Growing carrots as a business is a profitable business related to the vegetable growing industry. At the same time, you will not need large investments at the stage of organizing an enterprise.
- Pros and cons of a carrot growing business
- Step-by-step plan for starting a carrot growing business
- We are looking for employees
- We select a plot of land
- What equipment will you need to grow carrots?
- We purchase raw materials
- Preparation of documents necessary for legal cultivation of carrots
- Selecting a tax regime
- Technology for growing carrots for sale
- How much money do you need to start a business?
- How much can you earn from growing carrots?
Carrots are a root vegetable containing a large amount of vitamins and useful substances. Therefore, it is in great demand among the population.
Pros and cons of a carrot growing business
It is not difficult to produce and sell carrots. This business has its advantages:
- High demand. Russian citizens We are used to eating carrots almost every day and adding them to dishes.
- Small starting capital.
- Unpretentiousness of the root vegetable. Growers harvest large harvests even in unstable weather conditions.
This area is not without its drawbacks that make it difficult to earn a decent living. The main ones include:
- Physical exercise. This business requires from the entrepreneur not only mental skills, but also hard work.
- Learning the basics of growing root vegetables. Without knowledge about vegetable growing, it is impossible to grow high-quality fruits. Training will take time (at least a month).
To take a high position in the market, you need to approach growing carrots with all your heart.
Step-by-step plan for starting a carrot growing business
We are looking for employees
It will not be possible to engage in vegetable growing alone due to the large amount of work. At first, it is not necessary to hire employees from outside. You can ask for help from relatives and friends, of course, for a fee.
Also, in order to save money, you can involve schoolchildren or students who are on summer vacation to work. You have the right to appoint yourself wages. This could be part of the harvest or money. For example, 5 thousand rubles each. per month to one employee. On average, three people will be enough.
Since you will only be involved in administrative duties, and the workers will take on all the “dirty” work, then 45 thousand rubles. the three summer months will not go in vain. Employees must prepare the soil, sow, water, protect and harvest crops.
We select a plot of land
To grow carrots you don’t need a room, but you do need a plot of land. If you have a summer house, then you have the right to produce root crops on it, provided that there is enough space for planting a large number of seeds.
More profitable option– rent land plot. Of course, the price depends on your regional location. In megacities, there is a problem with free land for planting, so the rent will be quite high. In the provinces and former collective farms, things are different. average cost land rent is 5 thousand rubles. per month. for 50 acres.
To take land for temporary use, contact agricultural enterprises or municipal authorities(administration).
It is important to know what was previously grown on this site. Carrots will grow if grain crops, potatoes, cabbage, tomatoes, and onions grew there. It’s even better when nothing was planted in this area for several years.
Choose the place where you fall Sun rays, since carrots love light.
What equipment will you need to grow carrots?
Most of the money will be spent on buying a car if you don’t have one. It must be roomy to transport employees to their place of work. A minivan, pickup truck or jeep is suitable for these purposes. Do not forget that the production will be located in places where there are no asphalt roads, so the vehicle must overcome impassable areas.
Main technological equipment:
- Motoblock. It is necessary to cultivate the soil.
- Hiller. It is needed to form pits.
- Seeder. With its help, seeds are quickly planted in separate holes.
- Digger. Workers use it when harvesting.
All this equipment will cost approximately 50 thousand rubles, not counting the vehicle, the price of which is from 100 thousand rubles.
You will need to transport the harvested crop to a vegetable base, to a store, to a buyer, or to a basement. From 50 acres you can harvest approximately 30 tons of carrots, depending on its variety. A truck is suitable for transportation. You don't have to buy it. You can rent or order several transportations.
We purchase raw materials
Seeds are used as the material for growing carrots. They must be treated before planting. To do this, they are disinfected, then soaked and germinated. Seed preparation has great benefits: after it, carrots grow much faster (the tops sprout within two weeks instead of a month).
You can do this process yourself or hire a retired woman who will happily take on this work. You can agree on a symbolic payment, expressed in cash or food products.
For 50 acres you will need approximately 1.5 kg of raw materials. Seeds are sold at different prices, depending on the variety. They vary between 500-2500 thousand rubles. per kg.
Preparation of documents necessary for legal cultivation of carrots
The organization of almost any direction of agricultural business has its own nuances that greatly distinguish this type activities from others commercial projects. For example, most village residents who know very well how to work the land, but are not familiar with legal issues, start their business by selling agricultural products, without registration, etc. They sell surplus grown products, which is an absolutely legal activity. But when it comes to large volumes, no one will believe that you “accidentally” grew an “extra” 10-50 tons of carrots.
To organize and develop your own carrot growing business, in the form of farm, you must prepare the following documents:
- application in the prescribed form;
- agreement on the creation of a peasant farm (peasant farm), with copies of documents of its participants;
- a copy of the passport of the head of the future household (it will be checked against the original!);
- documents confirming the place of registration of all participants in the agricultural project;
- receipt of payment of state duty.
Within five working days, after submitting the above papers, you will be given farm registration documents, as well as taxpayer certificates and confirmation that you are registered with Rosstat.
In addition to the above documents, you no need to obtain additional licenses or permits. But, as a rule, initial stage creating a farm, you have to resolve many issues with representatives of local authorities.
Selecting a tax regime
When preparing documents for your future farming enterprise, do not forget to choose the correct code for your activity and optimal mode taxation. For a farm that plans to grow carrots, of all the codes of the all-Russian classifier, OKVED 1.13 is best suited, and optimal system taxation, in in this case, is the Unified Agricultural Tax (USAT).
This regime allows farmers to pay only 6% of profits, doing this twice a year.
Technology for growing carrots for sale
| Stages | Process description |
| Variety selection | Before planting, you need to decide on the variety of carrots. To find best option, plant several varieties. |
| Land preparation | It must be fertilized. Therefore, they begin to cultivate the soil in the fall. They dig it up and put compost on top. In the spring, the soil is dug up and fertilized again. |
| Seed preparation | First they are washed in hot water, the temperature of which is 50 degrees. This is necessary so that the layers come off essential oils. After this, the seeds are germinated for three days. Be sure to dry them completely before planting. |
| Sowing | Before planting carrots, make beds on the site and water them with water (preferably warm). After this, the seeds are planted in the holes. |
| Care | To collect good harvest, the beds are weeded, sprayed with chemicals against carrot flies and pests, weeds are destroyed, sprinkled with ash, dust (tobacco), watered with a solution of potassium permanganate, and onions are planted nearby. |
| Harvesting | This stage takes place in late summer - early autumn. You can’t cope with this alone, so business owners hire additional employees who help collect all the carrots in a small amount of time (within seven days). |
How much money do you need to start a business?
We can highlight the main costs associated with the organization and development of the enterprise, which should be included in the business plan for growing carrots.
How much can you earn from growing carrots?
To calculate average level profits in this industry, let's take the average values. For example, you collected and sold 20 tons of carrots for 20 rubles. per kg. You can earn 400 thousand rubles. If you come across low-quality root vegetables, you can process them and make Korean carrots or juice. So, you can earn another 100 thousand rubles. But these 500 thousand rubles. you can only get it after difficult ways of finding clients.
There is an easier option. To do this, you can sell the product to a retailer. But the price for it will not exceed 12 rubles. per kg. As a result, you will receive about 220 thousand rubles.
There is always a great demand for carrots, so you will always find customers. Main sales channels:
- wholesale centers;
- retailers;
- Groceries;
- sanatoriums;
- restaurants;
- supermarkets.
A more profitable option is to supply goods abroad. But this is very difficult to implement.
Your revenue directly depends on the quantity of carrots grown, the price per kilogram and the place of sale. You should not enter this business without analyzing the market and competition in your region. In any case, selling carrots is profitable, especially for rural residents.
Healthy, high-quality carrots can only be obtained if the principles of integrated production organization are observed, strictly reflecting all aspects of carrot growing. Strict control over the condition of the soil, selection of varieties, care of crops, control of weeds, pests and diseases - all these activities are fundamental to the preservation of quality products.
Growing carrots
Carrots are one of the few crops that can be consumed fresh. all year round. It was known to the ancient Greeks under the name “daukos”. In addition, carrots have long been used in folk medicine How medicine. Carrots are superior to many vegetables in terms of vitamin content and a number of other substances beneficial to our body. In terms of carotene (protein A) content, it is slightly inferior only to sweet peppers and superior to all other vegetables. Carrots also contain vitamins B1, B2, C, PP, K, folic acid, essential oils, calcium salts, phosphorus, iodine, and iron.
Carrot juice is an excellent remedy for anemia, diseases of the cardiovascular system, liver, kidneys and other diseases. Sometimes carrot juice is used in home cosmetics, as it is noted that it gives the skin freshness and velvety.
Biological features of carrots
By modern classification cultivated and wild carrots are combined into one species, Daucus carota, which includes 10 varieties. Cultivated carrots are a biennial plant. In the first year, it develops a rosette of leaves and a root crop; in the second year, it develops a flowering stem and seeds.
Carrots are a relatively cold-resistant plant that easily tolerates frosts down to -3...-50C. The minimum temperature for seed germination is considered to be +4...+60C, the optimal temperature is +18...+210C, for leaf growth +23..250C. Carrots are demanding of light.
In shading conditions, the yield decreases. Carrots are quite sensitive to uniform and optimal hydration during all periods of their development. It is most demanding of moisture during the period from sowing to the emergence of seedlings and during intensive regrowth of the root crop. Carrots are sensitive to increased salt concentrations and lack of oxygen in the soil.
Soils, predecessors and place in crop rotation. Sandy and loamy soils are most suitable for carrots, peat soils, not prone to crust formation.
Loosening the soil helps good growth plants and the formation of root crops, in addition, their collection is facilitated. Carrots are a good predecessor for other vegetable crops. IN vegetable crop rotation carrots are the best predecessor for early cabbage and potatoes, zucchini. For carrots, a good predecessor is mid-season cabbage, tomato, cucumber, onion, that is, crops that clear the area early in order to prepare it for sowing in the fall.
Preparing the soil for planting carrots
The soil under sowing must be thoroughly cultivated and the surface of the field leveled.
Spring cultivation.
Cultivation of the soil in the spring depends on the timing of sowing.
When sowing early:
Early spring harrowing in one or two tracks. Further cultivation of the soil depends on the degree of weediness of the field and soil compaction;
If the soil is completely prepared in the fall and is not clogged, limit yourself to one harrowing;
In case of severe weed infestation and cold spring, pre-sowing cultivation is carried out to the depth of seed sowing;
Carrot fertilizer
Carrots are very sensitive to high doses organic fertilizers. Directly under the carrots fresh manure It cannot be applied, as the tops grow strongly, the root crops branch and their taste deteriorates, and the crops are affected by the carrot fly.
The timing of sowing depends on the variety and production goals. There are three types of sowing of carrots based on time: winter, spring and summer. Pre-winter sowing is carried out 10 - 20 days before the onset of frost, which completely freezes the ground.
Early spring sowing is carried out with the aim of using carrots in the summer for early bunch production. Sowing is carried out as soon as field work can be carried out, trying to use the moisture reserve in the soil. The most common sowing time is autumn and winter use They count the first half and until May 25th. It is very important to prevent the soil from drying out after sowing, especially with soaked or bubbled seeds - seed germination in dry soil leads to the death of the seedlings.
Caring for crops.
Carrot cultivation during the growing season consists of timely and high-quality inter-row cultivation, control of weeds, diseases and pests, as well as watering. To kill weeds in carrot crops, herbicides (ground) are used.
Watering methods and watering techniques, watering regime for carrots
Carrots are a relatively drought-resistant crop, but in the south, in the zone of unstable moisture, high and stable yields can only be obtained with irrigation.
Water consumption of carrots with optimal water supply is 4000 – 5500 m3/ha. The beginning of the irrigation season is determined by weather conditions; most often, watering begins in late April - early May and ends 2-3 weeks before harvesting, in order to avoid cracking of root crops and improve conditions for mechanized harvesting. On drip irrigation Watering is carried out regularly in accordance with the phase of plant development.
Protection from diseases and pests. Carrots, especially their juicy root crop, are a very good target for both diseases and pests. It is higher both during cultivation and during storage.
Carrot fly.
The front sight is 3-5 mm long. The antennae and legs are yellow. The larva is 6-7 mm long, light yellow, shiny. At the end of April - at the beginning of May, the spring generation of flies begins. At the end of May, larvae emerge from the eggs and penetrate the roots of young plants, gnawing them. The second generation emerges in August and, in the same way as the first, harms carrot crops.
Control measures:
Stefesin, 2.5% k.e. – 0.3 l/ha – waiting period after treatment is 20 days. Volaton, 50% k.e. – 2 l/ha - waiting period after treatment 20 days
Alternaria blight. Plants are damaged by Alternaria in the second half of the growing season. The development of the disease is facilitated by warm, humid weather. During storage, the fungus causes dry rot of root crops - on the surface in different places dark or grayish, slightly depressed dry spots form.
Control measures: Copper chloride, 90% pp. – 2.4 kg/ha - waiting period after treatment is 20 days. Ridomi Gold, 68% pp. – 2.5 kg/ha - waiting period after treatment is 30 days.
Powdery mildew. Usually the leaves are affected, and if the infection is severe, the cuttings are also affected.
Control measures: Bayleton, pp. – 0.3-0.6 kg/ha – waiting period after treatment is 20 days; Karatan, Ph.D. – 0.5 -1 l/ha – waiting period after treatment is 20 days.
Gray rot. The disease occurs everywhere on root crops during storage. In damp cool weather gray rot affects different parts of root crops and all above-ground parts of the plant. The disease is especially harmful in the years after a cool, humid summer or autumn, when root crops do not have time to ripen well.
Gray rot appears as a gray fluffy coating covering the diseased areas.
Varieties and hybrids.
Carrots are distinguished by a wide variety of root forms, duration of the growing season, content nutrients and storage capacity. Based on the shape of the root crop, carrot varieties and hybrids are divided into three main varieties - Nantes, Chantane and Flaquet.
Collection and storage.
Most often, carrots are harvested by hand. Bunch carrots are removed from leaf carrots and tied into bunches. Late ripening carrots are harvested in a semi-mechanized way - they are dug up using a staple and then collected by hand. Carrot root crops are stored in vegetable stores and basements in bulk, in stacks, pyramids, boxes and plastic bags, as well as in pits and trenches. At the same time, the temperature is maintained within 1 – 20 C and relative humidity 90 – 95%.
If carrots are stored in a vegetable store, they often get wet on top and rot. Therefore, vegetable storage facilities must be systematically ventilated or root crops must be covered with burlap or mats. To store carrots in boxes, wet sand (2–3 cm) is poured onto the bottom, root crops are placed on it in several layers and sprinkled with sand. Carrots are stored well in plastic bags weighing 20–25 kg.
The bags are not tied so that it does not concentrate carbon dioxide, and the relative humidity did not increase. You can store carrots in narrow (up to 1.5 m) low piles, but this storage method depends on weather conditions.
Storing carrots in piles.
The experience of Canadian farmers has shown that carrots can be stored in piles with a mound height of up to 4.9 meters without damaging the fruit.
Advantages of storing carrots in piles:
Easily filled or emptied using a loader, conveyor or water stream.
More efficient ventilation, since the air moves under the collar and carries out a uniform flow around each root crop.
They are easily moistened by “injecting” water into the air flow.
The cooling front moves in one direction.
Disadvantages of storing carrots in piles.
The percentage of damaged fruits increases.
It is difficult or almost impossible to remove diseased fruits from the pile.
To ensure good ventilation, the fruits should not contain any remaining tops or debris.
The external walls of the storage facility must have increased strength in order to withstand the lateral pressure of the pile.
Cooling carrots using a refrigerator. Carrots should be cooled immediately after harvesting to a temperature of 00 C. The ideal cooling time ratio should be 7/8 for 1 - 2 days.
Cooling carrots using a cold air stream. Two traditional storage systems are widely used. First: with installed air conditioner, air channels and fans that provide circular movement of cooled air.
Advantages:
Easy to equip, maintain and operate.
Provides sufficient air temperature control.
Provides immediate cooling of crops warm days, which extends the period of carrot sales.
Flaws:
It dries out the air, which causes the carrots to wilt.
It's difficult to add moisture to the air.
The second is similar to the first, but the air flow here passes through a “water barrier”, which ensures uniform humidification of the air flow.
Advantages:
High cooling reserve.
Reinforced air flow, providing effective cooling of carrots.
Supports high level relative humidity.
Facilitates the distribution of cold air throughout the storage area.
Flaws.
Significantly more expensive compared to the first type.
Requires additional space to accommodate equipment.
Maintains the temperature in the storage not lower than 0.5 0 C.
Contents of a business plan for growing vegetables:
- Project summary.
- Description of a business idea for growing vegetables.
- Market analysis, assessment of business prospects.
- Formation of marketing strategy and income forecast.
- Planning the expenditure part of the project.
- Calculation of total values.
- Assessing the risk factors of a vegetable growing project.
- Determining the effectiveness of the project.
Why do you need a vegetable farming business plan?
- With it, you are guaranteed not to lose the money invested and will be able to recoup your vegetable growing project.
- You will confidently open the doors of banks and investment companies and get what you need.
- With a business plan, you will be able to convince government authorities that your project is worthy of support.
Example of a business plan for growing vegetables
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Standard business plan |
Extended business plan for growing vegetables with a complete business analysis and financial plan for 5 years |
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Detailed financial model for growing vegetables |
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Adjustment of the business plan to your numbers by our analysts within 5 working days |
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| Business plan volume: 30 pages. | Business plan volume: 80 pages. | Business plan volume: 80 pages. |
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This kit is ideal for those who need a business plan to obtain a loan or attract investment.
Description
The extended business plan includes a financial model for growing vegetables in Excel format.
The business plan was developed taking into account the practice of evaluating projects in Russian banks, as well as taking into account the requirements of investors and funds for supporting entrepreneurship in the Russian Federation. It will allow you to justify management decisions on investing in the creation and development of vegetable cultivation, predict its financial results and assess risks.
A full description of the business plan can be downloaded from the link:
ContentTo view the content, download the file:
Tables and graphsTo see the list of tables, graphs and diagrams, look at the file:
Payment and deliveryYou can pay in the following ways:
- Bank cards (Russia)
- Electronic money
- Terminals and communication salons
- Money transfers
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Submitting a business plan and financial model:
Dispatch is carried out within 24 hours after payment to your email address.
Business organization
Carrots and onions, zucchini and eggplants, cabbage and beets, tomatoes and cucumbers - everything that no person’s diet can do without. The volumes of the vegetable market reach colossal sizes, and the cost of entry into the business is relatively low. To find your niche and become a successful vegetable producer, you should undoubtedly prepare a competent and detailed business plan for growing vegetables.
In addition to calculations, the business plan contains information about the specific steps of the project:
- Market analysis and formation of your own marketing and production concept.
- Search for investment in the project.
- Purchase of equipment, machinery, inventory.
- Construction of structures to ensure the normal functioning of the work process.
- Attracting personnel.
- Purchase of seeds, fertilizers, etc.
- Preparatory activities.
- Sowing work.
- Beginning of work.
Vegetables can be grown outdoors or closed ground. In the first case, you should wisely choose a place with fertile soil and decide what kind of vegetable crops you are going to grow. Each crop requires a specific approach to growing technology. To maximize results, this technology should be followed strictly. It is also important to choose high-quality seeds and ask the manufacturer for information about their characteristics, including germination, etc.
Market analysis and description of a vegetable growing project
Consumption of vegetables per capita increases annually, the exception was only for the period when a ban on the import of imported products was announced, but the market has already managed to rebuild and consumption is increasing again. However, there is still not enough domestically produced vegetables. This issue is relevant at the state level, which means there is an opportunity to receive some kind of gratuitous assistance if you are focused on this business, for example, free allocation of agricultural land, participation in state. procurement or other assistance.
Produced goods/services
Fresh vegetables.
Potential clients
Shops, supermarkets, vegetable warehouses, farms, organizations Catering, retail chains.
For growing vegetables (zucchini, eggplant, onions, carrots, beets, peppers and cabbage) on open ground The following calculations will be useful to you.
Financial part of a business plan for growing vegetables
Investments:
| Attachments | Deadlines | Amount, thousand rubles |
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Paperwork and registration |
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Rent of land |
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Design work |
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Construction of utility rooms and hangars |
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Purchase of machinery, equipment and inventory |
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Marketing activities to find and establish relationships with buyers |
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Purchasing seeds |
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Purchasing fertilizers |
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Purchasing protection |
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Other costs |
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According to the business plan large farm for growing vegetables, the required investment will be about 20 - 25 million rubles.
Income:
Average revenue will be about 20 - 25 million rubles annually (production capacity for 400 - 450 tons of vegetables).
Expenses:
Annual expenses average 15 - 20 million rubles.
Profit, payback and profitability of the business:
The payback period of the project is about 4 years, the profit is on average 4 - 8 million rubles, and the profitability is 25%.
Conclusions:
If you are thinking about which industry Agriculture stop when organizing your business, pay attention to growing vegetables on an industrial scale - not too expensive, but quite effective project. To cover all the details and avoid pitfalls, prepare a working business plan.
Download the business plan template and you can:
- Guided by your own ideas about the future business, independently calculate performance indicators and current activities.
- Thanks to the fact that the calculated indicators will reflect the real situation, you will be able to promptly and sensitively respond to changes and adjust your work in the right direction.
One gram of seeds contains from 700 to 1300 pieces.
Carrots are biennial plants. In the first year, the plant produces root crops, which, if not removed, in the second year of development form the part responsible for generation.
This vegetable is considered almost the most profitable among other root crops. The amount of harvest per hectare can reach one hundred tons. Carrots are grown for use in natural form and for processing, this root vegetable contains a lot of carotene and other substances. The minimum temperature for seed germination is about 5 degrees. In order to get well-colored root crops, carrots need to be planted at a temperature of 16 to 22 degrees.
Priming.
Clay-sandy soils, as well as organic soils such as peat bogs, are best suited for growing carrots. Heavy types of soil, as well as those called wet soils, are not suitable for growing carrots due to the fact that the beginning of active growth of the vegetable occurs rather slowly. The approximate acidity level of the soil in which carrots will be grown should be at least pH 6, but not more than 6.5. Groundwater should be at a minimum depth of 80 centimeters, maximum 2.5 meters.
Proper crop rotation.
The best option when planting carrots would be to use fields of cabbage, leeks, cucumbers, tomatoes, and legumes, winter wheat, for which useful organic elements were introduced into the soil. You should not plant this vegetable immediately after the introduction of useful elements of the organic type, or where parsley, beets, celery and potatoes were grown. Carrots can be grown again in the same field no earlier than three to four years later.
Fertilizer system.
Before planting carrots, it is necessary to carefully study the composition of the soil and determine its type in order to introduce the necessary organic elements into the soil. required quantities. The optimal content of beneficial microelements in standard soil is the following proportions:
Nitrogen - up to 120 kilograms per hectare;
Phosphorus - up to 80 kilograms per hectare;
Potassium - up to 200 kilograms per hectare.
The nitrogen/potassium ratio should be 1 to 1.5.
Nutrient formulations containing phosphorus must be introduced into the soil in the autumn. Potassium-based fertilizing should be applied in half in spring and autumn if the soil is considered heavy. If the soil is light, then the entire dose is introduced in the spring, before sowing. Potassium-based fertilizers, especially potassium sulfide, should be applied with caution, as this can lead to increased salt levels, which will negatively affect the initial active phase of plant growth. Nitrogen must be added to the soil shortly before sowing. If there is a shortage of nitrogen elements, then after 5 weeks you can fertilize the soil using a surface method.
Growing technology. How to prepare the soil?
Experts advise not to forget that during the cultivation of carrots, the number of root crops and the volume of the harvest largely depend on how deeply the land is plowed. If the depth is large, then you should expect smooth, long, even root crops that have an attractive presentation. So to get maximum amount attractive carrots appearance, it is worth plowing as deeply as possible in the autumn, you can even use an additional deepening.
Construction methods
The number of seeds during planting depends entirely on the purpose of the ripe carrots. To obtain early harvest about 3 million seeds per hectare need to be sown. To obtain carrots for storage and sale as fresh root crops, you need to sow no more than 2 million seeds per hectare. To obtain carrots that will be processed or intended for storage, you need to sow no more than 1.3 million seeds per hectare.
The number of seeds for sowing carrots intended for processing depends on the type:
- varietal seeds - 1 - 1.2 kilograms per hectare;
- hybrid seeds - 0.85 - 0.95 million seeds per hectare.
Seeds should be sown in the soil to a depth of no more than 2 centimeters. To ensure that the root crops are approximately the same in size, experts recommend using a precision seeder, with which the seeds will be evenly distributed in the soil.
If the carrots are intended for fresh sale or for industrial use, then you need to choose the number of seeds and the breeding method that will lead to a harvest of the most attractive appearance and required type. The best way- double-row sowing on a ridge, while the width between rows should be about 70 centimeters. Modern seeders make it possible to sow carrots using a new method - in three rows, with the width between rows ranging from 65 to 75 centimeters. To use a mechanical method of eliminating the upper, leafy part of carrots, you can sow in one row, and leave the width between rows no more than 45 centimeters. In cases where harvesting is done with a blade combine, and the tops are removed automatically, 95 percent of harvesting is done without the use of manual force.
The time for sowing carrots also depends on what the root crop will be grown for. To get an early harvest, the optimal time for sowing will be the earliest - around March, when it becomes possible to go into the field. To get carrots that will go into storage, you need to plant the vegetable a couple of weeks later, this will not allow the crop to overripe and outgrow.
How to protect crops from weeds?
Means of protection against unwanted plants are used only if this is provided for by the carrot protection system in connection with the timing of the collection of root crops. If carrots are grown for bunch sale, then protection products are applied before the carrots sprout.
If the weeds are not removed, then it is necessary to re-treat after the plants produce at least a couple of full leaves. You should know that it is best to process crops in the evening, without wind and at temperatures from 10 to 25 degrees.
Carrot diseases
Fields with planted carrots must be protected from all kinds of diseases. Plantings that are affected by infections and diseases cannot be removed mechanically, and the harvest will not remain intact for long. It is in order to avoid infection that the field must be kept clean until harvest. First of all, crops must be protected from the most dangerous diseases for carrots - powdery mildew and Alternaria.
Types of pests
The greatest dangers to carrots are moths and carrot flies. To protect the plantings, you need to use seeds that are treated with special chemicals. The second treatment is carried out around the end of May, at which time flies most actively attack carrots. If two treatments are not enough, you can repeat every two weeks, and if increased pest activity is observed, you can repeat the treatment every two to three days.
To combat diseases, unwanted plants and insects, you need to use only those drugs that are recommended for the region in which the vegetable will be grown. Specialists who understand such drugs can give detailed recommendations and advice.
Harvesting
During the carrot harvest, the main thing that needs to be closely monitored is that the root crops do not have time to dry out. This is true for both manual and mechanical methods of collecting root crops. When harvested carrots dry out, their shelf life is significantly reduced and their quality decreases. Those carrots that are intended for storage can be removed using either manual labor, and mechanically, but root crops intended for processing are harvested exclusively with a combine.
Industrial technology for growing carrots
Carrots are like vegetable crop for industrial cultivation, there are a number of advantages over other crops. Excellent adaptability to climate Middle zone Russia. With our climatic conditions Carrots accumulate a lot of sugars, while more Western and southern countries(Europe and Middle Asia) carrots can be watery. The advantages of the crop also include a large sales market and the relative need for watering (if there is no sharp change in soil moisture). The disadvantage of carrots is the labor intensity of growing them. Crop rotation Carrots are placed after well-fertilized predecessors that clear the field of weeds. Potatoes and legumes are considered the best predecessors.Soil preparation
In autumn, plowing is carried out to a depth of 25-30 cm with greater accumulation of moisture and disinfection of the soil by freezing. The plowing depth is very great importance for normal growth of root crops. If the main tillage is carried out shallowly, then the lower part of the root crops becomes distorted, begins to branch and loses its marketable appearance.
In the spring, at the onset - harrowing, after 1-2 weeks - shallow cultivation (2-3 cm). Such a depth of cultivation is needed so that the seeds lie on a “hard bed”. If you carry out deeper cultivation, the soil capillaries through which moisture flows to the seeds will be destroyed, and the seeds may not germinate.
Heavy soils, when they float in the spring, are plowed to 2/3 of the depth, followed by harrowing. After such spring plowing, it is necessary to carry out deep loosening with a milling cutter and rolling.
The main requirements for soil preparation before sowing are thorough deep tillage and leveled surface before sowing.
Fertilizers
The calculated rate of fertilizer is applied to carrots (see), which depends on the fertility of the soil and the planned harvest. In the literature you can often find approximate recommended rates of fertilizer application (N 100-120, P 2 O 5 - 80-100, K 2 O - 150-200 kg/ha), but, as a rule, the calculated rates are slightly higher.
From minerals Carrots absorb potassium best, so potassium fertilizers need to be applied at least 20-30% more than nitrogen fertilizers. This improves the quality and shelf life of root crops.
At the beginning of the formation of a rosette of carrot leaves, increased phosphorus nutrition is required, so when sowing, 10-15 kg/ha of P 2 O 5 must be added.
Carrots react poorly to the application of manure (ugly, branched root crops with poor taste are formed), so they are placed in the second year after the application of organic matter.
Preparing for sowing
Almost all foreign companies currently calibrate and coat carrot seeds for precision seeders. But with the advent of new types of sowing apparatus of the “Maple” type seeders, pelleting to level the seeds has become optional.
When purchasing untreated seeds, you can:
Calibration of seeds on sieves with a hole width of 1.5 mm (~ 60-70% of seeds are separated into a large fraction). Carrot seeds are heterogeneous, which greatly affects their germination. Isolating a large fraction allows you to increase germination.
for 18-20 hours, combined with treatment with microelements: potassium permanganate (0.02%) and boric acid (0.01%). Untreated seeds germinate very slowly, because... their seed coats contain a lot of essential oils, which make it difficult for water to penetrate inside the seed.
Etching with Fundazol or TMTD for disinfection.
Sowing carrot seeds
Sowing dates are early spring, when the average daily soil temperature at the sowing depth is at least + 8 °C. There is no point in delaying sowing, because... overdrying the soil will lead to a long delay in germination. It is best to sow carrots during the long expected spring rains (if they are expected, of course). Now it is no longer so difficult to predict: the weather for 2-3 days in advance can be found out with a fairly high degree of probability on the Internet (on the sites www.gismeteo.ru, www.meteo.ru, etc.).
Another method is winter sowing in the fall, when the soil freezes slightly. In this case, you can get very early products, but only for summer consumption, because... Such root vegetables are poorly stored. The disadvantage of this method is that the soil becomes very compacted in spring, so only light sandy and sandy loam soils are suitable.
The sowing rate for carrots depends on the purpose of the product:
per bunch - 5-6 kg/ha, standing density ~ 1.5 million plants/ha,
for storage - 3-4 kg/ha, standing density ~ 1 million plants/ha,
In this case, the feeding area of one plant ranges from 66 to 100 cm2.
Carrot sowing schemes:
- ordinary wide-row, with a row spacing of 45 cm;
- double-line tape - 10+45 cm (the yield is ~50% higher, but the drawback is that it requires herbicide treatment between the lines);
- three-line tape - 10+10+45 (yield is 80-90% higher).
The distance between plants in a row is 3-4 cm. It should be noted that carrots react very strongly to changes in the distance between plants in a row: over a large distance, the diameter of root crops can exceed the maximum allowed by the standard (see).
Sowing depth of carrot seeds: in rainy weather and on heavy soils 1.5-2 cm, in dry weather and on light soils 2-3 cm (in extreme cases - up to 4 cm).
Sowing care
Before emergence of shoots, when a crust forms after rain and to destroy weed seedlings, treatment is carried out with a BSO-4A mesh harrow.
Several times during the growing season, inter-row cultivation is carried out to loosen and destroy weeds. However, they do not completely help against weeds, because... in the phase of 2-3 true leaves, when weeds are especially dangerous, inter-row cultivation cannot be carried out - they are covered with soil and the carrot seedlings are severely damaged.
Therefore, herbicides are used over a large area (before sowing for pre-sowing cultivation, after sowing before germination or after germination - in the phase of the first pair of true carrot leaves).
Fertilizers are used if fertilizers were not applied before sowing (effective only when watered).
Despite the economical consumption of moisture, carrots need watering during drought. For 1 ton of root crops, carrots consume 100 m 3 of water (i.e., with a yield of 40 t/ha, 4,000 m 3 of water is needed). It is better to water carrots in smaller quantities and more often, because... When there is a large difference in humidity, carrots crack.
Harvesting carrots
Cleaning times:
- carrots per bunch (for fresh consumption) - at the end of August (such carrots are poorly stored and the yield is lower, but the cost is very high).
- for storage - at the end of September.
In September, the dry matter content of root vegetables increases, sugars and carotenoids accumulate, which improves the quality and keeping quality of carrots.
Before manual harvesting, the tops are mowed with a KIR-1.5 or a tops harvester BM-SA.
Harvesting is carried out manually, using a beet lifter SNSh-3 or a potato digger KTN-2V. At manual cleaning You can’t shake off the soil by hitting the carrots against each other or the ground; you need to peel them off carefully with your hands.
For large areas, carrot harvesters MMT-1 (see figure) and EM-11 are used.
Diagram of carrot harvester MMT-1
The quality of carrot roots after harvesting must meet the requirements.
Carrot yield ranges from 20 to 50 t/ha.
