How to determine when to store carrots from the garden

Timely harvesting of root crops is a guarantee of them long storage in winter without loss of taste. This statement is also true for carrots. If you dig it up too early, the vegetables will quickly become flabby and dry, if delayed with harvesting, they will begin to sprout and become tasteless.

Below we will tell you in detail about when to remove carrots from the garden for storage and how to do it correctly.

Optimal harvest time

When deciding when to pick carrots from the garden, several factors are taken into account. The region of cultivation, and the characteristics of the variety, and weather conditions, and the phase of the moon are taken into account.

Depending on the region

The climatic conditions of the southern regions of Russia differ sharply from those in Siberia. Therefore, the timing of harvesting carrots in these regions is also different.

When to start digging? When the average daily temperature drops to + 4 ... + 5 ° С. At this time, carrots stop growing, and it makes no sense to keep them in the ground longer.

Need to know! Overexposure of root crops in the garden leads to the fact that the carrots put down new roots. And this impairs its taste.

When are carrots dug up for the winter, depending on the region? Here are the average harvest times.

In the middle lane

The middle zone includes the European part of Russia from the borders with Belarus in the west to the Volga region in the east and from Karelia in the north to the Black Earth region in the south. In this region, the orange beauty is dug up in October, choosing a dry sunny day.

In the Urals and Siberia

In areas with a harsher climate and short, cool summers, carrots are dug up in the second half of September, since frosts already begin in October. Frozen root crops are poorly stored in winter and quickly rot.

In the southern regions

When are carrots dug up for the winter in the south? Here, harvesting is carried out until late October - early November. The climatic conditions of the southern regions make it possible to grow two root crops per season.

Depending on the variety

Distinguish between early maturing, mid-maturing and late varieties of culture. The approximate ripening times for each variety are indicated on the seed package.

Early varieties and winter carrots

Early maturing varieties are dug up 80-90 days after sowing. And to get bunch of products, the crop is harvested in 1-2 months.

Attention! Root crops of early ripening are not laid on winter storage... They are eaten immediately or used for blanks... Carrots sown before winter are also harvested in the middle of summer and are not used for long-term storage. If you overexpose it in the ground, the roots will crack and become tasteless.

Mid-season varieties

Mid-season varieties are harvested 80-110 days after planting. Yellowed lower leaves testify to maturity. These root vegetables, like late carrots, are excellently stored in winter.

Late varieties

Late-ripening varieties are harvested later than all others - 125 days after sowing. Such roots contain the most sugars and are stored without loss throughout the winter.

Depending on the weather

Harvested on a dry sunny day. It is advisable that there was no rain a few days before.This will simplify the process of digging up and cleaning the root crops of adhering dirt.

Cool, dry weather is not a reason to leave vegetables in the ground for longer than expected. Roots will take root and become tough and bitter in taste.

Lunar calendar

The moon affects the movement of cell sap in plants. Harvesting is recommended in a declining phase when the circulation of the liquid is slowed down. In the intermediate periods (with a full moon, new moon or eclipse), it is undesirable to carry out any gardening work.

According to the lunar calendar, favorable days for harvesting root crops in 2019 are: in September - 8.9, 16-21, 25, 26; in October - 3-6, 15-19, 22-25.

The eastern horoscope directly affects the development of plants. The passage of a satellite in Aries and Leo is considered favorable, neutral - in Capricorn, Taurus and Gemini, negative - in Virgo and Pisces.

Signs that the crop is ready for harvest

The ripening times indicated on the seed packages are a rough guideline. Depending on the growing conditions, the onset of ripeness may shift in one direction or another.

The following signs of ripeness will help determine a specific harvest date:

• yellowing of the lower foliage;
• regrowth of thin roots on root crops;
• cracking of root crops.

Cleaning technology

A dry, sunny day is chosen to dig out the crop. If there has been no rain for a long time and the soil is dry, it is better to water a little 1-2 days before harvesting the beds. It is easier to extract roots from moist soil without damaging the thin skin.

If the soil in the garden is loose, they are pulled out by the tops by hands - vertically so as not to break off the carrots.

If the soil is heavy and dense, first carefully dig in with a pitchfork or a shovel.

When the crop is dug up, it is cleaned of adhering dirt, the tops are removed and dried for 2-3 hours. It is not recommended to wash carrots before placing them for long-term storage, as there is a high risk of damage to the thin carrot skin. Pathogens of fungal diseases enter vegetables through scratches and wounds.

Removing the tops

The tops of root crops are cut immediately after digging. Leaves that have not been removed continue to evaporate moisture, causing the carrots to wilt.

Here are three main ways to remove carrot tops:

1. Twisting. Some summer residents believe that this improves the keeping quality of root crops.
2. Cut with a sharp knife or scissors. This method is suitable for short-term storage. If you leave these roots until spring, new greens will begin to grow from the petioles.
3. Cutting greens together with the top of the root vegetable (growing point). In this form, the carrots will remain until spring without germinating.

Storage preparation

Removed from the garden, peeled carrots without tops are transferred to a ventilated place for drying. You cannot leave root crops in the sun, as they will quickly wither. After a few hours, the carrots are inspected, sorted and laid out in boxes.

Council. Do not send root vegetables showing signs of damage or disease to the cellar. A few spoiled specimens will ruin the entire crop in a short time. Fold them separately and use them for preparation or cooking.

Carrots, laid out in boxes, are kept for several days at a temperature of + 10 ... + 13 ° С to cool and heal minor injuries. The vegetables are then transferred to storage.

Storage methods

Several storage methods are known to keep vegetables fresh for several months. Whichever method you choose, keep in mind that the optimal air humidity for storing fresh vegetables is 90-95%, and the temperature is from +1 to + 3 ° C.

In sand

The popularity of this method due to its availability and effectiveness. The sand absorbs moisture, prevents rot and ensures a constant temperature.

Need to know! If you plan to place the boxes in a cold cellar, use damp sand to sprinkle the roots.If the temperature in the storage area is higher than + 6-7 ° C, it is better to use dry sand.

A 5 cm layer of sand is poured on the bottom of the box. A layer of carrots is spread on it so that the roots do not come into contact with each other. A layer of sand is again on top, etc. Instead of boxes, old buckets and basins are suitable as containers.

In onion or garlic skins

In this case, the carrots in the boxes are abundantly sprinkled with onion or garlic husks. The active substances contained in onion and garlic peelings prevent the growth of fungi and bacteria, and therefore the appearance of rot.

In sawdust

Similarly, carrots are stored in sawdust boxes. The best option is sawdust from coniferous trees. The phytoncides contained in them prevent the germination of root crops and prevent the development of fungi and bacteria.

In plastic bags

In small plastic bags, carrots are also stored for a long time without loss. Open bags are placed in a cellar or basement. If they are tied, be sure to make holes for ventilation. Then condensate and carbon dioxide will not accumulate inside.

In clay

An effective, but labor-intensive way of storing root crops. Each carrot is dipped in clay, diluted with water to the consistency of sour cream, and dried. Root crops are folded in boxes or cardboard boxes and stored in a cellar or basement.

In the freezer

It is convenient to process and freeze carrots rejected during sorting. So it will definitely not deteriorate. Root vegetables are thoroughly washed, crushed with a grater or food processor, laid out in bags and sent to the freezer. Such blanks are convenient to use when preparing soups and vegetable dishes.

Conclusion

To correctly determine the date when to pick carrots, take into account the growing region, varietal characteristics, as well as signs of readiness of vegetables for harvesting. It is important to properly prepare the harvested crop for storage. Then juicy crunchy root vegetables will delight you with excellent taste until spring.