Organic Farming of Carrots

Carrots are a type of root vegetables which are usually of the color orange although there are some varieties that are white, red, yellow, and purple. These are commonly known and used for culinary purposes as well as for their skin care benefits and other effects to the health of the human body. They are high in beta carotene, antioxidants, dietary fiber, and minerals that are needed by the body to function properly. Beta carotene when taken inside the human body is metabolized into vitamin A which is good for the eyes as it enhances the vision of a person.

Growing these vegetables in the natural or organic way is quite similar to the conventional method without the use of chemicals though. As much as possible, organic farmers tend to reduce or eliminate the use of unnatural products including the utilization of machineries which causes pollution to the air. The main goal of green farming is to create good income and benefits to both the farmer and the consumers without contributing to the destruction of Mother Nature.

When planning on raising carrots naturally, make sure that you have researched on the variety that you would want to use on your farm. Carrots can be divided into two groups based on the area that they thrive. The varieties that grow best on plain land are Pusa Kesar, Half Long Danvers, and India Gold. Early Nantes, Ooty-1, and New Koroda are best sown on hills although they can also be grown in plain areas. Majority of these varieties are great when raised on deep, loose, loamy soil although they can also grow on other types of soils. They also thrive best in cold season especially in temperatures at 15 degree to 20 degree Celsius. Make sure that you water them on schedule but do not use too much than needed as this can cause problems to your produce in the long run. Usually, your first weeding would fall after the 14th day if you have thoroughly accomplished the elimination of weeds in the first stage of your carrot planting. When the root crops begin to sprout and reach 45 to 60 days, you can now begin by slowly adding organic fertilizers on the ground. Do not exceed the required amount as it would not also be beneficial to the plants as too much can also cause other problems. You can either use pure animal manure or a mixture with other composed materials. Some organic farmers prefer to add effective microorganisms or EM on their solution to enhance the effect of the fertilizer.

When it comes to pesticides, you can either use organic solutions as sprays for your carrots or use predatory insects although these are not usually the type of plants affected by pests. However, in case your farm is attacked by these uninvited visitors, the best thing to do is to use natural pesticides to eliminate and discourage any breeding programs on the part of the insects. You can also use effective microorganisms which are good for keeping destructive creatures from your field.