Altai gourmet carrots: reviews, photos, yield, growing secrets

Altai gourmet carrots, description + photo

Carrot leaves are presented in the form of a spreading rosette, rich green in color. The root vegetable itself has a bright orange color, not only on the outside, but also on the inside. It should also be said that the Altai Gourmand carrot variety description and reviews includes such information. The shape of the carrot is cylindrical with a slightly narrowed end that is slightly blunt. The diameter of the root crop is 3-4 centimeters, and the length can reach more than 20 centimeters (20-30 cm). Weight can vary from 90 to 160 grams. As for the pulp itself, it differs from other varieties in its juiciness, tenderness and a fairly high content of sugar (5.3-7.6%) and carotene (up to 16.8%).

The Altai Gourmand carrot variety was bred exclusively for regions with harsh climatic conditions, namely Siberia. But over time, this variety, due to its ease of care and the ability to grow in cold climate zones, has spread to areas with a warmer climate.

Attention!

The Altai gourmet carrot is a variety, not a hybrid, so you can collect seeds from the root crops and then plant them in your garden yourself, rather than buying them again.

Description and characteristics of the variety

Altai gourmet is a very young variety. It was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements only 10 years ago (2009) and is specifically recommended for cultivation in Western Siberia - in the Omsk, Tomsk, Tyumen, Kemerovo and Novosibirsk regions, as well as in Altai.

It is interesting that the variety owes its creation not to a large scientific institution, but to private farmers. Thus, the originators and owners of the patent for the Altai delicacy are the individual entrepreneur Vladimir Nikolaevich Dederko (Novosibirsk), as well as the Svetlana Peasant Farm and Svetlana Viktorovna Ugarova (Barnaul).

Description of root vegetables

The Altai gourmet is usually classified as the Nantes variety, the main distinguishing feature of which is the very sweet, tender and juicy pulp with the absence of a pronounced core. At the same time, the root crops of this variety have an elongated conical shape, which is more typical of the Flakke (Valeria) variety, and at the same time have a rounded tip (a typical feature of the Berlikumer variety).

The length of root crops can range from 18 to 25 cm, which greatly depends on the growing conditions. The average weight of the Altai gourmet is 150 g.

The color of the carrot pulp is very rich, red-orange, due to the high carotene content, and the characteristic tenderness and sweetness of the variety is ensured by the high (up to 8%) sugar content. The share of dry matter in Altai Gourmet is on average 15% (with excess watering this figure may be lower), which provides such important properties of the variety as excellent transportability and suitability for long-term storage.

The above-ground part of the variety is represented by a semi-spreading rosette consisting of deeply dissected leaves of medium length

Ripening time

Root crops of the Altai gourmet reach biological ripeness on average in 90–110 days from the moment of friendly shoots, which allows us to classify the variety as mid-season.

Mid-season carrots are thus the ideal balance, allowing you to obtain high-quality, sweet and shelf-stable root vegetables in a relatively short time.

Important! Early ripening carrot varieties ripen in 60–90 days and are grown mainly for immediate consumption (or for sale), late ripening varieties reach ripeness in 110–140 days, are well stored, but are unsuitable for growing in regions with short summers.

Productivity

The variety's productivity indicators are not very high: it is rarely possible to harvest more than 4-5 kg ​​of root crops from 1 m², however, for Siberia even such productivity is considered quite good.

Characteristics and productivity photos

The Altai gourmet carrot is a characteristic that will help you understand how profitable it is to plant it in your garden.

1. Early ripening variety - the ripening period ranges from 90 to 100 days from the date of emergence.
2. The yield is 260-505 kilograms per hectare, if you do not forget about the basic rules of care.
3. The germination rate of the seed is quite high and amounts to 74-95%.

It adapts well to different climatic conditions, so this variety can be grown in all territorial regions of the country.

"Pros and cons"

It is imperative to note the advantages and disadvantages of carrot varieties, which are becoming more and more popular among gardeners every year. Among the advantages, the most basic ones should be highlighted. They are:

• unpretentious in care;
• can grow not only in cold climatic zones;
• gives a stable harvest, even with minimal care;
• has excellent taste;
• the root crop is large and has a smooth surface;
• tolerates long-term transportation;
• can be stored until the next harvest.

No less important is the fact that carrots of the designated variety can be used either raw for preparing salads or added to canned food.

As for the shortcomings, of course there are some. For example, even taking into account the stability of the yield, it is not high. In addition, Altai gourmet carrots, which are grown even in Siberia, are not resistant to diseases and pests. Also, the root crop is prone to bolting, and often produces spikes, on which a shift is then formed.

Rules for planting Altai gourmet

In order to get a good harvest and tasty root vegetables, you will certainly need to initially carry out preparatory work on the site of the future carrot bed. For this you will need:

1. In the fall, you need to fertilize the bed by adding a prepared aqueous solution of humus or compost. The soil should be saturated to about 5 centimeters. It is also recommended to use phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. It will be sufficient to scatter 10-15 grams of the indicated types of fertilizer per 1 square meter. It is imperative to dig up the bed in the fall.
2. Before planting seeds, you absolutely need to loosen the soil in the garden bed to reduce the amount of weeds that grow. After the shoots appear, it is necessary to remove the weeds in a timely manner, otherwise the plants may be completely destroyed.
3. The soil in the garden bed should be light and loose, and the soil must first be provided with good drainage to avoid stagnation of water. The acidity of the soil should be within the pH level of 6-6.5. If the acidity of the soil is higher, it is not recommended to reduce it by liming.
4. Before planting, seeds must be treated with pest and disease repellents, and it is also advisable to use a solution to speed up the germination process.
5. To ensure rapid germination, it is necessary to cover the sowing bed with film, periodically opening it for ventilation.
6. To maintain soil moisture, it is recommended to mulch the surface of the bed.

And do not forget that if there are dense areas of entrances, then you definitely need to thin them out, since the root crops will turn out to be very small.

Altai carrots are delicious according to descriptions and reviews, easy to plant and care for. Knowing about several important nuances, there will be no problems when growing.

Separately, it is necessary to note the timing of sowing Altai gourmet carrot seeds. The best time for planting is considered to be mid-April or early May, but only if during the designated period the air temperature has already warmed up to at least +5 degrees. Another nuance should also be noted. If it’s already +10, +12 degrees outside, then seedlings will appear after 2 weeks; when the air temperature is +17, +18 degrees, then the seeds will hatch in 7 days.

Seeds should be planted to a depth of no more than 3 centimeters, and the width between rows should be 20 centimeters.

How to plant carrots in winter?

In winter, carrots of the Lakomku variety are planted in late autumn, in slightly frozen ground. Fall sowing has some advantages. The crop is early ripening, so the harvest can be harvested at the end of June, 2-3 weeks earlier than harvesting vegetables during spring planting.

When harvesting early, the site can be reused for sowing radishes or nightshade crops.

Seeds do not need to be treated with antiseptics or biostimulants. Low temperatures destroy fungus and pathological microflora. Melt water is a growth stimulator. It awakens the seeds and starts the metabolic process in them. Winter crops are characterized by friendly shoots.

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In early spring there are few insect pests, so bushes and root crops develop without damage. No insect repellent treatment required and no chemicals used. The Lakomka variety is resistant to infections and viruses. Plants do not suffer from powdery mildew, bacteriosis, or anthracnose.

Since the culture is not prone to bolting, the metabolic processes that occur at the root are not disrupted. The core remains the same in color and chemical composition as the pulp. She doesn't turn green:

• sowing is carried out when the air temperature is constantly at around -2 C and the first snow falls. Gardeners sow carrots a week before predicted severe frosts. A sudden thaw can trigger seed germination, which is undesirable. Seedlings may freeze;
• find a sunny spot in the garden. The snow melts on them first, the melt water has a positive effect on the seeds and awakens them;
• predecessors of carrots can be nightshade and melon crops;
• 3 months before sowing, the site is cleared of weeds and old fruits. Add 100 g/m2 ash and 20 g/m2 rotted compost to the site. If the soil is not loose enough, then use sand and sawdust;
• mineral potassium fertilizers are immediately introduced: superphosphate, 40 g/m2 and potassium sulfate 20 g/m2;
• The area is being dug up. Before sowing, it is leveled with a rake, grooves 3 cm deep are prepared, and seeds are sown in increments of at least 5-7 cm. The distance between the grooves is 20 cm;
• The seedlings are covered with peat and sand, covered with agrotextiles, and covered with snow. It is recommended to cover the area with spruce branches or mats to prevent the seeds from freezing.

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In spring, all covering material is removed. It is recommended to make a film tunnel or greenhouse on the site. In greenhouse conditions, sprouts appear faster. When the stems grow to 7 cm, the film is removed. Seedlings develop normally at temperatures above 5 C. Watering is not carried out; the soil remains moist for a long time.

More on the topic: How are Amsterdam carrots grown?

Rules of care "Siberian garden"

According to breeders and a lot of similar information is noted on the Internet, the Altai gourmet carrot itself is an unpretentious plant. But it is worth saying that this is just an abstract saying. After all, without proper care, nothing will grow, much less produce a good harvest. Therefore, it is imperative to follow at least the basic rules regarding care. These include:

• timely, but not excessive watering;
• It is necessary to loosen the soil between the rows;
• it is absolutely necessary to carry out weeding, eliminating weeds;
• fertilizing must be done after the second time of thinning.

The initial fertilizing is the application of fertilizers during the autumn digging of the bed, the second immediately after the second thinning, and at the time of ripening it is recommended to sprinkle wood ash around the root crops.

Diseases and pests

The greatest danger to the Altai gourmet carrot is the carrot fly itself, as well as wireworms and similar insects that are attracted to the juicy and sweet pulp of the root crop. Among the terrestrial pests, aphids can also be noted. As for diseases, the most common ones are often:

• powdery mildew;
• brown spot;
• dry, white or gray rot;
• cercospora blight (root deformation).

To protect carrots from various diseases and pests, it is recommended to take appropriate preventive measures and also follow agrotechnical rules. Eg:

• do not plant carrots in the same place every year;
• be sure to thin out the seedlings;
• use only high-quality seeds;
• the soil for the garden must be fertile;
• it is imperative to provide a drainage layer;
• loosen the soil between rows in a timely manner.

As a preventive measure, it is necessary to treat carrot seeds before sowing with special means. If mulching is carried out, this material also needs to be processed and then scattered between the rows. You can also plant plants near the beds that have a specific smell and can repel insects, for example, marigolds, marigolds or nasturtiums. If traces of an infectious disease have already become noticeable or pests have appeared, the affected foliage must be removed without fail and treated with appropriate means as soon as possible.

Features of care

If the carrots are sown correctly and a suitable site is chosen, further care of the seedlings does not present any particular difficulties. But a good harvest can only be obtained if the gardener knows well some of the secrets of growing crops and strictly follows these rules.

Watering

The first law of getting good carrots is proper watering. Like other varieties of this crop, Altai gourmet needs soil moisture, but this need changes significantly during the growing season.

Important! In 8 cases out of 10, a carrot seed does not germinate simply because the soil in which it is located is too dry.

It is also interesting that it is most critical to regularly and abundantly water carrot plantings at the stage of seed germination, precisely in cold regions where Altai gourmet is usually grown. Sharp winds greatly dry out the soil, so watering the beds in such conditions sometimes needs to be done not just every day, but even 2-3 times.

Two other fundamental mistakes when watering crops are irregularity and scarcity.

Soil moisture at the depth of root growth (30–35 cm) should correspond to the following parameters:

• 75% - before seed germination and during the period of root crop formation;
• 65–70% - during breaks between the above periods;
• 50–60% - two weeks before harvest.

For the northern regions, where Altai gourmet is usually cultivated, after the emergence of seedlings and before the formation of root crops, the bed can be watered only in very dry weather, and during the entire growing season it is enough to carry out only 2-3 waterings with the following water consumption per 1 m² of bed:

• at the beginning of the growing season - 12–15 l;
• during the formation of root crops - 20–25 liters per 1 m² of bed.

Did you know? The record length carrot is grown by the mayor of the city of Kleyat (Lebanon), Ahmed Ibrahim. In his garden grow root crops more than 60 cm long, and the largest specimen is 130 cm, and the mer himself not only swears that he does not use any growth stimulants, but also complains about the difficulties with selling his anomalous harvest.

In more southern latitudes, carrots are watered once every 8–10 days, spending 25–35 and 40–50 liters of water per 1 m² of bed, respectively, depending on the phase of the growing season.

However, in all cases, at least 15, and preferably 20 days before harvesting, watering should be stopped completely; this will increase the dry matter content in root crops, and, accordingly, increase their taste characteristics and shelf life.

Fertilizer application

The main part of the fertilizers necessary for the normal growth of the Altai gourmet is applied to the soil in advance, simultaneously with the autumn preparation of the bed. In the future, the feeding scheme directly depends on the initial state of the soil and climatic conditions.

Usually 2-3 such procedures are performed, for example:

Important! In order for the Altai gourmet to be stored longer, the proportion of potassium in the soil should exceed nitrogen by 20–30%.

Thinning

It is precisely ignoring such a procedure as thinning out seedlings that leads to the fact that inexperienced gardeners’ carrots do not grow as they should according to the description of the variety.

In order for root crops to form, they need space, so you need to thin out the bed twice:

• after the first true leaves form at the seedlings - leaving approximately 25 mm between neighbors;
• 3 weeks after the first procedure - this time the distance between individual specimens needs to be increased to 50 mm.

To ensure that the seedlings left in the garden are not damaged as a result of thinning, the soil should be watered before carrying out the manipulation, and excess plants should be removed by moving not vertically upward, but to the side

Immediately after thinning, it is useful to mulch the bed. For this purpose, you can use compost, peat or sawdust (pre-soaked in urea for 15–20 days for disinfection purposes).

However, in any case, such vegetation should never be left in the garden bed, since its smell is a bait for various pests, of which carrots already have plenty.

Did you know? Carrot tops removed from the ground during the thinning process can be used in a variety of ways. For example, it makes an excellent spice for preserving tomatoes and even a decoction for rinsing hair.

Protection from diseases and pests

The greatest danger to carrots is the carrot fly, wireworms and other insects, the larvae of which feed on the sweet pulp of root vegetables, making them completely unfit for consumption. Aphids and other “above-ground” pests can cause no less damage to crops.

Traditional methods of combating such parasites are insecticides, but it is much safer to preventively treat the garden bed several times during the season with biological products, such as “Bitoxibacillin” or “Lepidocide”.

Folk methods for getting rid of carrot flies include:

• spraying rosettes with a weak solution of potassium permanganate (0.2 g per 1 liter of water) or ammonia (5–8 g per 1 liter of water);
• plant seeds as early as possible (before the first ten days of April) or, on the contrary, later (at the end of June), when the insect has already laid eggs on the neighbors’ carrot beds;
• during the period of preparation of adults for laying eggs (from mid-April to mid-May, depending on the region), cover the crops with lutrasil or other translucent material in order to block the pest’s access to the root collar, where oviposition usually occurs;
• plant plants with a pungent odor next to carrots that repel flies (for example, these include onions, marigolds, marigolds, nasturtium, by the way, they also partly help avoid aphid attacks).

We advise you to read who is nibbling carrots in the garden.

Sometimes the Altai gourmet is also affected by fungal infections. The best way to protect against them is preventive disinfection of seeds (for example, in a solution of the already mentioned potassium permanganate), although the causative agent of the disease can also be hidden in the soil.

To prevent the disease, in addition to following the rules of crop rotation, proper watering and fertilizing aimed at generally strengthening the crop’s immunity, you can use biofungicides, such as “Trichodermin”, “Mikosan”, “Phytotsid”, etc. in combination with special “ adhesives" such as "Liposam".

Reviews from gardeners about the variety and yield of carrots Altai gourmet according to description

According to gardeners, Altaisai carrots, which require almost no planting and care, are an excellent option for harvesting a good harvest and obtaining root crops with excellent taste.

Nikolay, Irkutsk

Quite recently I started growing vegetables in my garden, and accordingly I was interested in the opinion of experienced gardeners regarding the question of which vegetable seeds are the best. The Altai gourmet was often mentioned on various gardening sites, so I decided to try planting it myself. I will say one thing, I did not regret that I listened to the advice.

Angelina, Krasnoyarsk

I have been planting Altai gourmet in my garden beds for several years now. I am pleased with the harvest, and besides, it is very tasty, juicy, and most importantly, it is well preserved. I store it in the basement and the carrots remain fresh until the new harvest.

Elizaveta, Novosibirsk

My friend advised me to plant Altai gourmet; she has many years of experience in growing vegetables in her own beds. Thank you my dear! I recommend that you try to plant this carrot, and you won’t regret it.

How to care?

Caring for seedlings is traditional. If the sowing has been carried out correctly and the soil has been properly prepared, then all you need to do is water the plants, remove weeds, and loosen the row spacing.

If the root rises above the ground, then hilling is required. According to the description of the Lakomka variety, the root does not come out of the ground, so plant care is simplified:

May watering should not be abundant. The soil is moistened once every 2 weeks. For 1 m2 leave 5 liters of water. At the end of May, the volume of liquid is increased to 10 liters. At this time, root crops develop intensively.

Watering is stopped 2 weeks before harvesting vegetables. Winter crops do not require much water. The soil is moistened naturally when the snow melts.

Carrots of the Lakomka variety are consumed fresh, used in juices and culinary dishes. Vegetables are recommended to be used for a short time, but according to the manufacturers’ description, root crops are stored for the winter. With proper storage, they last a long time and do not lose their characteristics.

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