Vita longa carrots: variety description, characteristics, taste, cultivation

Description

Vita longa carrot is a culture of Dutch selection. It is suitable for cultivation in Russia, Moldova, and Ukraine. There is an opinion that the core of carrots contains all the most harmful substances. But this variety has a weakly expressed core, which is what attracts many gardeners. The taste of Vita Longa carrots, according to gardeners, is excellent. The root vegetables are very sweet, juicy, quite large and thick with a slightly ribbed surface. Their weight reaches 0.5 kg, although the average weight is 250 g, and the length is 30 cm or more. Carrots have a conical shape, a blunt tip, and an orange color on both the flesh and the core. The leaves have a high rosette. They have a dark green color and a medium dissected plate. The root vegetable has three parts:

• Head with rosettes of leaves attached to it.
• A neck with no roots.
• The root, which is the largest part of the root vegetable.

When the main root is damaged, new roots with a certain supply of nutrition are formed from the awakened buds. The development of a branched root crop begins. To prevent the process, it is important to identify the cause of damage to the main root. It could be:

• Excess or deficiency of substances to which carrots are most sensitive. Such additives for fertilizing the soil are fresh manure or other types of organic matter in excessive doses, which promote the process of branching of root crops.
• Damage by pests that were not destroyed in a timely manner and multiplied in large quantities.
• During weeding and thinning, the roots of the vegetable could be damaged; they are very delicate.

The best varieties of early ripening carrots

Variety Alenka

High-yielding early ripening variety. It only takes 50 days for bunched products to mature. The fruits are not very long, up to a maximum of 12 cm. Root weight up to 100 g. Sugars 5.4-8.5%, carotene up to 13.5%. The taste of this variety is not as sweet as the later varieties, but it has a lot of moisture.

When choosing which variety of early-ripening carrots will be suitable for heavy soil, you can pay attention to the time-tested Karotel

Variety Carotel Parisian

The best variety of early ripening carrots, capable of growing in heavy clay soils. The average ripening period is about 72 days. Root vegetables with a diameter of up to 5 cm and a weight of up to 60 g. Contains a large amount of saccharides and carotene. Children really like it because of its delicate pulp and high sweetness. Suitable for both fresh consumption and canning and freezing. Unfortunately, it is not suitable for long-term storage, as it is prone to cracking.

Carrot variety Vita Longa: characteristics

This culture is characterized by the following indicators:

• Late ripening. It takes 160 days from planting to harvesting.
• High yield. From a plot of one square meter you can harvest 6.5 kg of carrots.
• Low carotene content.
• Resistant to disease, pest and mechanical damage.
• Long-term storage without loss of quality.
• Good transportability.
• No tendency for root crops to crack.
• Used for the production of juices and food for children.
• Vita longa carrots are of interest to specialists involved in industrial cultivation of the crop.

Description of Dutch carrots Vita Longa and Bangor F1

The Vita Longa variety and hybrid Bangor F1 carrots were created by breeders of the Dutch agronomic company Bejo Zaden.
For Vita Long, the period from full germination to harvesting is 160 days .
Carrots belong to the Chantane variety. Produces uniform orange roots with smooth skin:

• medium length – up to 15 cm;
• diameter 4-6 cm;
• in shape – blunt-ended or slightly pointed;
• with a dry matter content of 10-11%, including total sugar 7-8%
• containing provitamin A – 9-12 mg per 100 g of raw material.

It is characterized by good keeping quality and high commercial yield - 83-95%.
The Bangor F1 hybrid has a growing season of 110 days .
Root crops are distinguished by uniformity and high commercial qualities. Belongs to the Berlikumer variety.

Distinctive features:

• peel and core color – orange;
• fruit length – 20-25 cm, diameter 3-5 cm;
• yield of marketable products 75-90%;
• contains 10.5% dry matter, of which 6% total sugars;
• provitamin A – 10 mg per 100 g of raw material.

Both varieties produce juicy root vegetables that are suitable for processing into juices, drying and fresh consumption.

Main characteristics of the Vita Longa variety and the Bangor F₁ hybrid:

During mechanized harvesting, the leaf petioles of this carrot are not damaged.

The variety and hybrid are characterized by high resistance to bacterial diseases.

Seed preparation

To obtain a high yield of carrots with excellent taste, you need to prepare the seeds before planting in the ground. The steps of the procedure are as follows:

• Seeds purchased or prepared yourself should be soaked in water at room temperature for two to three hours.
• After this, remove the seeds from the water and spread them in one layer on a damp cloth.
• The planting material is covered from above with another piece of moistened fabric.
• All this is done indoors. The seeds are mixed periodically.
• The dried cloth should be moistened using a spray bottle.
• You need to wait for the seeds to swell and hatch.
• After this, they are hardened, for which they are placed in the refrigerator for a period of eight to ten days.
• After the hardening procedure, the seeds are ready for planting in the ground.

Features of growing carrots

After the need to ensure proper sowing, the next problem when growing carrots is pests and diseases. In the middle zone, the most harmful are carrot flies and flea beetles. Dangerous diseases include Alternaria, Phoma, bacteriosis, Rhizoctonia, and brown spot. During winter storage, white rot and phomosis most often develop. To combat carrot fly, it is recommended to plant together with onions, thinning only in the evening, and early sowing. Crop rotation helps reduce the development of diseases.

The third problem is obtaining gnarled root vegetables. It is possible to achieve high marketability of root crops only on loose and structured soil.

The fourth problem with carrots is bland roots with pale-colored flesh. The taste of root vegetables depends not so much on the variety as on the growing conditions. To increase sugar content, experienced vegetable growers advise spraying plantings during the growing season with microelements (primarily boron and copper) and irrigating with humates. The color of root crops is determined by the amount of accumulated carotene. If the low carotene content is not a varietal feature (as in yellow-fruited varieties), then the longer the growing season, the more carotene the plant manages to accumulate.

{SOURCE}

How to increase germination?

To ensure quick germination of seeds during their preparation for planting, experienced gardeners use various techniques:

• The water in which the seeds are soaked is replaced with an ash solution: a spoonful of the substance per liter of liquid.
• They do bubbling, that is, the seeds are soaked in water saturated with oxygen. In this case, germination increases, and the first shoots appear earlier by six to eight days. The essence of the procedure is as follows. A small container is filled with a solution with the addition of potassium permanganate or boric acid to 2/3. The tube from the compressor for the aquarium is lowered into it. The simple system is turned on for 24 hours.
• According to reviews from experienced vegetable growers, heat treatment gives good results. To do this, the seeds are placed in water heated to 50 ° C. Leave for 20 minutes, remove and quickly immerse in cold water for a short time, about five minutes.
• Germination can be accelerated by burying seeds in the soil. To do this, they are placed in a fabric bag and buried in the soil at a depth of 12-15 cm. They remain there for ten days. After which the seeds are removed and planted in open ground in a permanent place of growth.

Pests and diseases

Timely use of fungicides during the carrot growing season is an excellent pest control measure. Before sowing, seeds are disinfected by soaking in a solution of potassium permanganate. The soil and carrot tops are irrigated with biological products. These are fungicides TNTD, Abita-PIK, etc.

Diseases

If you neglect the rules of soil preparation or crop rotation, the risk of diseases in the carrot bed increases.

Rot, bacteriosis, and cercopsoposis can worsen the taste and appearance of the carrot crop - these are the most common problems.

Fomoz (dry rot) manifests itself in the form of brown spots on the root crop. Then the spots grow, under them the tissues affected by the fungus are destroyed, black spots and voids appear.

White rot is a common enemy of root crops. This fungus forms a whitish coating on the surface of carrots, the affected areas loosen, and the fruit becomes watery.

Brown leaf spot appears as constrictions on rust-colored petioles at soil level; seedlings often die. On mature plants, the leaves curl. On root crops, the disease manifests itself as small, up to 1.5 cm, light brown spots. Characterized by a sharp boundary between the affected and healthy tissue.

Alternaria blight (black rot) is especially dangerous on young shoots, as it causes their mass death. Damage to adult plants manifests itself in darkening and curling of the tops. Subsequently, yellowish spots appear, gradually the leaves droop and dry out. On root crops it is expressed by black dry rot.

Powdery mildew. We risk getting small, coarse root vegetables due to powdery mildew. Although plants survive this pest, the threat to the crop is enormous.

How to prevent diseases? Do not leave decaying vegetation on the beds; apply phosphorus-potassium preparations before sowing. A good effect is achieved by treating with 1% Bordeaux mixture and using fungicides on the 20th day after germination.

Pests

The bronze tint of the tops indicates that the root crop has been damaged by the carrot fly, the main pest of carrots. The fight against it is carried out with chemicals: Decis, Arrivo, Aklelic. As a preventative measure, deep plowing is suitable to destroy larvae overwintering in the soil, as well as mandatory weeding. Before sowing, to control pests, carrot seeds are treated with special agents: trichdermin, phytocide, azotophyte.

Landing location

Its growth, formation and productivity depend on the correct choice of site for carrots. For a plant, lighting, soil, neighboring plants, as well as the care that is possible when providing an approach to planting are important. The bed should not be shaded by taller plants. The site is chosen so that it is illuminated by sunlight throughout the day. If they are deficient, the yield drops by 30%.

It is preferable to plant carrots in fertile soil with good air permeability. Loams, chernozems, sandy loam, podzolic and peat cultivated soils are ideal for the growth of this vegetable. The vegetable grows well in soils with neutral acidity. Vita longa carrots, according to gardeners, do not tolerate stagnation of water, which is directly related to its taste. The root vegetable becomes tasteless or cloyingly unpleasant.

When growing any crop, it is important to observe crop rotation, that is, alternating plantings on the site. The best predecessors for carrots are representatives of nightshade crops such as potatoes and tomatoes. The pumpkin plants previously growing in this area have a very good effect on the soil: zucchini, cucumbers; as well as legumes.

Beginner gardeners often wonder whether it is possible to plant carrots after carrots? The answer is clear - no. This is due to the fact that the soil at the depth of the root crop, together with the roots, is depleted by the growing carrots in the previous season. Is it possible to plant carrots after carrots? Of course not. A planted vegetable in the same area will be affected by the same diseases and damaged by the same pests as last year. It is unlikely that you can expect a good harvest from such vegetables even with the best care. Carrots should not be planted after parsley, dill, caraway seeds, or parsnips, since these crops suffer from similar diseases.

Bacteriosis of carrots

No longer a parasite, but a fungal disease, which can also be introduced with untested seeds.

During the growing season, a sign of bacteriosis in carrots is yellowing and then browning of the leaves. With severe damage, the leaves dry out.

Carrots affected by bacteriosis are no longer suitable for storage. Another name for bacteriosis is “wet bacterial rot.” If during the growing season bacteriosis does not look very dangerous, then during storage it can destroy the entire supply of carrots, since it can be transmitted from a diseased root crop to a healthy one.

Control measures

Maintaining crop rotation. Carrots can be returned to their original place no earlier than three years later. Do not sow carrots after onions, cabbage, garlic and umbrella crops, such as dill or celery.

Buy only seeds from healthy plants, that is, in specialized stores.

It is better to grow carrots in light soils with good water permeability and aeration. Nitrogen fertilizers should not be applied before harvesting.

Considering the resistance of Vita Longa carrots to diseases and pests advertised by the manufacturer, information about diseases and pests of carrots may not be useful to the lucky owners of bags of seeds of this variety, and Vita Longa will delight its owners with a good harvest.

Planting carrots

This vegetable is unpretentious in cultivation, but to obtain a high yield, certain rules must be followed:

• The optimal time for sowing seeds is the end of April - beginning of May.
• Before planting, the seeds should be rubbed by hand. This is necessary in order to remove bristles from the surface.
• The soil for planting needs to be leveled and loosened.
• Make grooves two centimeters deep throughout the entire bed at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other.
• Place the seeds in the grooves five centimeters apart from one another and sprinkle with soil.

Shoots will appear in two weeks. So that they are not drowned out by weeds, and moisture is retained in the soil and a crust does not appear on its surface, the crops should be covered with film and pressed down with stones so that the wind does not blow it away. Shoots that appeared during short-term frosts are not affected by a decrease in temperature. But if the cold continues for a long time, root growth will stop and flowering will develop.

Features of planting and growing

Any soil is suitable, except clean sand and heavy clay . The highest yields are obtained on light loamy soils and peat bogs.

Manure is applied a year before planting under the predecessor crop - cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, legumes. It is not recommended to grow carrots after perennial herbs and representatives of the Apiaceae family - parsley, dill, celery. These crops are parasitized by the carrot fly and pathogens dangerous to carrots - the causative agents of white rot, Alternaria blight, and brown spot.

For carrots, a deep arable layer is formed in which the root crop will develop:

• clear the area of ​​stones;
• dig up the soil to a depth of 25-27 cm;
• loosen to ensure the flow of air and underground moisture to the root crops.

Phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are applied during autumn digging . Nutrients are available to carrots when the soil reaction is slightly acidic (pH 6.5).

Important! 10 days before planting, the seeds are placed in a canvas bag and buried on the site in moist soil. Then they are taken out, dried for half an hour at room temperature and sown.

Dutch carrot seeds can be soaked in one of the solutions heated to 30°C:

• for 1 liter of water – 1/3 tsp. boric acid and 1/2 tsp. nitroammofoski;
• 1 liter of water, potassium permanganate, 1/2 tsp. fertilizers;
• 1 liter of water and 1 tbsp. l. wood ash.

Carrot Bangor F1

After a day, the seeds are rinsed , wrapped in a damp cloth and placed in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Then they are taken out, slightly dried and sown.

Sowing dates depend on the weather. The minimum temperature for seed germination is +4…+6°С, the optimal temperature is +18…+20°С. Spring sowing begins as soon as the soil dries, winter sowing begins 2 weeks before frost.

The seeding rate per 1 m² is 100 seeds . The seeding depth on heavy soils is 1-1.5 cm, on light soils 2.5-3.5 cm. In regions with dry springs, seeds are buried to a depth of 5 cm.

They are sown in the beds in furrows located at a distance of 20 cm from each other, or using the tape method: the distance between the tapes is 30-45 cm, between the rows 18-20 cm.

The early ripening hybrid Bangor F₁ is grown in ridges , which are cut in the fall. In spring, the soil in the ridges quickly ripens at a depth of 15-20 cm, which allows for quick sowing and an early harvest.

Nuances of care

Shoots appear on days 6-20 . After watering or rain, the soil between the rows is loosened to a depth of 3 cm, trying to prevent the formation of a crust. At the same time, weeds are destroyed.

Thinning begins when the carrots have 1-2 true leaves. Leave a gap of 3-4 cm between the plants, compact the soil around the root and water with warm water.

Carrot Vita Longa

Long-fruited carrots require careful attention to watering:

• young shoots are watered 1-2 times a week at 3-4 l/m²;
• root vegetables the thickness of a pencil – once a week, 10 l/m²;
• for larger root crops, increase water consumption to 20 l/m².

Alternating dry periods with abundant watering leads to cracking of carrots. A month after the emergence of seedlings, the first fertilizing is done - 1 tbsp is diluted in 10 liters of water. l. nitrophoska. 5 liters of solution are consumed per 1 m². After 2.5 weeks, fertilizing is repeated - 7-8 l/m². The most dangerous pests and diseases :

1. The carrot fly is especially dangerous in wet areas located near bushes and on peaty and swampy soils. The leaves turn bronze and die. Covering crops with non-woven material in the phase of appearance of true leaves is effective against carrot flies. Treated with Decis Profi and Tsiper.
2. Carrot psyllid spreads in areas near coniferous forests. Carrot leaves dry out. Plants are sprayed with tobacco dust or soap solution.
3. Sources of infection with black rot are soil, weeds and seeds. The main symptom is blackening of the stem. The petioles tend to the ground. Spraying with the preparation "Rovral" is used.
4. Brown spot spreads through weeds and infected seeds. Brown constrictions appear on the lower part of the stem, yellow spots on the leaves. Plants are treated with a decoction of celandine or horsetail.
5. The causative agents of cercospora blight are transmitted through plant debris. Light brown spots with a light center, covered with plaque, appear on the leaves. For prevention, treat with a weak solution of Bordeaux mixture.

General preventive measures include maintaining crop rotation, deep digging of the soil in autumn and the destruction of plant debris, especially weeds of the Celery family.

Harvest and storage

The safety of Vita Long is 93%, Bangor F₁ is 96-98% . Harvesting of mature root crops begins before the onset of autumn frosts.

Conditions for long-term preservation of root crops:

• Carrot Bangor F1

  grown on soils with low organic matter content;

• fully ripened, harvested without damage, residues of tops, or signs of disease;
• collected in dry weather, dried, not washed;
• before storing in storage they were cooled to +6...+8°C for 1-2 days.

Optimal storage conditions for carrots : temperature +1…+2°C, relative humidity 98%.

Carrots are stored in the basement in boxes, under a layer of sand, to which chalk or slaked lime is added - 1-2%. This allows root vegetables to retain moisture and protects them from diseases. As the sand dries, it is moistened. 100 kg of carrots require 3-4 kg of sand.

Root vegetables are well preserved in open-top plastic bags placed vertically.

What difficulties may there be when growing

If the root was formed during a dry period , the main root dies, and the growth of lateral roots accelerates. The result is a root crop that is capitate or has a thickened upper part.

Deformed fruits grow in thinned crops with a huge feeding area and overfeeding with nitrogen fertilizers. During the period when the root begins to deposit nutrients, drought and shallow watering are dangerous. The plant grows lateral roots in search of moisture. At this time, you need to water the carrots generously, trying to ensure that the moisture penetrates deep into the soil.

Growing Tips

Vegetable growers with extensive experience in cultivating carrots advise:

• Vita longa carrots are grown in soil, which should be loose not only on the surface, but also at depth.
• Feeding with fresh manure to the very root is unacceptable. This can lead to flowering and branching of roots. Excess nitrogen in the soil also causes harm. The vegetable tissues become rough and a lot of nitrates accumulate in them.
• The soil in carrot plantings should be compacted using a roller, board, or simply with your hands.
• Simultaneously with weeding the root crops, they are hilled, so that the heads do not acquire a green color, and the root crop does not acquire a bitter taste.

Queen of Autumn

The late-ripening, productive variety is widely cultivated in the Moscow region; the ripening of root crops lasts 120-130 days from the moment of sowing the planting material. Carrots grow quite large in size; they weigh about 200 grams and grow no more than 25 cm in length, covered with orange-red skin. The variety can withstand frost up to 4 degrees, the yield per square meter is 4-9 kg.

This variety is late-ripening, since from the moment the seedlings appear until the mass harvesting of mature fruits, 110 to 125 days pass. The root vegetables have a cone shape typical of carrots with a blunt tip, their length reaches 12-17 cm, each weight varies from 110 to 160 grams. The color of the skin, core and flesh is the same orange. The yield of one square meter of plantings is 5-7 kg.

A new variety, classified as early ripening, the growing season lasts 85-90 days. The shape of the root crops is thickened and conical; they grow about 20 cm in length; mature fruits can weigh up to 200 grams. The surface color is deep orange, the flesh is quite juicy and has a sweet taste. It is better to plant this variety in areas where cabbage or early potatoes used to grow.

Care

Carrot variety Vita longa is an unpretentious vegetable. When caring for it, it is important to periodically water the plants and weed, thin out the plantings and loosen the soil. The most important period is the emergence of seedlings. You need to make sure that a crust does not form on the surface of the soil. To do this, loosen the soil using a rake, this is especially important after rain.

A mandatory procedure, without which carrots will not grow, is watering. Plants require a lot of moisture during the period when seeds germinate, especially if they were planted without preparation. The watering procedure must be carried out carefully, taking into account the location of the seeds close to the surface, otherwise they can simply be washed. Germination will be too long or the seeds will not sprout at all. For watering it is better to use a sprayer.

Diseases and pests

Vita Longa carrots are not immune to diseases. You should be wary of:

• bacteriosis;
• powdery mildew;
• white rot;
• brown spot.

Treatment of the plant with 1% Bordeaux mixture, as well as the use of fungicides on the 20th day after germination, will help in the fight against diseases.

Not only diseases, but also pests pose a threat to vegetable crops:

• carrot fly;
• carrot psyllid.

You can rid carrots of harmful insects using insecticides. For prevention, it is recommended to create and maintain an optimal microclimate and a minimal infectious environment.

This requires:

1. Follow the rules of crop rotation.
2. Adhere to moderate planting density of bushes.
3. Water regularly.
4. Protect the plant from weeds that are carriers of infections.

These preventative techniques take less time and effort than subsequent fight against parasites and infections. Detailed characteristics of Vita Longa carrots will allow gardeners to successfully grow them and stock up on their favorite vegetable for the winter. A healthy harvest will help not only diversify the daily menu, but also replenish the deficiency of vitamins and minerals in the body during the cold season.

Advantages and some disadvantages

Vita longa carrots have the following benefits:

• Good keeping quality.
• Minor losses during storage.
• Resistant to diseases of various fungi.
• Good taste.
• Undemanding to growing conditions.

The disadvantages include:

There are some shortcomings in the characteristics of this crop, but these are not real disadvantages, but features of this variety:

• Vita longa carrots are not the sweetest and juiciest.
• Its shelf life is not the highest among vegetables of this type.

The best varieties of carrots for winter storage

Do you want to eat fresh carrots all winter until spring? Be sure to plant a late-ripening variety; the later the ripening period, the better it will be stored. However, such carrots have a less pronounced taste.

• "Monastyrskaya", in addition to long-term winter storage, has a high yield.
• “Perfection” - carrots are resistant to wet rot, drought and cracking, and have increased shelf life.
• "Cardinal"
• "Gold autumn"
• "Red Giant"

Also, under optimal conditions, some mid-season varieties are perfectly stored:

• "Nantes 4"
• "Vitamin 6"
• "Moscow winter"
• "Losinoostrovskaya 13"
• "Samson"
• "NIIOKH 36"

The best varieties of mid-season carrots

It is easy to get confused about the varieties of mid-season carrots, since their choice is very wide and all are advertised as the best. Such varieties as Nantes 4 and Vitaminnaya 6 are widely known. But many other varieties of domestic selection are not inferior to these varieties.

Variety Losinoostrovskaya 13

An old and popular variety among gardeners. Recommended for breeding almost throughout Russia. It was bred in the USSR as a frost-resistant variety, which allows it to be grown even in those regions where summer is shorter than the time required for this variety to ripen (on average 110 days). The variety can withstand frosts down to -4°C.

The length of the root crop is more than 15 cm and weighs up to 115 g. The color is bright orange, which indicates a high carotene content: 18.5 mg/100 g. The yield of the variety is very high, up to 7.5 kg/m².

Variety Moscow winter a 515

The once almost forgotten variety has today returned to its position, and manufacturers have even begun to offer Moscow Winter seeds on a tape, which makes planting this carrot much easier.

The variety is classified as mid-season. It can be sown before winter. For winter crops, it is suitable for collecting bunched products 10 days earlier than Nantes. Fruits up to 16 cm and weighing up to 170 g. Root crop of bright orange color. Productivity up to 7 kg/m².

The variety is intended for cultivation almost throughout Russia. It is good not only for winter crops. Shows good results when sown in April-May. The best of those intended for fresh consumption in winter. Has high keeping quality.

Variety care

Carrot care is minimal: for grown plants it comes down to periodic watering and weeding, sometimes thinning the beds, and during germination - loosening the soil

The most important moment during the entire growing season is the period when the carrots have not yet sprouted; at this time it is very important to prevent the formation of a crust on the surface

Loosening. Typically, the need for the procedure occurs after rain: the surface of the earth becomes compacted and prevents air from penetrating into the deeper layers of the soil. For crops such as carrots, surface loosening to a depth of about 5 cm is suitable. For this purpose, it is convenient to use a light rake with short and frequent teeth, or special garden rippers. Watering. Immediately after planting and before germination, seeds require a high moisture content in the environment. If the seeds were pre-soaked and planted under film, the moisture added during planting should be enough for them to sprout. It’s another matter if the seeds are planted in open ground, you can’t do without watering. Let's talk first about the watering technique: this must be done very carefully, since the seeds are close to the surface and a strong stream of water can either knock them to the surface or “drive” them deeper into the soil, which will make germination difficult. It is best to use a special spray nozzle, which will ensure optimal pressure and uniform distribution of the liquid.

Sowing seeds

“Vita Longa” is best planted in the spring, since root crops from autumn sowing have low shelf life. To get a harvest in mid-late September, sowing work should begin in mid-May.

Preparation of planting material

Preparation of seed material includes softening the stratum corneum and disinfection:

• Soak. Even fresh carrot seeds have low germination rate - about 50-60%. To improve this indicator, seeds are soaked in hot water for 4-5 hours or in water at room temperature for a day. After removing the planting material from the liquid, it is dried at room temperature until it flows.

Disinfection. If the seeds were stored in conditions of high humidity or you have other reasons to suspect the presence of fungal spores, it is better to carry out prevention to be sure. To prevent fungal and some other diseases, unsoaked seeds are immersed in a 0.1-0.3% solution of potassium permanganate (about 1 g of potassium permanganate per 200-300 ml of water) for 1-1.5 hours, after which they are washed with running water. A solution of zinc sulfate (20 mg per 100 ml of water), which can be purchased at any agricultural store, is also suitable for disinfection.

Also learn how to grow vegetables such as potatoes, turnips, cucumbers and zucchini from seeds.

Sowing scheme

The sowing scheme is calculated based on the size of the root crop and the volume of the tops. The higher these indicators, the more freely the carrots are sown. For the Vita Longa variety, the planting scheme is as follows:

• the depth of the grooves should be 3-5 cm;
• we lower the seeds approximately at a distance of 1-2 cm from each other;
• The distance between the grooves for varieties with large tops should be at least 15-20 cm, otherwise it will be difficult to care for the plants.

Important! It is better to initially avoid dense crops. Of course, in the future the bed can be thinned out, but by pulling out excess plants, you disturb the density of the soil around those that remain

In addition, their root system is damaged.

Description of the variety

There are a large number of high-yielding seeds on the modern seed market. Vita Long carrots are not the last on this list. This is a late-ripening variety, selected by a Dutch company, suitable for cultivation in Russia. One such root crop with a length of 30 cm can weigh up to 500 g in a mature state. The shape is regular, conical with a blunt tip. The pulp is juicy, rich in vitamins A, C, E.

Vita Longa carrots are suitable for growing in heavy soil and are not prone to cracking.

Read also: Carrots by Shantane

It is one of the varieties with a poorly formed core, which makes it attractive to those who are afraid of harmful substances accumulated there.

Origin of the variety

Vita Longa carrots can be purchased from Dutch, German, French, and Slovak origin. The variety was bred as a universal late variety by the Dutch company Bejo Zaden.

Landing regions

The characteristics of the variety and its unpretentiousness do not allow the cultivation of Vita Long carrots in the conditions of the North of our country. In regions with a short summer, planting before winter will produce a harvest of Vita Longa carrots before the onset of frost, this should be taken into account. It became widespread in the central part of Russia, in the Urals. In the South, Vita Longa will appeal to those who want to preserve their crops for a long time, avoiding rot.

Ripening time and yield

It will take up to 160 days to ripen. However, the climatic conditions of a particular area, daylight hours and the length of the summer season should be taken into account.

Shows decent yield even on heavy soils. Gives up to 6.5 kg/m2 with proper watering and timely weeding.

Characteristics of the variety

"Vita Longa" is a mid-late variety; seeds are sown in May - early June and harvested at the end of September. The carotene content is lower than that of the “Amsterdam” and “Nantes” varieties, but not significantly. The variety has good shelf life and is resistant to mechanical damage, which makes it very transportable. Over 8 months of storage (end of September - end of May), under different storage conditions it has the following percentage of weight loss:

• storage in sand - 5.2%;
• in boxes - 4.6%;
• in plastic bags - 3.5%.

Did you know? Carotenoids tend to accumulate in the upper layers of the skin and give it an orange color. This trick is used by livestock breeders to give some red-colored breeds a richer hue. This is absolutely not harmful to health and goes away after you stop consuming carrots.

The rate of absolute rejects, that is, root crops that have completely lost their properties and are no longer used, is very low - 1%. When stored in bags, carrots are quite often affected by white rot - about 24% of the yield, the percentage drops significantly when stored in boxes - about 15%, although with such storage the percentage of weight loss increases

We recommend reading about such varieties of carrots as: “Samson”, “Chantane 2461” and black carrots.

"Vita Longa" is suitable for wide use in cooking. In particular, root vegetables are juicy and soft enough to be used in the preparation of children's smoothies or juices. However, for these purposes it is still better to choose juicier varieties: “Children’s”, “Karotan”, “Emperor” or “Honey-Sugar”.