The best varieties of carrots for storage for the winter

Some gardeners store the grown crop in the cellar, while using techniques that allow you to enjoy the sweet taste of vegetables for a very long time and sometimes even after the winter.Carrots, for example, tolerate winter storage well if they are put in a box and covered with sand. At the same time, its late and medium ripening varieties are much better preserved than the early ones, which can become useless after four months.

It is difficult to find such a dish that would not taste better after adding carrots to it. It is not surprising that many gardeners want to preserve its fruits before the onset of cold weather and even before the arrival of spring. Alas, not all varieties of carrots can safely stand the test for such a long time. That is why you need to know exactly which of them can be put in storage, how exactly this should be done and during what period such vegetables should be eaten. Having received exhaustive answers to these questions, a gardener or a thrifty hostess will delight themselves and family with a “summer” dinner both at the end of autumn, and on the New Year, and on the days of Shrovetide festivities.

From experience it is known that storing carrots in edible form for many months is not as easy as some other vegetables. However, by choosing the right seeds for the next harvest and correctly calculating the time of their planting, it is possible to significantly extend the period of keeping the roots in the cellar or on the balcony.

When buying seeds, it is better to opt for late-ripening varieties. As for early-ripe species, it is preferable to eat them soon after ripening, since they endure long storage much worse. Seeds need to be planted around the beginning of summer, so that the carrot grown from them will ripen on cool autumn days. But the late-ripening carrots will be unsuitable for storage if cracks appear on its surface, therefore, when selecting seed material, the seller should be asked about the tendency of future root crops to cracking. You can learn about this in numerous books that give advice to gardeners.

Late ripening varieties usually include those types of carrots whose growing season is 120 days or more. These varieties are resistant to pathogens and tolerate cooling. Long-term storage of such carrots does not affect its taste and nutritional value. On the counter of the store late varieties can be identified by their characteristic form of root crops. They should be long and with pointed ends, which makes them look like spindles.

The most famous varieties of this group are:

• "Queen of Autumn";
• Flaccore;
• Vita Long;
• Karlena.

The “Queen of Autumn” is notable for its particularly long storage period, therefore, it is best to choose this particular variety for storage. The weight of this root is about 200 grams, and in length it can reach 25 centimeters. This type of carrot can be used for preservation. In the cool cellar or basement, it will lie until the beginning of next summer, while almost without losing its valuable qualities.

The roots of the variety "Flaccor" ripen about four months after planting. Their characteristic features are bright orange color, slightly rounded ends and juicy flesh. Long storage does not lead to the loss of their original taste and nutritional characteristics.

The variety "Vita Long" was bred relatively recently. It is distinguished by a very long growth period of approximately 140 days. Given that the carrot "Vita Long" well withstands long-term storage, it is recommended to use it fresh.

The term of ripening of Karlen root crops is about 130 days.Provided that the cellar is properly laid, such carrots will continue successfully until spring. A distinctive feature of "Carlena" is a high content of sugar in its roots. For this reason, this variety is not suitable for people suffering from diabetes.

Ripening root crops of mid-season varieties lasts from three to four months. They are praised for outstanding taste, they also have useful nutrients. Identifying these varieties on the counter along the length and shape of the root will be quite difficult for a non-specialist. They do not have the same general distinctive characteristic that late-growing varieties have.

The following varieties of this group are quite widespread:

• "Samson";
• "Vitamin";
• "Shantane";
• "NIIOH-336".

For the cultivation of carrots varieties "Samson" does not need special soil conditions. Such root crops lack a core, and their pulp contains trace elements, vitamins and a lot of carotene. Due to the unpretentiousness of this variety, it can be planted in a difficult northern climate. Like late-ripening root vegetables, Samson carrots can be stored until next summer.

On the variety "Vitamin" should pay special attention, since it brought it for long winter storage. Compared to carrots of other species, these root crops can be called medium in length. Unlike late-ripening varieties, they have a slightly curved shape. Such carrots grow for about 110 days, reaching a length of 17 centimeters. To give it a rich taste and juiciness, you need to regularly water and loosen the beds, remove weeds from them and fertilize them with organic matter.

Variety "Shantane" refers to high-yielding. Its fruits ripen more than a hundred days, easily withstand transportation and are not covered with cracks during storage.

A characteristic feature of the NIIOH-336 variety is the thick orange color. The mass of its root crop reaches 120 grams; this crop is capable of growing even in geographical latitudes unfavorable for agriculture. As for keeping quality, in this case its high duration is noted.

Under the condition of late planting of carrots, early ripe fruits can be preserved until about mid-January. In order for it to ripen as close as possible to winter, that is, for example, in early October, it should be landed at the end of June. For three months, such a carrot is able to ripen completely, after which it can be stored for storage. Maintaining optimum temperature and humidity in the cellar, carrots of such varieties can withstand no more than four months of storage.

The most suitable for long storage varieties of this group are:

• "Alenka";
• "Lagoon";
• "Artek";
• "Nandrin."

Carrot varieties "Alenka" grows for about 85 days and forms a root crop, shaped like a narrow truncated cone. It has a pleasant taste, juicy flesh and a smooth surface. They are sweet and suitable for the climate of the Urals. For successful cultivation of Alenka, the soil should be generously sated with organic fertilizers and, if necessary, moderately add saltpeter, urea, superphosphate to them. Under the condition of frequent irrigation, the weight of such a root will reach 100 grams, and the length - 15 centimeters.

"Lagoon" is included in the category of varieties of Dutch breeding. To achieve maturity, she only needs two months. However, if this variety is grown for long storage, it will be possible to harvest only 85 days after the emergence of the seedlings.

Root varieties "Artek" resistant to cracking and Fusarium.

Root varieties "Nandrin" are characterized by a geometrically regular shape and the ability to be stored for a long time without loss of nutritional value.

Those who want to feel the taste of almost fresh carrots in the fierce winter cold have several ways to achieve their goals. All these methods do not involve the use of complex technical devices or expensive chemicals. This means that you can use them almost anywhere, and at the same time it will take very little time for the entire storage operation. However, to save carrots, for example, in a heated house or city apartment does not work. To do this, you need to have at your disposal cooler rooms: basement, garage pit or cellar.

One of the most popular methods is to store carrots in the sand. It lies in the fact that at the bottom of the box poured a layer of sand with a thickness of five centimeters. Next, it laid the roots, while ensuring that they do not come into contact with each other. Then they are filled up with a new layer of sand, on which, in turn, you can again lay the vegetables.

Similarly, carrots can be stored for storage, peppered with sawdust. It is preferable to use conifer sawdust, as they have an antibacterial effect. Somewhat different is the tab of root crops in a plastic bag. To do this, they are carefully dried in the sun, then gently shift in plastic packaging. In no case should such a bag be tied, as this will lead to the defeat of the fruits by mold.

There is also a known method by which carrots are preserved with clay. To do this, root vegetables are dipped in a thick clay solution and dried. Then the vegetables are placed in boxes, with no additional sprinkling with sand or sawdust.

All of these methods involve compliance with the optimum temperature at the storage site. It should not go beyond the interval from minus one to plus two degrees, and the room should be aired regularly.

Reviews of people who have experience in laying carrots for winter storage are somewhat contradictory. Some argue that it is necessary to thoroughly wash the roots of dirt, dry them well, and only then can be placed in the cellar, covered with pine sawdust. Others believe that washing carrots should never be washed before storage. In their opinion, it is enough to dry the dug up roots for a few days in the fresh air, after which they should be transferred to the basement and spread out in a box with sand.

How to store carrots until spring, see the following video.