By planting seeds, people expect to get a high-quality and rich harvest. This is the meaning of any cultivation of a particular culture. But often nature gives out funny embarrassment. Is it bad or fun? You decide. But to know the reason and possible ways to eliminate such embarrassment will be useful. Carrots are one of the most common crops. She is useful and quite unpretentious. But often, instead of a beautiful root crop, a horned carrot grows. What is the reason? Why does horny carrots grow?
Culprit seeds
Is it possible to blame seeds or those who sell them in your poor harvest? It is on traders that gardeners always complain. However, in most cases they are not to blame. The reason why horned carrots grow can be land, fertilizer, care, watering, and so on. And only 15% of the seeds can be really unfit (no more). And this is subject to their purchase in the market. Seeds in bags (branded) can include a maximum of 5% of spoiled goods. And this is the maximum number indicated. If the seeds are bad, they will not be bought. Manufacturers know this, and therefore do not risk it. Good firms are always responsible for the quality of their products. But if the seeds are fine, then why do horny carrots grow?
Maybe dig deeper?
If the seeds are planted in rocky, clay or acid soil, the root crop can grow clumsy. The reason why carrots grow horny in such conditions is because it has to punch its way. Therefore, it is bent. If you choose the land for planting, then light loams, sandy loams or cultivated peat bogs are well suited. Ideal land for carrots is when it is diluted with sand. In autumn and spring, be sure to dig the site to prevent soil compaction. Moreover, this should not be surface loosening. Deep digging is required. Then the carrots will grow well. The loose soil before planting should be diluted with sand, so that it becomes soft, pleasant, not heavy.
Fertilizer for carrots
What does the considered root crop not fertilize so that it grows even. Often people do not even study the reasons why horned carrots grow. Sometimes gardeners add ash, lime or, worse, potassium chloride to the soil, which is generally contraindicated. Fertilizer is very important for growing carrots. But there are quite a few warnings. Carrots cannot tolerate recently fertilized manure. It is deformed when this or any other fertilizer is strewn with lumps. At the same time, its taste also deteriorates. Therefore, you can only fertilize carrots with compost. It is advisable to do this before landing. In such a land, the root crop will be comfortable and free. He will be able to grow even and pretty.
Inadequate care
Carrots are pretty unpretentious. But still requires attention. If you do not care for her, then you should not ask yourself the question: “Why does carrot grow horny?” Moreover, pests also exist in nature. There is one very unpleasant midge - a carrot fly. This insect likes to eat thin rudiments when the root crop is still developing. As a result of her machinations, carrots deteriorate and grow clumsy. What to do with this malicious fly? You can find thousands of ways to deal with it. For example, you can treat the sown area with chemicals or various fertilizers. But there is one proven in practice way that saved more than one gardener - onions and tomatoes. Plant onions between rows of carrots. He will scare away the fly. Tomato also helps. But not in advanced cases.
To water or not to water?
Watering for many gardeners is a problem. It is not always possible to carry it out in a timely manner and in sufficient quantities. Here are the basic rules. Carrots should be watered only in June and July. In August, the plant no longer needs it. If for some time the soil has not been watered and has become dry, then it can be assumed that the carrots will be uneven. The reason is that when this culture does not have enough water, the tip of its spine dies first. Therefore, watering should be constant, but not excessive. After all, the spine can rot. This is another reason why horned carrots grow. If you pay enough attention to watering, then the crop should please you.
Thinning
Well, finally, one of the most common mistakes of gardeners. Many of them, thinking about the reasons why carrots are horned, do not notice the real facts. At its core, it is a damaged root crop. If you sow carrots close to one another, then thin it very carefully. Due to excessive density, the culture has nowhere to grow. It is thinned, but at the same time neighboring shoots are damaged - the root or tops. To avoid such cases, you need to plant carrots at a sufficient distance (5 cm). Then it will not need to thin out. If nevertheless it is so necessary, then do it carefully, without damaging the neighboring roots.