Carrots, also known as "soil blue," "Yang Jia Jing," "artichokes," and "foreign kohlrabi," belong to the Cruciferae family. They are biennial herbs with a main product being their fleshy root. Due to their easy cultivation and high yield, they are becoming increasingly popular in China. The roots can be fried, cooked, or pickled, while the stems and leaves are commonly used as animal feed.
**Biological Characteristics**
The root of the carrot is enlarged, usually spherical or ovoid, with a single root weighing between 0.5 kg and 3.5 kg. The leaves are dark green, covered with a white powder, thick, and deeply cracked. The plant produces racemes with yellow flowers. It is a hybrid of Brassica oleracea, and when cultivated, it should be isolated from turnips and cabbages to avoid cross-pollination. The fruit is a long pod that splits open when mature, releasing seeds. These seeds are slightly spherical, dark brown, and have a weight of about 3.3 grams.
Carrots are highly resistant to cold and heat. Seeds can germinate at temperatures as low as 2°C to 3°C, with optimal growth occurring between 13°C and 18°C. Seedlings can tolerate temperatures as low as 1°C to 2°C. Additionally, the seedlings are resilient to heat and drought, allowing them to be sown during hot summer months, such as July and August.
**Varieties**
Based on the color of the flesh, rutabaga cabbage can be divided into two types:
1. **Green Top Variety**: Includes varieties like Wuhan Shiqilan and Nanjing Ruccola.
2. **Purple Top Variety**: Includes varieties such as Shanghai, Yunnan, and turnip cabbage.
**Cultivation Methods**
There are two primary methods for cultivating red-brown cabbage: direct seeding and transplanting.
In the direct seeding method, the soil is prepared in late June by deep plowing and fertilizing. In early July, holes are dug and watered as needed, with 4–5 seeds planted per hole, spaced 33 cm apart in a square pattern. Each mu (approximately 667 square meters) requires 200–600 grams of seeds. After planting, the soil is filled, and sprouts typically emerge within 3–4 days. Field management continues until harvest, which takes place from early October to November. Yield ranges from 2,000 to 5,000 kg per mu. The advantage of this method is that the roots grow round and deep, making them more drought-resistant and productive. However, land use efficiency is relatively low.
In the transplanting method, seedlings are raised in a nursery in early July. After a few days, the seedlings are transplanted, shaded, and protected from rain. Seedlings are ready for transplanting after 24–30 days, once they have 3–5 true leaves. Proper watering and fertilization lead to harvests from October to November. This method improves land use efficiency but may result in damaged roots during transplanting, leading to forked shapes, less uniform appearance, and lower yields.
**Seedling Cultivation**
Carrot seedlings are generally planted in late November. After selection, they are placed in reserved plots with a row spacing of 66 cm. During winter, protection from cold is essential. The plants flower in April of the following year, and the pods are harvested in late May to early June when they turn yellow and are fully ripe.
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