Carrots are one of the most popular root crops that can be grown successfully grown in a greenhouse all year round. The right choice of variety, proper care and control of growing conditions allow you to get a high yield of juicy and sweet carrots. In this article, we will consider all the key stages: from soil preparation and choice of variety to care and harvesting.

Choosing a carrot variety for greenhouse cultivation

Early maturing varieties that are resistant to lack of light and high humidity are suitable for growing carrots in a greenhouse. The best choice:

• Early ripening varieties: “Amsterdam”, “Tushon”, “Nastena F1” – are suitable for quick planting and harvesting in 70–90 days.
• Mid-season varieties: "Shantane", "Samson", "Nantes 4" - produce large and sweet root crops, store well.
• Late-ripening varieties: "Flakke", "Canada F1" - are ideal for storage, but require a long growing season.

What to look for when choosing a variety?

• Root crop shape: Cylindrical or conical varieties are better suited for greenhouses, as they are less likely to become deformed when planted tightly.
• Ripening time: If year-round cultivation is planned, it is better to combine early and late ripening varieties.
• Disease resistance: Hybrids are often immune to rot and fungal diseases.

Expert advice: If the goal is to get an early harvest, choose varieties with a short ripening period. Late-ripening hybrids with high sugar content are suitable for long-term storage.

Preparing the soil in the greenhouse

Carrots like loose, fertile soil with neutral acidity (pH 6.5-7). Clay and heavy soils are not suitable, as they deform the root crops.

Soil preparation stages:

1. Digging – removing weeds, loosening the soil to a depth of 25-30 cm.
2. Enrichment – adding humus (4-5 kg per 1 m²), adding peat and sand to improve the structure.
3. Mineral fertilizers – superphosphate (30 g/m²), potassium nitrate (20 g/m²) improve the growth of root crops.
4. Drainage – to prevent water stagnation, it is useful to add fine expanded clay or river sand.
5. Soil disinfection – treatment with potassium permanganate, “Fitosporin” or heating with steam to destroy pathogens.

Expert advice: Two weeks before sowing, treat the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate or Fitosporin to prevent the development of fungal diseases.

When to plant carrots in a greenhouse?

The sowing time depends on the temperature inside the greenhouse:

• Heated greenhouse – sowing is possible from the end of February.
• Unheated greenhouse – it is best to sow in mid-March – early April, when the soil warms up to +8…+10°C.
• Winter sowing (for early harvest) – carried out in October-November, provided there is good cover.

Sowing features:

• Seed planting depth: 1.5-2 cm.
• Distance between rows: 15-20 cm.
• Optimal planting pattern: 4-5 cm between plants.
• Additional planting methods: you can use seeds inlaid with special fertilizers or hydrogel to maintain humidity.

Expert advice: For even sowing, mix carrot seeds with sand in a ratio of 1:2 or use special seed tapes.

Watering and microclimate in the greenhouse

Carrots require a stable level of humidity, but do not tolerate stagnant water.

• Optimum temperature:
  • Before emergence: +16…+20°C.
  • After emergence: +18…+22°C.
  • Before harvesting: +14…+16°C (helps increase the sweetness of root crops).
• Watering:
  • Before emergence, spray the soil 2 times a day.
  • After emergence – once every 5-7 days, 10-15 liters of water per 1 m².
  • 2-3 weeks before harvesting, watering is reduced to prevent cracking of root crops.
• Air humidity: 60-70% to avoid mold.

Expert tip: Use drip irrigation to maintain stable humidity levels without overwatering.

Top dressing

1. After emergence, nitrogen fertilizers (15 g urea per 10 l of water) stimulate growth.
2. During active growth of root crops, potassium fertilizers (potassium sulfate 25 g per 10 l of water) improve taste.
3. Before ripening, phosphorus fertilizers (superphosphate 30 g per 10 l of water) strengthen the root crop.
4. Additional fertilization: liquid humates increase carrot resistance to adverse conditions.

Expert advice: Don't use fresh manure - it makes carrots gnarled and impairs their taste.

How to grow carrots in a greenhouse?

Growing carrots in a greenhouse is a way to get a fresh and healthy harvest at any time of the year. The main thing is to properly prepare the soil, choose resistant varieties, and ensure stable temperature and humidity.

Key points:

• Sowing is carried out at a soil temperature of at least +8°C.
• It is important to maintain optimal humidity without overwatering.
• Fertilizers should be balanced, without excess nitrogen.
• Prevention of diseases and pests is the key to a healthy harvest.

If you want to create ideal conditions for growing carrots, pay attention to greenhouses from NovaTeplitsa. They provide reliable plant protection and create an optimal microclimate. Check out the models on our website and start growing carrots with maximum efficiency today!