The best carrots for storage. The best varieties of carrots for winter storage

Carrots rotting in the cellar are a problem that many gardeners face. There are many reasons for root vegetable spoilage, including infection in the cellar, dampness and high air temperature during storage. But in most cases, flabby carrots in winter are the wrong choice of variety.

Every spring, summer residents have a question about how to find the best carrots for storing for the winter among the abundance of beautiful bags of seeds. Many people choose based on the photo on the packaging, but this is wrong. First, let's get acquainted with the easiest species. Then we will find out on what principle we need to choose a variety that retains its taste and presentation well in winter.

Mid-season

The group of mid-season fruits includes fruits with a growing season of 100 - 120 days. According to experts, these root vegetables are sweeter and juicier.

Mid-season carrots accumulate maximum nutrients by the time of harvesting.

Let's consider the well-known and popular among experienced gardeners:

1. Nantes-4.
2. Samson.
3. Chance.
4. Moscow.

Nantes-4

An old variety that gardeners in Siberia, the Urals, the Moscow region, and in general all regions without exception, have been growing since the middle of the last century. It takes 120 days to mature. Bundle ripeness occurs 50 days after germination. Carrots planted in May are ready for harvesting in September. If there is not enough time for cleaning, you can leave it in the ground until October. Nantskaya-4 in such a situation does not lose its presentation and taste. Average weight parameters - 150 g. Average length, within 20 cm. Important characteristics: yield from 6 kg per sq.m. and the deadline for storage is February.

Samson

Large carrots, which are stored in a cellar until May of next year. Experienced agronomists recommend Samson to beginning gardeners. It can be grown in any soil, in any climate. With timely sowing in early May, Samson will delight you with smooth, orange root crops with almost no core. The average length of the Samson root crop is 20 centimeters or more, weight up to 170 g. Ripens 110 days from the appearance of the first shoots.

Chance

Stored until March. Root vegetables weighing up to 130 g have a good taste, are juicy, and have a classic conical shape. If you follow the sowing pattern recommended by the manufacturer (20*4 cm), the yield per 1 sq. m − 5 kg. Carrots Chance loves the sun, loose soil with a high percentage of humus (sandy loam, light loam.).

Late, suitable for storage

Varieties of vegetables with a growing season of more than 120 days are classified as late. Ripened carrots can be stored until a new harvest. This group of plants suffers less from diseases, carrot flies, and is rarely shot.

Queen of Autumn

A wonderful variety from Altai breeders, deservedly named by the queen. Root crops grown in fertilized, loose soil usually exceed the characteristics stated by the manufacturer: weight 230, length 25, yield 9 kg/m².

Dolyanka

An interesting Polish representative, can be stored until spring. If the soil is infested with carrot fly larvae, this variety will be a good choice for next season. Resistant to fusarium and carrot fly. The fruits form long, weighing from 130 g.

Flaccoro

Deserves attention, productive (from 8 kg/m²), with large (200 g), long (28 cm) root crops containing a large percentage of carotene.

Varieties of sweet carrots

The best root vegetables for baby food are sweet ones. They bring more benefits due to the high percentage of carotene. Among the late varieties that are sweet and can be stored for a long time, we can highlight:

• Karotan;
• Darling;
• Emperor.

Karotan

World famous carrots are rich in carotene. It is recommended to be used as a raw material for processing. Carotan is stored for a long time, its characteristics: deep orange color, cross-sectional diameter from 5 cm, length of root crops at least 25 cm.

Darling

Sweet, perfect cylindrical shape. Ripe root vegetables have an average length (15 cm) and weight (160 g), and are stored well. When sown in autumn, Beloved gives an early harvest in years with rich rainfall and does not crack.

Early

Already in June you can enjoy fresh fruits if you plant an early variety with a growing season of 80 to 90 days at the beginning of spring. You can choose a productive variety that will feed your family in the summer and will be well stored in the cellar.

Touchon

These are cylindrical, thin root vegetables, with an average length of 15 cm and weight of 100 g. Productivity – 5 kg/m². For winter consumption it can be sown in mid-June. To obtain early root crops, autumn sowing is recommended (October, November).

Artek

Easy to care for early variety. Artek can be stored well in a cellar. Burgundy-orange root vegetables with an average weight of 150 g and a length of 15 cm do not rot, are juicy and tasty. The fruits are ready for summer consumption after 1.5 months.

Fun F1

An early hybrid, ideal for summer bunch production. Can be grown for winter consumption. Root vegetables are bright orange, not large, from 50 g, have an average length.

Large

Large carrots are good for making healthy juice and Korean dishes. Here are the varieties you need to pay attention to next season:

• Canada F1;
• Nandrin F1;
• Russian size.

Canada F1

An unpretentious mid-late hybrid that produces good yields on heavy soil. Fruit weight from 130 to 500 g, length 20 cm, cross-section up to 5 cm. The plant is characterized by sweet, juicy orange pulp.

Russian size

A variety that produces root crops weighing up to 1 kg on light, fertile soils. The norm for carrots is large diameter (6 cm). The length is also not small - from 25 to 30 cm.

Nandrin F1

A popular hybrid among farmers from Dutch breeders. Short growing season up to 100 days. Carrots with a small core, cylindrical in shape, do not crack. The average weight of Nandrin F1 is 150 g. Root crops grow up to 20 cm in length.

How to choose carrots for storage

For beginners in gardening, choosing carrots suitable for long-term storage is somewhat difficult. It’s easy to get lost in the huge selection and take the first bag with a beautiful picture. This is not worth doing. Here is a list of characteristics that will help you choose a good variety for storage:

• growing season from 115 days and above;
• does not crack;
• not susceptible to diseases;
• suitable for growing in any climate, on any soil;
• does not shoot.

Conclusion

Long-term storage is not only about choosing the right variety of carrots. This is the optimal planting time, proper care and choosing the optimal method for storing root crops.

Carrots are one of the most consumed vegetables, and it is quite difficult to imagine your diet without them. Owners of their own gardens prefer to grow them themselves rather than buy them on the market, because getting a good harvest of carrots with proper care is not at all difficult. The problem here is different - how to preserve the grown root crops until spring, protect them from rotting and drying out.

Almost every gardener is familiar with the situation when large, ripe and absolutely healthy carrots begin to rot by the New Year, turn black inside, and lose their elasticity and taste. Moreover, this happens even in those cellars and basements where the required temperature and humidity conditions are met. As you know, the duration of storage largely depends on the timing of planting and harvesting carrots, as well as growing conditions, but the decisive factor is the choice of variety.

The range of carrot seeds is now simply huge, and it is easy for a novice gardener to get confused in this abundance of varieties and hybrids. In order not to make a mistake when choosing, you need to take into account some important nuances:

Among the mid-season and early varieties there are also those that are distinguished by high shelf life, but not all of them retain their taste. In addition, they need to be sown in two terms: in early spring and early June, then the first harvest goes for summer-autumn use, and the second for storage. Another criterion for selecting seeds is resistance to cracking. Often, during the ripening process, carrots crack in the ground, the unprotected pulp is affected by pests and diseases, and it can no longer be stored.

Popular keeping varieties

Late ripening carrots

Late-ripening varieties are considered to be those that ripen 120-140 days after germination. They are more cold-resistant, less susceptible to diseases, and therefore are stored better. At optimal moisture and temperature values, late carrots are perfectly stored until June, practically without losing their taste. As a rule, late-ripening varieties have long, pointed roots.

Name	Characteristic
	It is deservedly considered one of the most shelf-stable varieties of domestic selection. Forms attractive dense conical carrots 25 cm long and weighing from 80 to 230 g. Individual specimens grow up to 30 cm. The pulp is very crispy and sweet, quite juicy. Both canned and in fresh salads, this variety is simply magnificent. The average yield is 4-9 kg/m2. Does not shoot, does not crack when ripening. The growing season lasts about 120 days, stored until June
	It has very high productivity. The growing season is 140-150 days, the bright conical roots grow up to 20 cm. The pulp contains a lot of sugars and carotene. It retains its presentation and rich taste until June. Universal use, very resistant to shooting, does not crack
	A productive variety, ideal for long-term storage. Carrots are about 20 cm long, average weight - 130 g. The dense flesh has a sweet taste, the color is deep orange. It does not lose its taste until the end of spring, and does not crack during ripening. Universal use
	Popular late variety. Valued for large root crops, the length of which reaches 28 cm, and the average weight is about 200 g. The growing season lasts 130 days, the yield per square meter of area is 8.8 kg. Rich, sweet taste, high carotene content
	A well-known German variety that has proven itself well in our country. Forms large root crops weighing up to 140 g and about 25 cm long. It is well stored until the end of April, then its commercial quality decreases. The average yield is 3 kg/m2, gives good results with winter sowing. Quite resistant to diseases and bolting
	A universal variety, characterized by keeping quality and transportability. The growing season lasts 130-135 days. The root vegetables have a pleasant sweet taste, are juicy, and reach 25-30 cm in length. The shape of carrots is blunt-conical, the flesh is dark orange, almost red. Resistance to diseases is high, resistance to bolting is average
	Polish variety. Very productive, does not throw out flower stalks. The length of the carrots is 25-28 cm, the average weight is 130 g. It is well stored until the end of spring, has satisfactory resistance to carrot fly and fusarium

Mid-season varieties

The ripening period for mid-season carrots lasts 100-120 days. It is believed that the sweetest and juiciest root vegetables grow from mid-season varieties. By the time of harvest, carrots have time to absorb the maximum amount of nutrients from the soil, due to which not only the taste improves, but also the shelf life increases.

Name	Characteristic
	Ripening period is 108-115 days. The shape is blunt-conical, the length reaches 15 cm, the average weight is 150 g. It is stored very well, does not lose commercial quality and taste during storage, root vegetables do not crack
	The most popular variety. The weight of the root crop is 120 g, conical shape, the color of the pulp is very rich. Valued for its resistance to black and gray rot, high transportability, and keeping quality. Suitable for canning, fresh consumption and juices
	Ripens in 110-120 days, the shape is elongated, pointed, the flesh is dark orange in color. Carrot length is 10-16 cm, average weight is 150 g. Productivity per meter of area is 5-7 kg. Does not crack, has average resistance to rot, can be stored without loss of presentation until April
	An excellent proven variety. It takes 110 days to ripen, the average weight is 120 g, the length of carrots is up to 18 cm. It has a cylindrical, blunt-ended shape, the flesh is almost red. Prized for its excellent taste and consistent yields, as well as its resistance to cracking. Stored until February-March without losing commercial quality
	The growing season lasts 110-112 days. The shape is cylindrical, the color is light orange. Carrots grow 16 cm long, with an average weight of 150 g. The variety is valued for its high carotene content, tasty pulp, and ease of care. The variety is widely zoned and produces stable yields in different climatic zones. Root vegetables do not crack during ripening and are stored until February
	Ripens in 110-120 days. Root vegetables are smooth, spindle-shaped, weighing 150 g. Juicy and very crispy pulp, with a high sugar content. The length of carrots is 20-22 cm. They are stored until May, do not crack when ripe, and are not susceptible to blooming.
	A productive Dutch variety. It has very long (up to 30 cm) root crops, the weight of which reaches 170 g. It has an excellent taste, is perfectly preserved until spring, and tolerates transportation well. Has average resistance to diseases, does not crack or shoot
	Dutch selection, zoned in the Central region. Root crops grow up to 20 cm long and have a cylindrical shape. Root weight 90-100 g. Valued for excellent keeping quality and stable yields
	Very cold-resistant and productive. The root crops are blunt-conical, smooth, weighing from 80 to 130 g. They have juicy, tasty pulp, used for processing and fresh. Rarely affected by diseases, stored until March

Early varieties

If the growing season is no more than 100 days, these are early ripening varieties. As a rule, they are grown for summer-autumn consumption, and do not differ in keeping quality. But among them there are those that, when ripened early, can be stored until spring, without losing either taste or presentation.

Name	Characteristic
	The growing season lasts 75-90 days. Root vegetables are slightly conical in shape, with a blunt tip, and rich in color. Carrot length is 10-12 cm, average weight is about 90 g. The variety is rarely affected by gray rot, does not crack when ripe, and is stored very well
	One of the most popular early varieties. The harvest is harvested 70 days after germination; the roots are smooth, even, orange-red in color. The average weight of carrots is 120 g, length up to 16 cm. For winter storage, seeds are sown in early summer. Root crops are little affected by fusarium, are not susceptible to flowering and do not crack
	One of the new improved varieties from Dutch breeders. The growing season is 100 days, the roots are cylindrical, leveled, up to 20 cm long. They are valued for their high resistance to cracking and long shelf life

There are several effective ways to preserve carrots in winter. All of them are quite simple and do not require much effort from the gardener.

Option 1. This method requires a box of boards and sifted fine sand. The box is lowered into a cellar or basement, the bottom is covered with a 5 cm thick layer of sand and the root vegetables are laid on top so that they do not touch. Having finished laying the first layer, cover the root crops with sand and repeat everything again. The topmost layer is sand. If desired, you can moisten the sand a little, although carrots are perfectly stored in dry conditions until spring. Instead of sand, pine sawdust, moss and dry onion peels are also used.

Option 2. Choose carrots without the slightest damage, with smooth skin, and dry well in the shade. Then they take plastic bags and put no more than 3 kg of root vegetables in each of them.

Option 3. The sorted carrots, without tops or visible damage, are dipped in a clay solution and laid out to dry under a canopy. The clay for the solution is taken clean, without any impurities of earth or plant residues. The solution should be thick, like sour cream, then it will not drain from the carrots and will form a protective shell. After drying, the root vegetables are placed in cardboard or wooden boxes and stored in a dry basement.

Option 4. It is recommended to store only part of the harvest in this way, since there will be no access to root crops throughout the winter. When harvesting carrots from the garden, several beds are left untouched. Before the first frost arrives, the tops are cut off close to the ground, the beds are covered with a layer of sand and covered with a thick film. A layer of sawdust, peat, fallen leaves or humus is placed on top, and everything is covered again with film. Carrots are perfectly preserved underground, remaining sweet and juicy.

Video - The best varieties of carrots for winter storage

It is difficult to imagine the diet of a modern healthy person without carrots. This tasty and healthy root vegetable confidently occupies one of the leading places in the list of the most consumed vegetables. Carrots are sold in a wide variety at any collective farm market; they can easily be found on store shelves. But experienced gardeners prefer to grow this bright and tasty root vegetable in their own summer cottages. Moreover, getting a decent harvest is not at all difficult. The process of storing vegetables until the next harvest causes difficulties.

To preserve the root crop for a long time, it is necessary to maintain the temperature regime and properly pack the crop. But this is only part of the success. Experienced vegetable growers know the main secret: the best varieties of carrots for storage.

How to make the right choice

Even the largest beautiful and healthy root vegetables can turn black and become rotten with the onset of cold weather. This situation can occur even if the air temperature and humidity conditions are carefully maintained. As practice shows, the duration of carrot storage is directly dependent on the timing of its planting and ripening.

This is why it is so important to know the most suitable varieties of carrots for winter storage.

• Preparation for storage begins, oddly enough, in the spring. When starting sowing work and planning to pamper your household with fresh vegetables in winter, you need to carefully select seeds. In order not to get lost in the abundance of traditional varieties and hybrids of carrots, experts advise paying attention to the following nuances:
• domestic varieties are better adapted to the climatic and soil conditions of most regions of Russia;
• seeds from imported producers have better external characteristics, but may require certain growing conditions;
• varieties with long roots are suitable for loose, deeply cultivated soil saturated with oxygen;

Round root vegetables ripen quickly, but produce a small harvest.

The best varieties of carrots for storing for the winter are traditionally considered to be late-ripening ones.

Of course, you can find suitable options among early and mid-season varieties, but not all of them are able to retain their taste for a long time. It should be remembered that only the second crop, planted at the beginning of summer, can be sent for storage.

Particular attention should be paid to the resistance of the selected variety to cracking. Any damage to the integrity of the fruit opens the way to numerous pests and diseases. These carrots cannot be stored for more than a couple of months.

The best late-ripening varieties

• Late ripening varieties form ripe fruits 120-140 days after seed germination. These varieties differ:
• cold resistance;
• disease resistance;

long shelf life. You can recognize late carrots by the long and pointed shape of the root vegetable.

The most popular among gardeners are:

Medium-ripening carrots produce a harvest from the 100th to the 120th day after seed germination. Its fruits are rich in nutrients and therefore have an excellent taste.

Best suited for long-term storage:

Early varieties suitable for storage

Early varieties of carrots are not suitable for long-term storage. But even among them there are options that can delight gardeners with juicy fruits all year round.

Early varieties ripen quickly. Already on the hundredth day after seed germination, the harvest can be harvested.

Experts noted:

1. Alenka. The root vegetables are small, only 10-12 cm long. But they are resistant to disease, are not subject to cracking and have a bright, rich taste and color.
2. Artek. It has smooth root crops about 16 cm long. Not susceptible to cracking, resistant to fusarium. Is early ripening. The harvest ripens on the 70th day after seed germination.
3. Nandrin F1. One of the new results of selection of Dutch producers. It is popular due to the even shape of the fruit, resistance to cracking and long shelf life.

How to store it correctly

Experienced vegetable growers use time-tested methods for storing crops for a long time. All of them are quite simple and quite applicable on every personal plot.

• Storage in sand. Wooden boxes are filled with fine sand in a layer of 5 cm. Root vegetables are placed on it, making sure that they do not come into contact with each other, then they are covered with sand. This way you can put several layers in one box.
• Storage in sawdust. This method is identical to storage in sand. It should be noted that for long-term storage of crops, you need to use sawdust from coniferous trees. The phytoncides they contain protect fruits from diseases and germination.
• Storage in plastic bags. Only whole smooth fruits without any mechanical damage or signs of disease are suitable for this method. Root vegetables must be thoroughly dried in a shaded place before packaging. After this, they are placed in polyethylene. Under no circumstances should the bags be tied. Otherwise the harvest will suffocate.
• Storage in clay. Whole root vegetables should be dipped in a thick clay solution, then dried thoroughly. After this, the harvest can be placed in boxes and sent for storage.

Whatever variety of carrots is chosen for storage and whatever method the gardener uses, success will be achieved only if the temperature regime is observed. The harvest is best stored at a temperature of -1 to +2 degrees in a room with sufficient air access.

Even large and healthy carrots can begin to turn black and become rotten after just a few months of storage. This unpleasant situation occurs while maintaining optimal temperature and humidity conditions. This is explained by the wrong choice of carrot variety.

Experienced gardeners say that The duration and quality of storage depend on the time of planting the seeds and the ripening of the root crop.. In order not to get lost in the variety of varieties and hybrids, it is important to take into account some nuances.

1. It is preferable to buy varieties of domestic selection, as they are adapted to the soils and climate of our country.
2. Seeds from foreign producers may have a better appearance, but require certain growing conditions (only in a greenhouse or with plenty of fertilizing).
3. Long root vegetables are suitable for loose soil that is saturated with oxygen. You need to put the second crop in the cellar, which was planted at the beginning of summer.
4. Round carrots ripen quickly and have low yields.

Reference! For long-term storage, it is recommended to choose late-ripening varieties. Early ripening types of carrots are preferable to be used immediately after harvest, but some varieties are also suitable for long-term aging.

When selecting a variety, it is important to pay attention to resistance to cracking, since even a small crack on the surface of the root crop is an open path for the penetration of harmful bacteria and fungi. If carrots are damaged, they can be stored for no more than 2 months.

You can find out more about suitable varieties of carrots and their shelf life.

Late ripening group

This group includes root crops that ripen 120-140 days after germination. Among the features are adaptation to cold weather and resistance to disease. When stored for a long time, carrots do not lose their taste, all beneficial properties are preserved. You can recognize late varieties for long-term storage by their characteristic shape: the root crop is long and pointed.

So, what varieties are included in the group?

Queen of Autumn

Takes first place in keeping quality. The average fruit weight is 200 g, length is 20-25 cm. The time from germination to technical maturity is 125 days. Root vegetables can be used for fresh consumption or for preservation. It is stored in the basement or cellar until May-June, without losing its marketable qualities.

Flaccoro

Ripening time – 110-120 days after germination. Carrots are bright orange in color, elongated in shape, and the flesh is juicy. Consumer properties are not lost during storage.

Vita Longa

Recently bred variety. It has a relatively long growing season - about 140 days. Recommended for winter storage, but can also be consumed fresh.

Carlena

Ripening period – 130 days. Feature – high sugar content in fruits(not recommended for people with diabetes). If you follow the storage rules, carrots will last until the spring months.

Mid-season vegetables

The ripening period varies from 90 to 120 days. The fruits contain nutrients and have excellent taste. When choosing a variety, you need to pay attention to the following names.

Samson

Carrots are easy to cultivate. There is no core; the pulp contains large amounts of carotene, vitamins, and microelements. The variety is adapted to the domestic climate. Root vegetables are stored until summer, as are late-ripening varieties.

Vitamin

The variety was bred by breeders specifically for winter maturation.. The growing season is 110 days. The length of the fruit is 17 cm. Simple care and moderate watering affect the juiciness and taste of carrots.

Shantanay

Mid-season and high-yielding variety. The ripening time is 90-110 days. Root vegetables do not crush during transportation and do not crack during storage.

NIIOH-336

Feature – rich bright orange color. Carrots reach a length of 18 cm and a weight of 120 g. They grow even in areas of risky farming. Characterized by high shelf life.

Early

Early ripening varieties can survive until mid-winter when adjusting the timing of planting in the ground. It is important that the ripening period occurs at the end of September and beginning of October. If the ripening period for a particular variety is 90 days, it must be sown no earlier than the end of June. In 90 days (3 months) the carrots will ripen and be suitable for storage. If the temperature and humidity conditions are maintained, early varieties of carrots will be stored for up to 4 months.

Attention! When sowing carrot seeds in summer, it is important to ensure abundant watering. Otherwise, the seeds will take a long time to germinate, and the first shoots will dry out quickly.

What varieties are allowed to be stored?

Alenka

The growing season is 80-85 days. The shape of the root crop resembles a cylinder. Carrots have a good taste, juiciness, the surface of the fruit is even and smooth. Before planting, high-quality soil preparation is required. The variety also needs frequent watering. With proper care, the weight of one carrot is 100 g, length – 15 cm.

Lagoon

Refers to varieties of Dutch selection. The harvest can be harvested within 2 months after germination. For winter storage, you need to remove carrots from the beds no earlier than after 85 days.

Artek

Root crops do not crack and are resistant to fusarium.

Nandrin

The fruits have an even shape, are resistant to cracking, and are stored for a long time.

Sweet view

If there are children in the family or those who like to crunch carrots, it is advisable to choose sweet varieties for storage for the winter. The list of sweet species includes Minicore, Vitaminnaya carrots, Krasa Devitsa and Nastena. All presented varieties tolerate maturation well and are resistant to rotting processes.

comparison table

Storage methods

There are several methods available for high-quality harvest aging. All technologies are not complicated and are suitable for any personal plot. needed in a basement or garage pit.

To extend the shelf life and minimize various problems (rot infection, germination), the following methods are recommended.

• Carrots in the sand. The bottom of the box must be filled with sand (layer 4-5 cm). Place the fruits so that they do not touch each other. Cover with sand on top and repeat layers.
• In sawdust. The method is identical to storage in sawdust. For long-term aging, you should take pine sawdust: the phytoncides in their composition will kill bacteria and protect against germination.
• In an open plastic bag. Dry smooth and even fruits without deformation in the sun, then put them in a plastic bag. It is forbidden to tie, as the root crops will suffocate.
• Carrots in clay. Whole carrots need to be dipped in a thick clay solution, then dried. Next, put the harvest in boxes and lower it into the basement.

Advice! For each storage method, it is important to adhere to the temperature regime (you can read more about the required temperature for storing carrots). Optimal indicators: from -1 to +2 in a room with sufficient air circulation.

You can learn more nuances about ways to store carrots from, and we told you how to store carrots at home.

So, for winter storage the best late-ripening and mid-ripening varieties. Early ripe carrots will be stored only if planted late in the ground (June-July). The aging period of early varieties does not exceed 4 months. To prevent root vegetables from losing their taste, rotting and sprouting, it is important to maintain temperature and humidity conditions.

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You can see the basic principles of growing carrots in the country in our infographics.

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Principles for selecting varieties for winter storage

The ability of vegetables to maintain commercial quality for a long time without being exposed to various diseases and without losing weight is characterized by the specific term “keeping quality”.

When choosing a variety suitable for storage, they are guided by the speed of ripening and the expected harvest date. The dependence of the shelf life index on the duration of the growing season is shown in the table:

Varieties	Maturation speed	Fruit size	Growing season duration	Keeping quality
Parisian carotel 443	Early	Short	60–90	Cannot be stored
NIIOH-336, Chantanay, Nantes	Mid-season	Middle length	90–115	Up to 4 months
Berlicum, Nuance, Forto	Late ripening	Large, long	110–130	6–7 months

Shortened root vegetables with a shortened ripening period (Paris carotel) spoil first. Late-ripening carrots with long conical fruits (Valeria, Forto, Vita Longa, Moscow winter) are stored better than other varieties. Weather anomalies can make amendments to this pattern. For example, with a long spring and early autumn, the growing season of carrots is reduced. During the short summer, late-ripening varieties do not have time to accumulate sufficient amounts of sugar and fiber, as a result of which the shelf life of root crops decreases. Early varieties are stored better under similar conditions.

It should be understood that choosing a mature variety does not guarantee crop protection. The safety of root crops depends on a combination of factors, each of which is of decisive importance. These include the timely implementation of all agrotechnical measures taking into account the climatic characteristics of the area, pest control, and preparation of storage areas. Failure to comply with even one condition may ruin all efforts.

Late-ripening varieties for storage

Queen of Autumn is characterized by resistance to disease, so it can be stored for a long time

Late varieties are considered to be those that ripen 120–140 days after germination. These carrots are characterized by increased cold resistance, less vulnerability to disease, and therefore are stored until next summer. The taste does not suffer during storage, and the beneficial properties are not lost. The best late-ripening varieties for storing for the winter:

• Queen of Autumn. Perhaps the most durable variety created by Russian breeders. Each carrot weighs almost 200 g and grows to impressive sizes. The length of the root crops is 25–30 cm. Approximately 120 days pass from the first shoots to technical ripeness. The variety is suitable for fresh consumption and preservation. The carrots are juicy, crispy and tasty. Stays until June. Storage does not affect commercial quality.

• Flaccoro. Dutch variety. Commercial maturity occurs 110–130 days after sowing. The carrot is bright orange, smooth, elongated, with tender flesh. The variety is productive - root crops grow up to 30 cm. The main advantage over other varieties is excellent keeping quality. Consumer properties are not lost until next summer.
• Vita Longa. A new relatively productive variety. The growing season is long – almost 140 days. Recommended for winter storage due to its excellent shelf life. It can also be used fresh. The weight of root crops is from 200 to 300 g, length up to 30 cm.
• Carlena. Productivity is high. Ripens 130 days after planting the seeds. Due to the high content of sugars in root vegetables, it is not recommended for patients with diabetes. It is unpretentious and does not require special care when grown. If the required microclimate is observed, it will last until spring.

Keeping quality of mid-season varieties

Among the mid-season varieties, you can also choose several suitable for planting for the winter. Some of them are not inferior in keeping quality to the later ones:

• Samson. One of the most unpretentious varieties to cultivate. The growing season is from 110 to 115 days. Has improved taste. The length of the root crop is up to 20 cm with an average weight of 160–200 g. There is no core. But the pulp accumulates a lot of carotene, vitamins and microelements. Grows in areas of any degree of fertility. Suitable for cultivation in regions with any climate, resistant to spring return colds. Can be stored until the next harvest, like many late-ripening varieties.
• Vitamin. The variety was bred specifically for long-term storage. It ripens 110 days after planting. The fruit grows up to 17 cm. It responds to care and sufficient watering with juiciness and excellent taste.
• Shantane. Mid-season high-yielding variety of carrots. The growing season is from 90 to 110 days. Root crops have excellent taste, each length is 15–17 cm, weight up to 250 g. They tolerate transportation well and do not crack in the garden or during long-term storage.

• NIIOH-336. Very tasty carrots. The root vegetable is red-orange, with a high content of carotene. By the time of ripening, it reaches a weight of 100-130g and grows up to 18 cm in length. It is cultivated everywhere, including in risky farming areas. The period from planting to harvesting is about 100 days. It has a high shelf life.

Early ripening varieties

Shantane is not afraid of heat, does not succumb to disease, and is resistant to bolting

It is believed that early carrots are not suitable for storage. But if desired, some of the early ripening varieties remain until mid-winter. True, the planting dates will have to be adjusted. Information about the growing season is contained on the seed packets. Considering that carrot harvesting is expected to take place at the beginning of October or the end of September, the preferred planting date is calculated. So, if the growing season of a particular variety is 90 days, it should be sown no earlier than the end of June. In three months, the carrots will have time to ripen and will be suitable for storage. Subject to the recommended temperature conditions and fixed humidity, early and mid-early ripening carrots are stored without compromising their commercial quality for up to 4 months.

Tip #1. For summer planting of carrots, increased watering is necessary, otherwise the seeds will not germinate for a long time and the seedlings will dry out.

• Alenka. Reaches ripeness 80–85 days after germination. Carrots are tasty, juicy, smooth, and have the shape of a blunt cylinder. The crop requires good soil preparation and needs constant watering. With proper care, root crops grow up to 15 cm and weigh up to 100 g.

• Bangor. High-yielding hybrid, suitable for winter storage. It lasts for a long time, almost until spring. The root crop is large, cylindrical, contains a lot of sugars and carotene.
• Lagoon. A hybrid of Dutch selection. The start of collecting early products is possible 2 months after germination. But for the purpose of storing it, they remove it no earlier than the 85th day. Main advantages: pleasant taste, productivity, uniformity and presentation of root crops.

Varieties and hybrids invulnerable to storage diseases

Bacterial, viral and fungal diseases cause great damage to gardeners when storing crops. Black, white, dry, gray, bacterial rot are widespread almost everywhere. An effective method of prevention is the choice of varieties that are resistant to disease.

The names of such varieties are given in the table:	Varieties	Diseases	F1 hybrids
Degree of stability	Black rot	Gribovchanin, Cantenbury, Champion	Increased
Dry, brown rot (fomoz)	Nantskaya 4, Moscow Winter	Abaco, Bilbo	Relative
White rot	Incomparable, Grenada, Vitamin	There are no resistant hybrids	Relative
Gray rot	There are no resistant varieties	There are no resistant hybrids

Tip #2. The safety of carrots depends on compliance with harvesting deadlines. Ripe root crops are less affected by diseases. The optimal period for harvesting carrots in the Non-Black Earth Region is from the end of September to the first ten days of October.

Mistakes gardeners make when storing carrots

Selected carrots store better

Let's look at common mistakes made by gardeners and gardeners.

1. Re-sorting root crops stored for the winter when white and gray rot is detected. You shouldn't do this. When trying to sort out the affected specimens, the infection spreads to the rest of the crop. It is necessary to remove diseased root crops with extreme caution, and then pollinate the area with fluff lime in order to localize the source of the disease.
2. Drying the collected root crops in the sun or in a warm room. It is prohibited to heat the harvested crop. Carrots are dried in the shade. The storage area is also cooled before storing vegetables. The microclimate in the cellar is created constant, without temperature fluctuations and without sudden changes in humidity. The optimal temperature regime is about 2° C. Humidity is maintained within 95%.
3. Bookmark for storage of the entire harvest without preliminary selection. You cannot rely on the fact that the variety is characterized by increased shelf life. Errors in agricultural technology will affect the safety of fruits, regardless of the chosen variety. Only ripe and healthy specimens that are not damaged are stored for a long time.

Blitz answers to pressing questions from gardeners

Carrots affected by rot are removed to prevent further infection.

Question No. 1: Why did the variety declared as suitable for winter storage not live up to expectations?

When growing, you need to take into account the structure of the soil. The sensitivity of varieties to soil fertility indicators varies. For example, Chantane does not ripen on heavy loams. The damage during storage of such a crop is twice as high as that of carrots of the same variety grown on loose, light soil.

Question #2: How long can carrots be stored?

The shelf life of even the most shelf-stable varieties depends on the chosen storage method:

• up to 1 year – in a “shirt” made of chalk or liquid clay;
• more than six months - in boxes with sawdust, sand, onion peels;
• up to 5 months – in plastic containers (plastic bags or plastic bags);
• ≈2–3 months – on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.

Large and dense root crops will last longer than small specimens.

Carrots, like other vegetables, need to be harvested on time. Root crops damaged by frost lose resistance to disease. The best time for digging up root crops is dry, sunny weather, when the average temperature no longer rises above 10° C, but does not yet fall below 0° C. When harvesting, the tops are immediately cut off. Vegetables are sorted and only undamaged and healthy specimens are selected for storage.

Question No. 4: When left in winter, carrots lose moisture, become coarser, and their taste deteriorates. Can root vegetables retain their original properties until spring?

To ensure that carrots remain juicy and crispy during storage, special varieties are chosen. Boltex, Losinoostrovskaya, and Red Giant are characterized by a pleasant taste and at the same time good keeping quality.

To determine which carrot variety is the best, you need to understand one thing. It lies in answering the question: “Why will it be planted?” If in order to be used in summer salads, then it is better to choose early carrot seeds. Then the root vegetables will grow quickly enough and will delight you with their juiciness and taste. If you want to enjoy the harvest until spring, then late-harvesting varieties of carrots are suitable. They are distinguished by the fact that they are ready just in time for harvesting and are stored for a long time in suitable conditions.

In order for it to last for a long time, several conditions must be met:

• do not take a long break between harvesting and storing it;
• create a microclimate with a temperature of about 2 ºС and a humidity of 98%;
• choose healthy root vegetables without damage.

The best variety of carrots for long-term storage will be those that have late ripening periods. Then you can easily achieve compliance with the first condition.

Among the late hybrids, we can distinguish those that can be described as the best varieties of carrots for storage:

Golden Autumn, Queen of Autumn, Monastic, Cascade, Narbonne, Flaccoro, Red Giant, Chantane, Valeria, Moscow Winter, Incomparable, Flacque. Each of them deserves to be in every summer resident’s garden.

To eat delicious carrots longer, the varieties for storage are as follows:

Vitamin, the same Queen of Autumn and Cascade, Cardinal and Samson, Grossa, Moscow Winter, Losinoostrovskaya.

Early ripening varieties of carrots

These root crops produce a harvest within 1.5-2 months after germination. Therefore, already in the middle of summer you can make salads from the fresh harvest. This is very good, because at this time there are still few other vegetables and fruits. In order to achieve this, choose the earliest carrot variety from the following:

Nantes number 4 or 14, Miniko or Touchon, Artek or Rex, Mother-in-law F1 or Zabava F1, Lydia.

The first ones on this list are distinguished by their neat shape with a rounded tip. The size of the root crops is not large. They are the most popular carrot varieties also because they have a long shelf life. Its harvest may last until spring. And this despite his early maturation.

Lydia

Nantes 4

Mother in law F1

Sweet varieties of carrots

If there are little sweet tooths in the family who love to crunch carrots, then it is better to choose sweeter varieties. To determine which varieties of carrots are best to plant in this case, you can use the following list:

The largest varieties of carrots

These root vegetables grow up to 20 cm in length and the weight of each of them can be about 200 g. All of them are suitable for long-term storage. So, the varieties of large carrots are:

Canada F1 (distinguished by its small core), Nantes 4 (already appeared several times in other lists), Amsterdam (very valuable because it gives a stable harvest and is not prone to cracking of roots), Nandrin F1 - unpretentious to the composition of the soil, Gourmand.

Amsterdam

Carrot seeds for the Moscow region do not require special treatment before sowing. It is enough to simply check them for germination.

When choosing the best variety of carrots for the Moscow region, there is no particular difficulty. Almost any variety of this root vegetable is suitable here. It does not require special skills from the gardener. In addition, it is unpretentious to growing conditions. She is not afraid of slight frosts. For those who have decided, the best varieties for the Moscow region will be:

Nantes (early carrots), Vitaminnaya and Losinoostrovskaya varieties will delight you with sweetness, Moscow Winter and Shantanay 2461 will last until spring, Volzhskaya, Rote Riesen, Geranda and Cardinal.

The best carrot varieties for Siberia practically no different from those recommended for other regions. The only exception that can be included in carrot seeds for Siberia is the Altai shortened hybrid.

The Nantskaya 4 variety is zoned in all regions of Russia, i.e. suitable for any climate

Special types of these root vegetables

The first thing worth mentioning is the varieties of carrots without cores. In such hybrids, the nutritional value is increased, because it is this that tends to accumulate nitrates. And the juiciest and most delicious part is around the core.

Next up will be the yellow carrot varieties. It is not very nutritious or contains vitamins. However, in some regions it is very popular. The greatest benefit comes from those root vegetables that have a uniform color from the core to the edges. Of particular interest are purple and other types of carrots.

To the delight of the little family members, mini carrots were bred, the seeds of which belong to the varieties: Granddaughter or Sophie. They can grow even in small containers. And they grow within two months.

So, each gardener decides for himself which carrots are best to plant. Fortunately, there are quite a lot of varieties. In addition, the same hybrids have such properties that they will satisfy the tastes and needs of all gourmets. This healthy root vegetable will diversify your diet and give you all the accumulated vitamins.

Nantskaya 4 is a variety of Russian selection for cultivation in open ground. Belongs to the group of varieties with an average ripening period. From germination to physiological ripeness, root crops require from 80 to 100 days. Despite the yield being far from record, the variety is in demand among gardeners. (see →). It owes its popularity to its excellent commercial qualities and excellent taste. In addition, Nantes 4 is notable for the fact that during storage it is resistant to mold and various types of rot. Carrots remain juicy and firm all winter. Nantes 4 is unpretentious to external weather conditions. Cultivated in all regions of Russia. Vegetables of this variety are used for processing, home canning, and winter storage, but they are also good fresh.