The botanical name of Carrot is Daucus carota L; it belongs to family Umbelliferae
Varieties
Hills: Ooty-1, Early Nantes and New Korda
Plains: India Gold, Pusa Kesar and Half Long Danvers.
Soil: The Carrot is a cool season crop and when grown at 15°C to 20°C will develop a good colour. The carrot crop needs deep loose loamy soil. It requires a pH ranging from 6.0 to 7.0 for higher production.
Season
Hills: At elevation above 1500 metres, Carrot can be grown throughout the year under assured irrigation. At elevations between 1000 – 1500 metres. Carrot can be grown in July – February.
Plains: August.
Seed rate: 4 kg/ha.
Mark the rows with a spacing of 25 – 30 cm apart. Sow the seeds mixed with sand (one part of seed with 4 parts of sand).
Thinning
Hills: 10 cm between plants.
Plains: 5 cm between plants.
Preparation of field
Hills: Prepare the land to a fine tilth and form raised beds of one metre breadth and convenient length.
Plains: Two ploughings are given and ridges and furrows are formed at 30 cm spacing.
Irrigation: Once in five days.
Application of fertilizers: 30 t FYM and 90:90:90 kg of NPK per ha as basal dose and 45:45:45kg NPK after 45 days. 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 first weeding to be done on 15th day. Thinning and earthing up should be given on 30th day.
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.
Diseases
Leaf spot: Spray Mancozeb at 2 g/lit.
Yield: 25 – 30 t/ha in 100 – 120 days.
