Season and Field preparation

Soil

Carrot is a cool season crop and will develop a good colour when grown at 15°C to 20°C. The crop needs deep loose loamy soil. It requires a pH ranging from 6.0 to 7.0 for higher production.

Season

Carrot can be grown throughout the year at an elevation above 1500 metres with assured irrigation. At elevations between 1000 – 1500 metres, it can be grown during July – February.

Seed rate

About 4 kg/ha is required.

Preparation of field

Prepare the land to a fine tilth and form raised beds of one metre breadth and convenient length.

Sowing

Mark the rows with spacing of 25 – 30 cm apart. Sow the seeds mixed with sand (one part of seed with 4 parts of sand).

Irrigation

Irrigation is done once in five days.

Application of fertilizers

30 t/ha FYM and 90:90:90 kg/ha NPK are applied as basal dose and 45:45:45 kg/ha NPK after 45 days of sowing. Apply 25 kg of ZnSO4/ha as basal.

After cultivation

Spray Fluchloralin 1 lit a.i./ha immediately after sowing the seeds to control weeds or the first weeding to be done on 15th day of sowing. Thinning and earthing up should be given on 30th day.

Splitting of roots is a physiological disorder which is usually seen when there is a sudden increase in soil moisture after prolonged drought. Forking is another phenomenon where in the hard soil does not allow the straight growth of tap root which results in formation of forked root. Forked roots and split roots fetch poor price in market. Keeping the soil moisture at optimum condition will help to keep the soil also loose thereby help to avoid splits and forked roots.

Plant protection

Carrot is not much affected by pests.

Nematode

Application of neem cake @ 1 ton/ha at planting to control root knot nematode, Meloidogyne spp.