Sweet carrots are not the result of luck, but of proper care.
One proven method, backed by a study in the journal Vegetable Crops , is to water with salt water three weeks before harvest.
Salt (100 g per 10 l) neutralizes terpenes, the compounds responsible for bitterness, and increases the sugar content of root vegetables by 25%.
However, the method requires care: after salt watering, the bed must be washed with clean water to avoid salinization of the soil.
For late varieties such as 'Queen of Autumn' or 'Flakke' this is an ideal option, but early varieties ('Paris Carotel') may crack due to a sharp change in soil composition.
The soil in which the crop grows also matters.
If the area is clayey, then the salt is replaced with an ash infusion (2 glasses per 10 liters of water), which not only reduces bitterness, but also saturates the soil with potassium.
Agronomist Sergei Morozov explains: “Ash contains carbonates, which soften the soil and improve the structure of root crops.”
For sandy soils, a combined approach is suitable: add wood ash when planting (1 glass per m²), and a month before harvesting, use a slightly salted solution (50 g of salt per 10 l).
And a few more tips for a good carrot harvest:
Drip irrigation with a humidity sensor ensures uniform moisture distribution, preventing drying out and cracking.
Mulching with cut grass or straw retains moisture, suppresses weeds and protects root crops from overheating.
Treatment with boric acid (2 g per 10 l of water) stimulates growth and increases sugar content. Spray the leaves in the 4-5 leaf phase.
Author: Elena Shimanovskaya