The Lyubimaya carrot is a newly bred variety that has quickly won the hearts of Russian gardeners. It's beautiful, sweet, juicy, and rich in vitamins. It's ideal for children's and dietary menus. In addition to its wonderful taste and marketable appearance, the variety boasts strong immunity and a high yield. It's grown for both bundling and winter storage.
Introduction to the variety
Lyubimaya is a representative of the Nantes cultivar type and shares its key characteristics. It is an early-ripening vegetable variety. The growing season lasts 70-80 days (from sprouting to root ripening).
This vegetable variety is suitable for cultivation in private farms located in Russia, Moldova, and Ukraine. It is also suitable for commercial cultivation.
Appearance, taste, purpose
Plants of this variety are characterized by the following features:
- upright rosette;
- semi-spreading;
- leaves: medium-dissected, green in color.
The roots are evenly distributed and almost entirely underground. They are distinguished by their marketable appearance and high consumer qualities.
They have the following characteristics:
- rich orange color;
- regular cylindrical shape;
- weight - 160 g (with enhanced agricultural technology the figure reaches 220 g);
- length - 16 cm;
- diameter - 5 cm;
- non-rough internal texture;
- small core;
- crispy, juicy and aromatic pulp.
The Lyubimaya carrot has excellent flavor. Its flesh is very sweet and lacks bitterness. The orange vegetable's sugar content ranges from 6.6% to 7.1%.
This variety is renowned for its vitamin content. Its tubers contain 19.5 mg of carotene per 100 g. They are also rich in other beneficial substances:
- tocopherol;
- ascorbic acid, vitamins B, K, PP;
- microelements (iron, calcium, phosphorus, iodine and others);
- pectins,
- antioxidants.
This product promotes good vision, healthy skin and mucous membranes, and improves intestinal motility. Give it to your child boiled or raw (puree, juice), combined with vegetable oils and sour cream. Include it in your child's diet with caution due to possible intolerance.
The purpose of the Favorite harvest is universal:
- carrots are consumed fresh;
- used for preparing baby food (juice, puree);
- added to first and second courses;
- freeze;
- dry;
- canned;
- They are placed in the cellar for long-term storage, since the tubers are characterized by excellent keeping quality (they are stored until spring without losing their nutritional value, vitamins and taste).
Characteristics
This vegetable variety has many excellent characteristics, which is why domestic gardeners' interest in it only increases every year:
- excellent yield - from 3.4 to 5.5 kg per 1 sq. m of carrot planting (maximum yield - 6.5 kg);
- high commercial quality of root crops;
- increased content of vitamins in them;
- resistance to flowering;
- no tendency for fruits to crack in the garden;
- the possibility of growing in different climates;
- applicability for winter sowing;
- good shelf life and transportability of the crop.
- ✓ Resistance to major carrot diseases such as Alternaria and Phoma, without the need for chemical treatment.
- ✓ Ability to retain high taste qualities and vitamin content during long-term storage for up to 8 months.
Growing and care
For planting vegetable crops, select a plot with the following characteristics:
- with good lighting during the day (the more sunlight the carrot bed receives, the sweeter the root vegetables will be);
- no drafts;
- with loose, light, fertile soil with neutral acidity;
- dug to a depth of 30 cm;
- free from weeds;
- fertilized with organic matter (consumption - 5-6 kg per 1 sq. m).
Don't plant carrots in the same spot for several years in a row. They will grow poorly and become diseased. Avoid growing the orange vegetable after garden crops:
- parsley;
- dill;
- parsnip;
- celery.
The best predecessors for carrots are considered to be the following vegetables:
- tomatoes;
- cucumbers;
- onions;
- garlic;
- potato;
- cabbage.
Sow Lyubimaya carrot seeds outdoors in late April or early May. Wait until the soil warms to 8°C. When planting Lyubimaya carrots, follow this pattern:
- the distance between the furrows is 18-20 cm;
- the step when sowing seeds is 2-3 cm;
- the depth of their impact is 1.5-2 cm.
- ✓ The optimal soil temperature for sowing seeds should be no lower than +8°C, but no higher than +12°C to prevent premature germination.
- ✓ To prevent flowering, it is necessary to ensure uniform watering without over-watering, especially in the first 30 days after sowing.
Follow the vegetable crop sowing procedure step by step:
- Loosen the bottom of the furrows made in the garden soil.
- Water them with lukewarm water.
- Plant the seeds according to the recommended pattern.
- Cover the crops with soil. Water them again.
- Mulch the planting with dry peat or sawdust. The mulch layer should be 1 cm thick.
Instead of mulching, you can cover the vegetable planting with plastic film or lutrasil. In the latter case, water over the covering material. This will ensure more even germination and prevent an airtight crust from forming on the soil. Once the sprouts emerge, remove the covering.
To get a rich harvest of Favorite carrots, take proper care of their planting:
- Thin out the seedlingsThis measure is necessary to create an optimal feeding area for the plants. Thin out the seedlings when the first paired leaves appear. Leave a distance of 3 cm between them. Repeat this procedure when the seedlings reach a height of 1.5 cm. Maintain a distance of 5 cm between plants.
If necessary, thin the planting again. Don't forget to fill in the holes left after removing the bushes with soil. - Water the garden bedCarrots require moisture throughout the growing season. Water them in the evening using lukewarm water. Young plants should be watered at 5 liters per square meter, while mature plants should be watered at 6-8 liters per square meter. Water once every 7-10 days.
Do not over-water the bed to avoid causing root rot. - Loosen the soilDo this every time after watering the beds to ensure better air access to the plant roots.
- Weed the bedsWeed regularly to prevent them from growing and choking out your crops. They also serve as breeding grounds for pests and infections.
- Feed the carrotsAt the beginning of the growing season, apply urea at a rate of 10-15 g per square meter. When root crops begin to form and ripen, fertilize with superphosphate at a rate of 20-30 g per square meter. Also use potassium salt (10-15 g per square meter).
- × Avoid using fresh manure as fertilizer, as it may cause branching of root crops.
- × Do not allow the soil to dry out during the period of root formation, as this may cause them to crack.
Reviews
The Lyubimaya carrot variety is an ideal choice if you're interested in growing healthy and delicious root vegetables for baby food or dietary needs. Its yield is high quality, shelf-stable, and transportable. This vegetable is easy to care for, resistant to flowering and cracking, and rarely prone to diseases or insect damage. Its yield is excellent.