The "Altai Lakomka" carrot variety is very popular among gardeners today due to its excellent flavor and rich vitamin content. Its adaptability to harsh climates and low maintenance make it suitable for planting in many regions of our country.
Description of the Altai delicacy
The above-ground portion of this carrot variety is characterized by long, green leaves that spread out in all directions. The roots are medium-sized, up to 25 cm long and weighing approximately 150 g. They are elongated and conical in shape with a slightly rounded tip. The roots are orange-red in color, with bright orange flesh.
This carrot is excellent for eating raw. Its sweet flavor stems from its high carotene and sugar content. It can also be used unripe during the summer harvest for a variety of dishes.
Altai Lakomka carrots store well in winter, produce delicious and healthy juices, and are often added to canning.
Characteristics of the variety
The "Altai Lakomka" variety is quite versatile in terms of acclimatization conditions—it can be grown in any latitude in our country. This carrot has demonstrated remarkable success in cultivation, making it increasingly popular in recent years.
The varietal characteristics of the "Altai Lakomka" include:
- Average ripening time. The standard figure of 100 days of the growing season fits perfectly with the climatic characteristics of most regions of the country.
- High yield. From 1 square meter of crops the yield is about 5 kg.
- Versatility of useThanks to the variety's tolerance to a wide range of temperatures and other climate conditions, a good harvest can be obtained without extensive care, which is convenient for many modern gardeners.
Due to its delicate flavor and high carotene content, the Altai Lakomka carrot is widely recommended for children's and dietary nutrition.
Advantages and disadvantages
The "Altai Lakomka" variety is the result of the work of domestic breeders. It was originally developed for use in the Siberian climate, which is unfriendly to many crops, but was subsequently expanded to other regions of the country due to its excellent quality characteristics.
Among the advantages of this variety it is worth highlighting:
- excellent taste characteristics;
- the possibility of long-term storage without loss of nutritional and taste qualities;
- unpretentiousness in growing conditions;
- visually attractive appearance of root vegetables.
There are currently no disadvantages to this variety. none were identified.
Planting in the ground
Before planting carrots, you need to prepare the area where they will grow. Loose, sandy soil, free of weeds, is ideal. If the soil is too heavy, the carrots will grow small; if it's too wet or too dry, the roots will rot or become too tough.
- ✓ The optimal soil acidity level for the Altai Lakomka carrot should be within the pH range of 6.0-6.5.
- ✓ The soil must be well-drained to avoid water stagnation and root rot.
When choosing soil, it's also important to consider what plants were previously growing in the area. The most suitable soil for carrots is that left behind by potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, onions, cabbage, and various greens, except lettuce and parsley, as these can harbor pests that are harmful to carrots.
The best option is to fertilize the selected soil, preferably in advance—in the fall. Fertilizing in the spring is also possible, but in this case, planting seeds will have to wait due to the negative impact of insufficiently absorbed mineral fertilizers.
Before planting, seeds need to be prepared to ensure optimal yields. To do this, you need:
- soak the seeds for 2 hours in water at room temperature;
- then place them on a damp cloth and cover with the same;
- store at room temperature, stirring the seeds periodically and wetting the cloth when it dries;
- After germination, place the seeds in the refrigerator for 10 days.
- × Do not use water with a temperature above 30°C to soak seeds, this may lead to their death.
- × Avoid over-wetting the fabric when storing seeds, as this can cause the development of fungal diseases.
After 10 days, the seeds can be planted in pre-prepared soil.
The order of planting carrots:
- prepare furrows up to 3 cm deep at a distance of 20 cm from each other, moisten them;
- plant seeds at a frequency of no more than 5 cm;
- The bed should be mulched, for this purpose hay or sawdust are usually used.
Further care of carrots will not be difficult even for a novice gardener.
Growing
Caring for planted carrots includes standard agricultural procedures:
- watering;
- weeding;
- loosening.
Water regularly as the soil dries out, loosen and weed once a week.
Pest and disease control is also an important part of growing carrots. The main pest is the carrot fly, which can be identified by the leaves beginning to curl. Actellic, Intavir, and similar products are suitable for controlling it. Carrots are rarely susceptible to diseases, so Bordeaux mixture, a well-known remedy for many gardeners, is commonly used to treat them against common diseases.
- Carry out the first treatment with preparations such as Actellic or Intavir when the first signs of carrot fly appear.
- Repeat treatment every 10-14 days depending on pest activity.
- Use Bordeaux mixture to prevent diseases, especially during rainy periods.
You can learn about how to properly grow carrots in the video below:
Comparison with other varieties
The modern gardening market offers a wide range of products a wide variety of carrot varietiesThey can differ in several ways, the most important of which are considered to be the time of ripening, length, and weight of the roots. To compare "Altai Lakomka" with the most common carrot varieties today, the table below shows these characteristics.
Table 1. Comparative characteristics of carrot varieties
| Altai gourmet | Alenka | Tushon | Nantes | Vitamin | Queen of Autumn | Flakke | |
| Ripening time, days | 100 | 50 | 60 | 90 | 115 | 130 | 110 |
| Length of root crops, cm | 25 | 13 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 20 | 30 |
| Weight of root crops, g | 160 | 140 | 150 | 165 | 150 | 160 | 160 |
Reviews
Gardeners' reviews of the "Altai Lakomka" carrot are overwhelmingly positive. This is easily explained by the variety's excellent characteristics and lack of specific drawbacks.
Negative reviews of the variety are based on poor yields, which are actually quite difficult to achieve – only gross errors in garden maintenance and a complete lack of plant care can lead to such results.
Here are just a few of the many opinions about the variety:
The "Altai Lakomka" carrot variety is an excellent choice for gardeners who want a good harvest but don't have the time to tend to their plants daily. The carrots' flavor, like other qualities, is excellent. You can fully appreciate it immediately after harvesting the ripe vegetable.