent keeping quality. Used to prepare baby food.

Why carrots can taste bitter

During growth and storage, carrot pulp often becomes bitter. Main reasons:

1. Seed material from unscrupulous producers. For example, if a hybrid is planted not F1, but F2, it will have a bitter taste.
2. Wrong choice of variety. Early maturing and mid-early varieties are not intended for long-term storage, over time they begin to taste bitter.
3. Non-compliance with storage conditions. If the optimal storage conditions are violated (air temperature + 1-2 ° C, humidity 70-80%), then root crops affect diseases and pests, which also leads to a deterioration in taste.
4. Lack of potassium in the soil. Potassium is necessary for carrots for sweetness and keeping quality. The available natural source of this element is wood ash. It is useful for her to powder the aisles throughout the summer.
5. Delay in harvesting. If they are untimely removed from the garden, the roots begin to take root in the soil and lose their sweetness. Over-sitting in the ground is most critical for early-maturing varieties.
6. Placing carrot beds next to apple trees. The close proximity spoils the taste of root vegetables and apples. The first spring flight of the carrot fly coincides with the flowering of fruit trees, which attracts the pest.

Conclusion

When choosing a carrot variety, be guided by the goals of growing the root crop. If you want to delight homemade crispy fruits in early summer, choose early-maturing sweet varieties and hybrids. If your goal is to stock up on vitamin roots for the long winter months, get seeds of mid-season and late varieties. They contain the maximum amount of carotene and sugars.