Smooth and juicy: how to care for carrots after sowing

Carrots are one of the most popular vegetables, which are not only tasty but also very healthy. That is why it is an indispensable component of many dishes.

But growing beautiful, even, and juicy carrots is not an easy task. From the moment of sowing to harvesting, this vegetable requires special care, which the agronomist himself described in more detail.

Carrots need to be planted in light, fertile, well-structured soils with high aeration and good moisture permeability. However, this is not enough to get a good and tasty harvest.

First thinning and nitrogen fertilization

Approximately 3-4 weeks after germination, a full-fledged third leaf appears on the plant. This is when the first thinning should be done.

Before sunset, water the bed abundantly with water to make it easier to pull out the sprouts. The next day, early in the morning, you need to carry out the thinning procedure. The distance between the plants should eventually be about 2-2.5 cm.

Immediately after thinning, remove the torn-out fruits so as not to attract insects with the smell of carrots. Then loosen the soil around the remaining sprouts, tamp it down with your hands, and fill the holes with soil if necessary.

Also, immediately after thinning, it is worthwhile to carry out complex fertilization with a solution of urea and potassium magnesium or tincture of manure in a ratio of 1:15. The nutrient liquid is applied to the moist soil between rows and under the root.

Second thinning and potash fertilization

The second thinning is carried out 3-3.5 weeks after the first when the roots reach bunch ripeness, that is, the root diameter is 0.5-0.6 cm. It is important not to delay this procedure, as the root system of plants can become intertwined, making it difficult to remove excess seedlings.

The distance between plants after the second thinning should be 4.5-5 centimeters. This area allows carrots to develop harmoniously and increase the size of root crops.

After the procedure, the bed is again abundantly shed with water, and a second feeding is carried out using potash fertilizers. This can be an ash infusion prepared from 1/2 liter of ash per bucket of water, or a solution of potassium sulfate. To prepare it, stir 2 tablespoons of the substance in a bucket of water. For top dressing, 5 liters of liquid are used per linear meter of the garden.

The third top dressing

In early August, root crops are actively filled, so this period is optimal for potash fertilization, which contributes to the ripening process. To do this, use 1/2 cup of ash for each square meter of beds. It should be poured into the furrows between the rows or sprinkled on the soil around the seedlings. You can also prepare an ash infusion for irrigation or use a solution of potassium sulfate or potassium nitrate instead of ash (three dessert spoons per ten liters of water).

Watering carrots in summer

At the very beginning of the growing season and after the second thinning, the crop needs abundant watering, but the rest of the time you need to moisten the soil much less often. Remember that carrots are a drought-resistant crop, so they should be watered once a week only during heat and drought. The liquid should penetrate the soil to a depth of one layer.

Too frequent and superficial watering harms the plants, forcing their roots to grow close to the surface in search of moisture.

Hilling

At the end of July, to prevent the top of the fruit from turning green, it is recommended to huddle, raking the ground around each seedling.

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