There are many types of carrot seedlings, which are grown in Nigeria with high productivity. Some of these seedlings include the Danvers variety, which is large in size and requires balanced soil fertility to grow well. Other varieties include Chantane, Nantes, Amsterdam and so on.
Carrot is made up of 88% water, 4.7% sugar, 2.8% dietary fiber, 1% ash, 0.9% protein and 0.2% fat.
BENEFITS OF CARROT
Carrot reduces cholesterol, it also reduces the risk of heart-related problems. Eating carrots can help Improve your vision and skin. It detoxifies the body and enhances our immune system.
Carrots are good sources of antioxidants. can also be used as an antioxidant to protect the body as a good antiseptic for skin wounds. Improves digestion.
Related:Learn About The Carrots Growing Problems
It can also reduce premature aging of cells because they contain high levels of β-carotene. It gives a boost to the body to improve female breast milk. The root of carrot is used as a vegetable for soup.
Carrot juice is a rich source of carotene and is sometimes used for colouring buffers and other food particles. Carrots are rich in β-carotene, vitamins; A, D, C, E, K, potassium and minerals.
Related: When To harvest Carrots? Now Explained
PLANTING YOUR CARROTS
When you want to grow carrots in Nigeria, ensure to avoid soil with rocks to prevent deformities in carrots because carrots have roots that penetrate deep into the soil and continue to grow downward.
You may want to make beds that are a little higher than that of corn to give room for the crop to have easy penetration. The soil for growing carrots should be properly prepared and easy to obtain the required yield.
Therefore, the field must provide loose, fragile, deep, and well-drained techniques for the seeds to germinate effectively. This can be achieved by repeating deep ploughing at least 20-30 cm deep, then raking, levelling and cleaning. Since the seeds are very small, the seedbed should be carefully prepared.
Tip: for details about growing Carrots, read our step by step guide to growing Carrots from seeds and scraps here.
HARVESTING THE CARROTS
The carrots will be ready to be harvested four months after planting.
You can harvest carrots by pulling it out by hand. You can also use a shovel, but if you harvest is late, using a shovel may cause your carrots to crack.
A special plow can be used for loosening the soil before harvesting the carrot.
Some farmers harvest their carrots, when they are partially developed, these are referred to as young carrots while some will leave their carrots in the soil until they reach the fully mature stage.
It is recommended not to keep them too long if you intend to harvest them in the first season as they will eventually become hard and unsuitable for consumption.
Related: learn how to store your carrots step by step
Carrots can be harvested when the diameter of the upper end of the root is about 1.8 cm or more.
After harvest, the carrots are carefully placed in the packing room in crates or bags before washing. After that, the carrots are carefully washed and sorted by size, and then packaged for future use.
Tip: for details about harvesting carrots, read our step by step instructions to harvesting carrots
IN CONCLUSION
The space for planting your carrots should not be too tight to prevent unnecessary soil nutrient competition. Also, the texture of the soil should be loose. Carrots need enough water to grow well. So it is important to water when necessary.
