Carrots are a healthy and tasty product that is especially nice to see on the table in winter. Keeping this root vegetable fresh and harder than rot is more difficult than other vegetables. The initial stage of preparation for storage is the right choice of seeds.
What grades of carrots are better to buy for long aging? We will talk about this and many other things in this article.
How to make the right choice?
Even large and healthy carrots can begin to turn black and rot over after several months of storage. Such an unpleasant situation occurs while maintaining the optimum temperature and humidity conditions. This is explained by the wrong choice of carrot varieties.
Experienced gardeners say that the duration and quality of storage depend on the time of planting and ripening of the root. In order not to get lost in the variety of varieties and hybrids, it is important to consider some nuances.
- It is preferable to buy varieties of domestic breeding, as they are adapted to the soils and climate of our country.
- Seeds of foreign producers may have a better appearance, but require certain growing conditions (only in the greenhouse or with an abundance of additional fertilizing).
- Long root crops are suitable for loose soil that is saturated with oxygen. To lay in the cellar you need a second crop, which was planted in early summer.
- Round carrot ripens quickly and has a low yield.
When selecting a variety, it is important to pay attention to the resistance to cracking., because even a small crack on the surface of the root is a free path for the penetration of harmful bacteria and fungi. If the carrot is compromised, it can be stored for no more than 2 months.
Learn more about suitable varieties of carrots and the shelf life can be found here.
Late maturity group
This group includes root vegetables that ripen in 120-140 days after germination. Among the features - adaptation to cold and resistance to disease. With a long maturation of carrots does not lose the taste, all useful properties are preserved. Learn late varieties for long-term storage can be a characteristic form: the root is long and spiky.
So which varieties are in the group?
Queen of autumn
Ranked first in quality. The average fruit weight is 200 g, length is 20-25 cm. The time from germination to technical maturity is 125 days. Root vegetables can be used for fresh consumption or for preservation. In the basement or cellar is stored until May-June, does not lose commercial qualities.
Flaccoro
Maturing term - 110-120 days after emergence of shoots. Carrots bright orange color, elongated shape, juicy flesh. Consumer properties are not lost during storage.
Vita Long
Recently bred variety. It has a relatively long growing season - about 140 days. Recommended for winter storage, but consumed fresh.
Karlena
Maturation term - 130 days. Feature - high sugar content in fruits (not recommended for people with diabetes). Under the rules of storage carrots lie until the spring months.
Mid-season vegetables
The ripening period varies from 90 to 120 days. Fruits contain nutrients, have excellent taste. When choosing a variety you need to pay attention to the following names.
Samson
Carrots are distinguished by unpretentiousness in cultivation.. There is no core, carotene, vitamins, microelements are present in the pulp in a large volume. Variety adapted to the domestic climate. Root vegetables are stored until summer, as are late-ripening varieties.
Vitamin
The variety is bred by breeders especially for winter laying. Vegetation period - 110 days. The length of the fruit - 17 cm. Easy care and moderate watering affect the juiciness and taste of carrots.
Shantane
Mid-season and high-yielding variety. Aging time is 90-110 days. Root crops do not choke during transportation, do not crack during storage.
NIIOH-336
Feature - rich bright orange color. The length of the carrot reaches 18 cm, weight - 120 g. It grows even in areas of high risk farming. Characterized by high rates of keeping quality.
Early
Early ripening varieties may persist until mid-winter when adjusting the time of landing in the ground. It is important that the ripening period falls at the end of September-beginning of October. If the maturation period of a particular variety is 90 days, it should be sown no earlier than the end of June. For 90 days (3 months) the carrots will ripen and will be suitable for storage. While maintaining temperature and humidity conditions, early carrot varieties will be stored for up to 4 months.
What varieties are allowed to be stored?
Alenka
Vegetation period - 80-85 days. The shape of the root resembles a cylinder. Carrots have good taste, juiciness, the surface of the fruit is smooth and smooth. Before planting requires high-quality soil preparation. The variety also needs frequent watering. With proper care, the weight of one carrot is 100 g, length - 15 cm.
Lagoon
Refers to varieties of Dutch selection. Harvest can be collected within 2 months after germination. For winter storage, it is necessary to remove carrots from the beds no earlier than after 85 days.
Artek
Root crops do not crack, resistant to fusarium.
Nandrin
The fruits are evenly shaped, resistant to cracking, long stored.
Sweet look
If there are children in the family or lovers of crunching carrots, it is advisable to choose sweet varieties for storage for the winter. The list of sweet species includes Minicore, Vitamin carrot, Krasa maiden and Nastena. All the varieties presented are well tolerated and resistant to rotting.
comparison table
| Title | Ripening | Carrot shape | Vegetation time (day) | Quality of storage |
| Parisian, Carotel | Early | Short round | 60-90 | Not subject to storage |
| Alenka, Artek, Laguna | Early | Smooth, rounded | 75-90 | Storage up to 4 months |
| Shantane, NIIOH-336 | Average | Cylinder shape, medium length | 95-120 | 6-7 months are stored |
| Queen of autumn, Vita Long, Karlen | Late | Long, narrow | 120-140 | 6-8 months |
Storage methods
For high-quality keeping of the harvest there are several ways. All technologies do not differ in complexity and are suitable for any personal plot. Carrots need to be stored in the cellar, basement or garage hole.
To extend the maturity and minimize various problems (infection with rot, germination), the following methods are recommended.
- Carrots in the sand. The bottom of the box must be filled with sand (layer 4-5 cm). Lay out the fruits so that they do not touch each other. Top with sand, repeat the layers.
- In the sawdust. The method is identical to storage in sawdust. For prolonged aging, conifer sawdust should be taken: phytoncides in their composition will kill bacteria and protect against germination.
- In an open plastic bag. Smooth and even fruits without deformations should be dried in the sun, then folded in a plastic bag. It is forbidden to tie, as the roots will suffocate.
- Carrots in clay. A whole carrot should be dunked into a thick clay solution, then dried. Next, put the harvest in boxes and drop it in the basement.
Tip! For each storage method, it is important to adhere to the temperature regime (for more information on the required temperature for storing carrots, you can read here) Optimum performance: from -1 to +2 indoors, ensuring sufficient air circulation.
More details about how to store carrots can be found in this article, and here we told how to store carrots at home.
- When to start harvesting carrots and beets and can you keep them together?
- How to prepare carrots for storage?
- Can I wash carrots before storing?
- How to cut carrots for storage?
So, for winter storage the best late-ripening and mid-season varieties. Early ripe carrots will be stored only under the condition of a late landing in the ground (June-July). Curing term of early varieties does not exceed 4 months. To root vegetables have not lost taste, do not begin to rot and germinate, it is important to observe the mode of temperature and humidity.
