Carrots and Beetroot

Question 1

Carrots

Varieties

Answer 1

Resistafly (F1)
Nandor (F1)
Primo(F1)

Question 2

Sowing

Carrots

Answer 2

In situ
Sow under cloche - Mar
Sow outdoors - April, May, June
Sow in Oct, overwinter under cloche, for early crop.
1cm deep drills/15cm apart
Thin to 4-6cm

Question 3

Ground occupancy

Carrots

Answer 3

12 to 15 weeks

Question 4

Harvesting and storage

Carrots

Answer 4

Pull or gently fork up while still young.
Lift for storage in October
Store un damaged roots between layers of moist peat/sand.
Keep in frost free place.
Can last until March.

Question 5

Pest

Carrots

Answer 5

Carrot fly
Adult female lays eggs in the soil in May/June and Aug/Sept.
Larvae eat the roots and tunnel into them and cause them to rot.
Symptoms - leaves develop reddish tinge and can wilt in sun
Treatment - sowing in June avoid first generation of larvae
Sowing under crop cover offers some protection
Do not leave carrots in soil once they are mature.
Biological - mixture of nematodes

Question 6

Pest of beetroot and carrots

Answer 6

Violet root rot. Fungal disease.
Above ground growth may be stunted and yellowish.
Below ground the base of the stump is covered with purplish strands.
Burn diseased plants and do not re-grow the crops on the same ground for 3-4 years.

Question 7

Beetroot

Timetable

Answer 7

March-for early crop sow in modules or under a cloche or crop cover.
April to June-sow outside
Harvest -June to Sept, lift plants for storage in October.

Question 8

Beetroot

Sowing

Answer 8

Sow in situ. 2cm deep in drills 30cm apart.
Thin seedlings to 10-20cm apart.
Because they are quick to grow they can be grown as a cash crop.

Question 9

Beetroot

Ground occupancy

Answer 9

12 to 15 weeks

Question 10

Beetroot

Harvesting

Answer 10

Pull or gently fork up while they are still young.

Lift for storage in October

Question 11

Beetroot

Storage

Answer 11

Place up damaged roots between layers of moist peat or sand and keep in cool, frost free place.
Should last until March.

Question 12

Beetroot

Varieties

Answer 12

Boltardy (AGM)
Red Ace (F1 and AGM)
Furono (AGM)

Question 13

Carrots and beetroot

General cultivation

Answer 13

Grown in situ - do not transplant easily
Grow best in deep, fertile, sandy soil - roots can easily penetrate downwards. Heavy soil can cause forking and stunted growth.
Manure previous Autumn, not just before planting.
Grow best in soil that is pH 6.5 to 7 - lime if necessary.
Do not allow to soil to completely dry out as heavy rain or watering after a dry spell can split roots.