Review of the classic Nantes carrot variety

The Nantes carrot is considered a classic, and its flavor has become the benchmark for comparing other varieties. A rich and juicy harvest can be achieved by following simple cultivation practices. More on this below.

Nantes carrot seeds

Nantes carrot

Nantes carrots contain a large amount of carotene.

Description of the variety

The Nantes carrot variety was developed by breeders in 1943 for planting throughout Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. It remains deservedly popular. There are several varieties of this variety, collectively known as the Nantes variety:

Advantages and disadvantages

This carrot variety has many advantages that make it suitable for growing not only in private gardens, but also on an industrial scale:

Varieties of Nantes carrots

All varieties of this cultivar have excellent taste characteristics.

Nantes 4

Most gardeners are familiar with this variety, which is the progenitor of the Nantes carrot. It's a mid-season variety, fully ripening in approximately 110-120 days, but it reaches marketability as early as 70 days after germination. This variety is one of the best for winter sowing.

Nantes Improved

The variety is named for its improved root uniformity and marketability. A distinctive feature of the variety is its early germination, allowing for a consistently high yield suitable for long-term storage.

Carrots are used to produce carrot juice due to their taste and high sugar content.

Nantes Red

Like other varieties of Nantes carrot, it produces orange, cylindrical fruits with a small tail. This variety is resistant to the main diseases that affect carrots and can be stored for a long time without losing its flavor.

Nantes Semko

A hybrid developed at the end of the last century. Developed specifically for large-scale cultivation, it boasts high yields, reaching 810 centners per hectare. Suitable for mechanical harvesting, the hybrid's value lies in its resistance to bolting, excellent shelf life, and excellent flavor.

Soil preparation

Carrots thrive best in soil that doesn't form a crust, such as sandy loam, loamy soil, or peat. Carrots shouldn't be planted under freshly applied manure. It's best to use carrots as a second or third crop, after fertilizing the soil.

The best predecessors are zucchini and early cabbage and potatoes, but carrots also grow well after tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and mid-season cabbage.

In the fall, the area where carrots are to be planted is tilled and rotted, adding 4-6 kg/sq. m of humus or compost. In the spring, the soil is tilled with a cultivator and harrowed with a rake. Before planting, it is advisable to apply 50 g/sq. m of nitroammophoska to poor, infertile soils. Fertile soils do not require additional fertilization.

Seed preparation

Carrots are a slow-germinating crop, so it's advisable to treat the seeds before sowing. There are several effective techniques for increasing carrot germination:

• Soaking in water. Soak the seeds for 24 hours and then dry them until they become loose. This will speed up germination by several days.
• Hydrothermal treatment. Soak the seeds in a gauze bag in water heated to 50-52 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes. Cool with cold water and dry. This treatment helps fight infections.
• Soaking in boric acid. Use a 0.1% boric acid solution to treat seeds during the day, this will increase the yield.
• Bubbling. Pass air or oxygen through the water (at a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius) containing the soaked seeds. Use an aquarium aerator. Processing time is 18-20 hours. Seedlings from the bubbled seeds appear in 5-7 days.

Sowing

Carrot seeds take a long time to germinate. At soil temperatures of 2-3 degrees Celsius, germination takes 25-30 days. The optimal temperature for seed germination is 20-25 degrees Celsius, when the seeds will sprout in 4-5 days.

Carrot seedlings are frost-resistant and can withstand temperatures down to -4 degrees.

Carrots are sown in winter, spring, and summer, depending on the time of planting. Row spacing during sowing ranges from 25 to 45 centimeters, with a 5-centimeter distance between root crops.

Subwinter

Winter sowing is usually done before the first frost sets in, so the carrots don't have time to sprout. The seeds are planted very shallowly, no more than 1 centimeter deep, and covered with loose soil. This type of sowing yields carrots 10-15 days earlier than early-ripening carrots.

Spring

Early spring sowing is used to obtain carrots early for consumption and sale. Depending on climate conditions, sowing typically occurs in late April or early May.

Carrots can't be transplanted because they develop branched roots. Therefore, this root vegetable cannot be grown from seedlings.

Summer

For fall and winter use, carrots are sown from the first half of May until the end of the month. Sowing carrots in June can be challenging, but the results will be good.

The seeding depth varies from 0.5 to 2.5 centimeters, depending on soil properties. If groundwater is close to the surface, carrots are sown in raised beds. In arid regions, sowing is done on level ground.

Carrot care

Carrots don't require any special care; just weeding, thinning, watering, and protecting them from diseases and pests are sufficient. By following these simple tips, you'll get a bountiful carrot harvest in your garden:

• Before seedlings appear, water regularly so that the soil never dries out;
• When seedlings appear, thoroughly weed out the weeds that are choking out the young plants;
• stop watering for 7-10 days to allow the roots to go as deep into the soil as possible;
• do the next weeding after watering;
• When thinning for the first time, remove weak plants and leave stronger ones at a distance of 3-4 centimeters from each other;
• Loosen the space between rows regularly, especially after watering or rain;
• during the second thinning, the strongest plants are left at intervals of 5-6 centimeters;
• when 5-6 leaves appear, apply foliar feeding with ¼ dose of mineral fertilizers;
• In July-August, water once every 7-10 days.

Don't overdo it with nitrogen fertilizers, as too much will reduce the shelf life of carrots. For more information on proper fertilization, see the article:How, when and what to feed carrots with?".

Water carrots generously and evenly, but not too frequently. Watering should be regular to prevent the roots from cracking. You can learn more about watering requirements for carrots. here.

Harvesting and storage

To sell carrots in bunches, they are harvested once the root diameter reaches 15 mm. However, the greatest yield increase occurs in September, so carrots for storage are harvested late.

Harvesting is done in dry weather, the tops are cut off, and the carrots are left to dry for several hours in the open air. The roots are then sorted, removing small, deformed, and diseased ones.

The temperature for storing carrots should not exceed 2 degrees Celsius, otherwise they will begin to sprout. For longer storage, the roots are layered with sand, using boxes filled to a height of 70-110 centimeters. For other methods of storing carrots, read this article.

Pests and diseases

Carrots are susceptible to numerous diseases, both during cultivation and storage. These are primarily fungal diseases, such as rot, in which case affected plants are destroyed and the remaining crops are treated with fungicides. Pre-sowing seed treatment is used to prevent many diseases.

Most carrot pests attack the above-ground portion of the plant, resulting in poor root development, small size, and reduced carrot yields.

Reviews from summer residents

With proper cultivation techniques, Nantes carrots are not difficult to grow. There are many varieties available today, but by choosing an old, time-tested variety, you can enjoy them as early as late July, saving the main harvest for autumn.

Frequently Asked Questions