How to grow carrot seeds yourself at home
Not all people know how to get carrot seeds. But why? Indeed, there are seeds of various varieties on sale. Despite this, the reasons for self-extraction of seeds can be different. So, the person liked a certain carrot varietyand he wants to grow it further. Also, this option allows you to get the necessary material. There have been cases when, as a result of planting purchased seeds, fruits are harvested that are far from advertised.
In addition, it is worth noting the independent cultivation of crops, in order to obtain material for further sowing, allows you to become independent of the market. After all, the trend in the market is constantly changing. And over time, the desired product may disappear from store shelves. And what to say about the fact that this allows you to save a lot of money, especially when it comes to the mass cultivation of crops. Therefore, plant fruit for seeds if there is even the slightest need for it. So how to grow carrot seeds yourself?
Preparatory stage
Carrots are a biennial plant. In the first year, the culture bears fruits that are used to prepare various dishes, including canned foods. In the second year, biological material suitable for further cultivation can be obtained from the root crop. Therefore, the collection of seeds must be approached very carefully. And you need to start in the first year of planting carrots.
Since you can get seeds at home in the second year of root crop growth, preparation must be done in the previous season:
- When harvesting in the first year, you need to choose the largest roots that have all the advantages of the corresponding variety. This will result in quality seeds.
- When selecting root crops that will be used as planting material, you should pay attention to their condition. They must be regular in shape, of sufficient size and color appropriate for the class. In addition, the carrots must be healthy and free of any mechanical damage. Otherwise, the root crop may not withstand storage and will disappear. An important aspect is the condition of the neck and head of the fetus.
- Carrots that will be used for further planting must be stored separately from the rest of the crop used for consumption. The cellar must be frost-free. Of course, the best option is a pit, at the bottom of which there is a cushion of moistened sand. To understand how to properly equip the storage, you can watch a thematic video.
Compliance with these rules will allow you to collect and save root crops for further cultivation in order to obtain seeds.
When to plant carrots
To obtain high-quality material suitable for further sowing, it is necessary to follow some rules and requirements. And it's worth starting by planting carrots for seeds:
- When carrots are planted the first year for harvesting and further consumption, little attention is paid to climatic conditions. This is especially true for the temperature regime. This is due to the fact that young fruits are highly resistant to low temperatures. In this case, planting should be done when the temperature is stable and there is no frost.
- An important factor is the phase of the moon. It is better to plant carrots during the period when the night star begins to grow.
- When the time and fruits are selected, you can start planting them. But above all, it's worth setting the stage. To do this, the bed is loosened and fertilized. A hole of the required depth is made in the selected area. The root crop should easily enter the soil.
- The next step is to water the well. It is recommended to use warm water for this. After the liquid has been absorbed, a carrot is placed in the hole. Further, the fruit is carefully woken up with earth and rammed. It should be borne in mind that the top of the root crop should be at the level of the soil.
- Further, the carrots are again watered with warm water, and the earth around is mulched.
Thus, carrots are planted for further seed collection. In this case, it is worth considering some features. So, the fruit can still germinate in the cellar. This will not affect its maturation in any way. Therefore, there is no need to worry about these carrots.
Carrot care
To get quality seeds, it is not enough to plant a fruit. It is also necessary to properly care for the planted carrots throughout the entire ripening period:
- In order to improve the quality of the seeds, the thickened testis is watered with milk of lime. The procedure is carried out several weeks after the planting of the fetus.
- Throughout the entire ripening period, it is necessary to periodically mulch, weed and water the plants. Thanks to this, it is possible to ensure a sufficient level of humidity, as well as to regulate temperature drops that occur throughout the day.
- After 60 days, a central stem is formed on the plant, which has a blooming umbrella. All other shoots are not suitable for this, so do not worry if they dry up.
If the umbrella has acquired a dark beige color, then this indicates that the seeds are ready to be harvested. So how do you harvest carrot seeds?
How to harvest seeds correctly
After the umbrella is ripe, it is cut and hung in a well-ventilated area. It is also wrapped with gauze or a thin cloth. This will prevent the spreading of the planting material due to draft or wind. Also, special paper bags are often used for this.
When the umbrella is dry, it is gently fingered with your hands to get the seeds. It should be borne in mind that the highest quality material for further sowing is the material located along the edge of the inflorescence. For the treatment of the umbrella, experts recommend using water. With its help, you can not only get seeds, but also clean them of dirt.
The resulting seeds are lined with cloth or paper and sent to drying. In this case, you need to mix them periodically. In the future, it is recommended to store them in cardboard boxes or paper bags.
If you know the technology and adhere to absolutely all the rules, then there will be no problems with growing seeds. I recommend using a bioactivator "BioGrow”, It will protect the blooming umbrella.