Which month is suitable for planting carrots?

Among the types of radish that people usually eat, white radish is probably the most common, but carrots and green radishes are also types of radish, and they have different tastes and functions. Let’s learn below which month is suitable for planting carrots?

Which month is suitable for planting carrots?

The planting time of carrots is mainly divided into two seasons: spring and autumn. Spring planting usually takes place from late January to early March. Carrots grown in greenhouses can be sown from late January to early to mid-February, while carrots grown in the open field with mulch covering are suitable for sowing from mid-to-late March to early April. Autumn planting is generally done in mid-to-late July.

Carrot cultivation technology

1. Variety selection

When choosing carrot varieties for planting , priority should be given to those that are adapted to local climate and soil conditions, popular in the market and easy to sell. The selected varieties should have a moderate growth period and good quality.

2. Soil, land preparation and fertilization

Soil selection: Carrots prefer deep, loose, well-drained sandy loam or loam. Previous crops such as onions, cabbage or grain crops are better choices.

Land preparation and fertilization: Ridge cultivation is recommended. Before land preparation, shallow plowing and stubble elimination are required, and then base fertilizer is applied. It is recommended to apply 3,000 to 4,000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer per mu, with an appropriate amount of wood ash or 1 to 2 kg of biological potash fertilizer. It is better to add about 30% of decomposed chicken manure into the organic fertilizer. After completion, deep plowing and ridge making are carried out. If fertilizer is insufficient, it can be supplemented by strip application.

3. Sowing and management

Sowing: In northern areas, ridge sowing is mostly used. When sowing, dig a furrow on the top of the ridge. The furrow is 20 to 25 cm wide and 2 to 3 cm deep. After sowing evenly, cover with 1 to 2 cm of soil and press down, then water. To ensure uniform sowing, fine sand can be mixed with the seeds. To maintain soil moisture and prevent high temperatures, cover the ridge surface with wheat straw or rice straw after sowing, and gradually remove the covering after seedlings emerge.

Spraying herbicides : When sowing in summer and autumn, because the carrot seedling period is long and it is a hot and rainy season, weeds grow rapidly. Herbicides can be used after sowing to control weeds. Use 33% "Shitianbu" emulsifiable concentrate, 150 ml per mu, mixed with 75 kg of water for spraying.

Thinning and transplanting: Thinning should be carried out twice. The first time is when the seedlings have 2 to 3 leaves, and the abnormal, weak and overcrowded seedlings should be removed, and the plant spacing should be maintained at 3 cm. The second time is when the seedlings have 3 to 4 leaves, and the plant spacing should be 6 cm. When thinning out the seedlings, combine it with inter-row cultivation and loosening the soil. After the first thinning, weeding is still required and herbicides can be used again.

4. Irrigation and fertilization

Carrots are highly drought-resistant, but they still require adequate water and fertilizer to grow. The soil needs to be kept moist from sowing to germination, and water should be controlled moderately after germination to promote root growth. Pay attention to drainage during the rainy season, water and till the soil after transplanting. During the period of fleshy root expansion, water needs to be increased to keep the soil moist.

The seedling stage does not require much fertilizer, and if the base fertilizer is sufficient, no top dressing is required. If top dressing is needed, apply decomposed organic fertilizer or urea after the second thinning, 10 kg per mu. Increase the amount of fertilizer during the fleshy root expansion period, apply potassium fertilizer or compound fertilizer , 10 kg of potassium sulfate or 20 kg of compound fertilizer per mu.

5. Harvest and storage

The harvest time of carrots depends on the growing period of the variety. Early-maturing varieties require 80 to 90 days, while medium- and late-maturing varieties require 100 to 140 days. Harvest when the fleshy roots are fully expanded to avoid harvesting too early or too late which may affect yield and quality. After harvesting, store appropriately as needed.

In short, the planting time of carrots will also be affected by the specific geographical location and climatic conditions. Therefore, when determining the sowing time, appropriate adjustments should be made based on local climate characteristics and planting habits.