The planting time and key points for carrots
The key points for growing carrots are as follows:
Firstly, the selection of the planting site and fertilization. The land for growing carrots must be chosen with deep soil, good drainage, and few weeds. Only sandy loam soil with these characteristics can achieve high yield and quality. To ensure fast and uniform seedling emergence, the land must be deeply plowed and fine raked. Each acre should be fertilized with 1000-2000 kilograms of decomposed manure (the fertilizer must be well decomposed), 8-10 kilograms of superphosphate, and 100-200 kilograms of lime. The fertilizer should be mixed into the soil, leveled, and then the beds should be opened. Generally, high ridged cultivation is adopted for carrot planting, with a bed width of 100-130 centimeters and a height of 15-20 centimeters.
Secondly, the selection of carrot varieties. Carrots can be classified into red-skinned and yellow-skinned based on their flesh color, shape, and growth period. There are many varieties of carrots, and generally, varieties that are suitable for local planting conditions and have high yield and good quality should be selected for cultivation.
Thirdly, seed treatment. Due to the special structure of carrot seeds and the fact that sowing occurs during the hot and dry summer season, it is easy to cause difficulties in germination and emergence. Therefore, before sowing, the prickles on the seeds should be rubbed off to separate the two halves of the fruit and make the seeds single grains, so as to ensure even sowing. Carrot seeds absorb water slowly and germinate late. Before sowing, they must be pre-germinated to sprout earlier. The method of pre-germination is to soak the rubbed-off prickles seeds in 40℃ warm water for 2 hours, then remove them and place them in a 20-25℃ indoor environment for pre-germination. Maintain appropriate humidity and regularly turn over to ensure uniform temperature and humidity. When most of the seeds' embryonic roots are exposed, sowing can be carried out.
Fourthly, sowing. The sowing method for carrots is to add 2-5% of rape seedlings during sowing. On the prepared sowing bed surface, sprinkle diluted animal and human urine first, wait until the diluted animal and human urine has penetrated the soil, then sow or broadcast in rows at a 15-20 centimeter row spacing. After sowing, cover 1.5-2 centimeters of fine soil and then cover with straw to reduce temperature and maintain moisture. The first to emerge are rape seedlings, which can provide shade for the carrot seedlings. During the second round of thinning, remove the rape seedlings.
Fifthly, sowing quantity. For sowing, each acre uses 1-1.5 kilograms of seeds for scattering, and 0.7 kilograms for broadcasting.
Sixthly, thinning and weeding. Generally, carrots emerge 7-10 days after sowing. Thinning is usually carried out 2-3 times. The first thinning is done when there are 1-2 true leaves, removing inferior and weak seedlings and leaving a seedling spacing of about 3 centimeters. The second thinning is done when there are 3-4 leaves, and if a final thinning is done, the row spacing should be 12-15 centimeters. The third thinning and final thinning are carried out when the seedlings have 4-5 leaves.
Seventhly, watering and fertilization. To ensure uniform emergence, keep the soil moist. The soil moisture content should be 60-80%. When the leaves grow vigorously, appropriate water control should be carried out to prevent excessive growth. During the period of carrot enlargement, pay attention to watering to promote the rapid enlargement of the flesh root.
Eighthly, fertilization. The main fertilizer for carrots is base fertilizer, and top dressing is usually done 2-3 times. Well-decomposed animal and human manure or chemical fertilizers are preferred. The first top dressing is done when there are 3-4 leaves, and the second is done after final thinning. Due to the sensitivity of carrots to fertilizers, do not apply fertilizers with excessively high concentrations.
Ninthly, pest and disease control. The diseases of carrots are less than those of other vegetables. Sometimes, black leaf blight and rot diseases occur. Black leaf blight is mostly caused by drought, so strengthen water and fertilizer management in the field, and if the plants are healthy, the disease will be less likely to occur. If diseased plants are found, remove them promptly and spray Bordeaux liquid to prevent spread. Rot diseases occur mostly in hot and rainy seasons, presenting as root rot, yellowing and wilting of leaves. Follow a reasonable rotation, fully expose the soil, remove the diseased plants promptly, and disinfect them with lime to prevent spread.
The pests of carrots mainly attack the seedlings with larvae of the cabbage moth. When such damage is detected, spray the following solutions: 90% malathion at 1000 times dilution, 50% dichlorvos at 800-1000 times dilution, and 50% phosphine at 2000-2500 times dilution.
The tenth measure is to prevent early bolting of carrots and prevent cracking and splitting of the carrot tubers: When the tubers of carrots are not yet mature enough for consumption, if they encounter temperatures of 1-5℃ and long days of more than 12 hours, the carrots will bolt prematurely, losing their edible value. The key to preventing early bolting of carrots lies in choosing pure and suitable varieties, selecting the appropriate sowing period, strengthening field management to promote leaf growth. The measures to prevent cracking and splitting of the carrot tubers are: deep ploughing the land, removing hard debris during land preparation. Do not use fresh manure, and plant at an appropriate density.
