Carrots, like other vegetables, need additional nutrition in the soil for successful growth and the formation of a healthy and rich harvest. We learn what fertilizers and when to apply, so that the vegetable gets the maximum benefit.
About the importance of top dressing
The composition of the soil and the presence in it of a sufficient amount of nutrients and trace elements are of great importance for the growing season of carrots. The quality and taste indicators of the root crop directly depend on this. With a nutritional deficiency, carrots lag behind in development, are deformed, and productivity decreases significantly.
Therefore, sowing the seeds of culture, it is important to prepare the soil and fill it with the necessary elements. In the period from sowing seeds to harvesting, at least 2-3 feedings are supposed to be carried out - on the basis of mineral or organic fertilizers and folk remedies. Their introduction should be correct and timely: during sowing and in certain vegetative phases of carrot growth.
What do carrots need for growth?
To ensure carrots active healthy growth, it is necessary to have several elements at each stage of development. At the first stage, the root crop grows green mass, therefore, a significant amount of nitrogen is consumed, and phosphorus and potassium provide immunity to young plants. This helps to maintain resistance to diseases and withstand the attacks of insect pests.
What element do carrots need:
- Potassium. Carrots are needed throughout the growing season. It provides metabolic stability, optimizing the process of photosynthesis, helps the formation of the underground part of the plant. The root crop, thanks to potassium, is gaining sweetness and juiciness.
- Phosphorus. It needs culture in the middle of summer. The presence of this element in the soil favors precisely the formation of root crops: carrots become dense, the tip is rounded, and sweetness is gained.
- Boron and manganese. These items contribute in July. These trace elements are important when pouring carrots. They provide health and firmness of the root of the root crop, catalyze the accumulation of sweets, and contribute to the long-term storage of the crop.
How to feed carrots in the open ground?
To replenish food reserves in the soil, on beds with carrots, various in composition and method of obtaining fertilizing are used. They can be both chemical production (mineral fertilizers), and natural, natural origin (organic and folk methods).
Organic fertilizer
Often gardeners use organic fertilizers, considering them safer for the health of a person who uses carrots. The use of organics has its advantages:
- the duration of feeding is determined by a long period;
- rich composition of microelements;
- low cost and availability of fertilizers.
Nevertheless, be careful, do not allow an excess of substances and a high concentration of such top dressings. Otherwise, harm to carrots in the form of burns and metabolic disorders, which can lead to the death of the entire crop, cannot be avoided.
When growing carrots, you can use the following natural dressings:
- Compost - An excellent source of nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and iron. Its application in preparing the soil for planting makes it not only rich in composition, but also loose, which has a beneficial effect on the growth of carrots. The contents of compost pits that have matured and re-matured should be used. Thus, to fertilize the beds for carrots, compost is suitable for “age” from 9 months.
- Manurerecommended for soil preparation in the autumn. Use rotted organics. Ammonia, which is rich in fresh manure, is able to burn plants. In addition, the easily digestible form of nitrogen is only available from mature manure. This type of organics significantly increases the acidity of the soil, consider this when applying.
- Bird droppingsas a source of nitrogen, it is used in the initial stages of vegetation of carrots. At high concentrations, it is dangerous for plants, so be careful when using it.
- Wood ash - An excellent source of potassium, phosphorus and calcium. The composition of this organic matter depends on the source of ash. The most valuable is the one obtained by burning sunflower. It is used both in dry form and in infusions, solutions.
Compost
Manure
Bird droppings
Wood ash
Mineral fertilizers
Mineral dressings are one-component and complex composition. Depending on the predominant substance, they are divided into:
- nitrogen - ammonium nitrate or urea;
- potash - potassium salt and other potassium-containing preparations;
- phosphoric - superphosphate is simple, superphosphate is double.
Mineral fertilizers are convenient to use, have an instant, but short action, their release form allows you to accurately dose fertilizing during application.
Most often, complex fertilizers are used, purchasing them ready-made, or mixing the necessary components on their own. One of the most popular complex mineral supplements is:
- Azofoska (nitroammofosk).This fat (a mechanical mixture of one-component fertilizers) contains three main elements (N + P + K). Easily soluble in water. When applied, it does not seep into the lower soil layers, but concentrates in the fertile layer. Depending on the type of soil and the need for its restoration, Azofoska is chosen with a special ratio of NPK elements: 16:16:16, 19: 9: 19 or 22:11:11.
- AVA station wagon - complex fertilizer rich in phosphorus, potassium, calcium, chromium and magnesium. This composition is optimal for carrots - root crops are formed healthy, smooth and large. A significant advantage of this drug is resistance to leaching of trace elements by rain.
In addition to these compounds, it is possible to use any other complex fertilizer or the use of mineral top dressing as part of fungicidal solutions. Trace elements are contained in them in an easily digestible form, so carrots quickly respond to their application. These drugs include Azophos and Cytovit. Follow the instructions for dilution and application.
Topping carrots with folk remedies
Folk remedies have a positive and mild effect on carrots. They are completely safe both for the culture itself and for human health, therefore they are widespread among gardeners.
Feeding carrots with yeast infusion
Yeast consists of a fungus that lives in a sweet environment. When they are added to carrot beds, active release of substances stimulating the development of the root crop occurs. Such top dressing positively affects the vital activity of beneficial microflora of the soil, which has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the culture.
For infusion, it is advisable to choose natural yeast, but in their absence, a dry product is also suitable. A growth activator is prepared in several ways.
First way:
- Dissolve 500 g of fresh yeast in 5 l of warm water, adding 1 tbsp. To the solution. l Sahara. Leave to insist for 1.5-2 hours.
- For feeding, dilute 500 ml of the resulting solution in 10 l of water.
- Spill aisles with this liquid or carry out root dressing.
The second way:
- Mix 50 g of dry yeast with 5 l of warm water and 1 tbsp. Sahara.
- Allow the composition to infuse for 1.5-2 hours, and then dilute with water, considering that for every 0.5 liter of infusion a bucket of water is needed.
- Apply this fertilizer using the watering root method.
The third way:
- Fill the bucket with half-chopped nettles. Fill it with water and leave it in a warm place until fermentation begins.
- Add 12 g dry yeast and 500 g wood ash. Place the fertilizer bucket in heat, and leave for 5-7 days, stirring the contents periodically.
- Strain the resulting infusion through several layers of gauze. Dilute the composition with water in a ratio of 1:10 and pour the carrots.
To get the maximum effect from such top dressing, spend it in warm weather in the evening. A few days before the procedure, add potassium and phosphorus to the beds.
Top dressing "greenfinch"
To cook "greenfinch" follow these steps:
- Chop the grass and fill it with a third of the bucket.
- Pour 8 liters of warm water, cover, and leave for 12-14 days - insist. After a while, the resulting mixture will begin to ferment.
- When the fermentation is over, dilute the infusion with water in a ratio of 1:10, then water the carrots.
This tool contains a whole range of trace elements. For the preparation of infusions, comfrey, chamomile, wormwood, clover or any other grass is used.
Feeding carrots with ash infusion
Fertilizer based on wood ash is considered to be fast and affordable. To prepare it, dilute a glass of organics with a bucket of water and let it brew for a couple of hours. Strain the solution and pour the carrots on it. Thickness can be distributed on the surface of the beds.
Stages of fertilizing carrots
You can not randomly and massively bring food to the beds with carrots, thinking that this ensures the active growth of root crops and a rich harvest in the future. At each stage of growth, culture needs a certain set and number of elements. Therefore, depending on the growing season, various fertilizers are used.
How to fertilize the soil before planting carrots?
An important stage in the cultivation of carrots is the presowing preparation of the soil. It is advisable to start it in the fall, putting humus or compost under tillage. The rate of consumption of organics depends on the type of soil, an average of 10-20 kg / sq. m
Culture prefers loose, water- and breathable soils with a neutral level of acidity. Therefore, before sowing, it is recommended to bring the soil indicators as close as possible to optimal characteristics.
If the soil is dense, then add sand, sawdust, peat. Reducing acidity will help wood ash, lime, chalk or dolomite flour.
With the onset of spring, dig a bed, making any nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizing during work. Before sowing carrots, carefully loosen the soil, removing possible stones, lumps or other large elements so that they do not deform the root crop during its growth.
Fertilizers for carrots when planting
Carrots do not tolerate the presence of chlorine in the soil, so when planting it in rows, add the available potash fertilizer, excluding potassium chloride.
Seeds are recommended to be prepared before sowing. To do this, place them in a gauze bag and place for 2-3 days in one of the solutions:
- 1/3 part of boric acid and 1/2 part of nitrophosphate diluted in 1 liter of water.
- 1 g of manganese and 1/2 t. Nitrofoski mix with a liter of water.
Ready-made solutions, for example, Cytovit, Fitosporin-M or ash infusion, can be used. Such treatment will sanitize the seed, and trace elements will give impetus to active growth and the emergence of early seedlings.
Feeding carrots after emergence
After seedlings appear, thin them out. And, when the second real sheet is formed, carry out the next fertilizer application. To do this, add in 10 l of water:
- ammonium nitrate or urea - 1 tbsp. l .;
- simple superphosphate - 1.5 tbsp. l .;
- potassium salt - 1.5 tbsp. l
The flow rate of the mineral solution when making keep at a level of 2 liters per 1 square. m beds.
Further dressing for growing carrots
The next feeding of carrots is carried out after 18-21 days from the previous feeding. The composition of the mineral solution is also similar. It is advisable to conduct it after the second thinning of the culture.
Later varieties need additional feeding, which is carried out 2-3 weeks before harvest. The main trace elements in this case should be only phosphorus and potassium, nitrogen is excluded. Otherwise, the taste of root crops will deteriorate sharply, and the crop will lose its quality properties.
At this time, it is advisable to add humates of potassium and sodium so that the carrots become sweet and juicy. A good drug is K-Humate-Na.
The consequences of improper feeding
Consider the total amount of nutrients in the soil before applying fertilizer to avoid overabundance. In most cases, this is difficult to do, so gardeners are guided by the appearance of carrots, and when applying fertilizers they use medium or minimum dosages.
Signs of nutrient deficiency in the soil:
- Nitrogen deficiency manifests itself in the withering of the aerial parts of carrots, the foliage becomes smaller and yellow, and the root crop does not develop.
- A lack of potassium causes leaf curl. Their edges turn brown, the color of the inside becomes gray, acquiring a bronze hue in the future.
- If the foliage of carrots has stripes of yellow or red, then this indicates a deficiency of phosphorus in the soil. At the same time, the underground part is stretched, and its taste characteristics are significantly lost.
- Lack of calcium provokes yellowing and deformation of the upper leaves of carrots.
With errors in the application of fertilizing, carrots grow shallow, dry and tasteless. From an overabundance of fertilizer, a crop may die altogether. Therefore, it is important that when violations are detected, stop feeding and monitor the condition of carrots.
To avoid negative consequences, fertilize in accordance with the schedule, observing the dosage of nutrients. And do the work yourself in the morning or evening hours after moderate watering of the beds.
Take fertilizer work responsibly. A shortage of substances in the soil, as well as an oversupply, can destroy the crop. Observing all the recommendations regarding the fertilizer of carrots, it is real to get sweet, large and unrootted root crops.