Carrot variety Laguna (F1)

If any of the gardeners did not grow a variety of Nantes carrots, then they probably heard this name. This is not surprising, because they began to grow it about 80 years ago, in the USSR. Moreover, the culture grew in a variety of climatic regions, while showing excellent productivity. The excellent characteristics of the patriarch carrot became the reason for the creation of new varieties and hybrids on its basis. One of them is Laguna, which is considered one of the best hybrids of Nantes. She has been on variety testing since 2005, and in 2007 our heroine was entered into the State Register of Breeding Achievements of Russia. Got a permit for cultivation in the warm North Caucasian region (Republics of Adygea, Dagestan, Ingushetia, North Ossetia-Alania, Crimea, Kabardino-Balkarian, Chechen, Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories, Rostov Region). The variety is quite famous and popular in Moldova and Ukraine. Belongs to hybrids, therefore it is always marked with F1. The applicant and originator is Nunhems B.V., a brand owned by BASF Vegetable Seeds. The State Register recommends growing the Lagoon for fresh use and for beam products.

Despite the fact that the hybrid is allowed in the North Caucasus region, it is quite possible to grow it in cooler areas due to its fast growing season and the ability to withstand cold snaps. In regions with a short and cool summer period, the variety grows well under film shelters.

Description

Above the soil surface, carrots form a semi-spreading leaf rosette. Leaves are medium in size, fine to medium dissected, rich green color. Belonging to the Nantes cultivar gave the variety a beautiful appearance. Root crop of medium length - 17 - 20 cm (in well-prepared soil up to 27 cm), aligned in shape and size, cylindrical (fusiform according to the State Register) shape with a blunt tip. The head is smooth. The skin is thin and delicate. Before eating, young carrots just need to be thoroughly washed without peeling off the skin or slightly scraped with a knife. The eyes are light, thin. Lateral filamentous roots are present, but not abundant. The pulp is crispy, with a high content of carotene, very juicy, tasty, sweet. The core is small, practically absent in root crops 17 cm in size. The color of the skin, pulp and core is rich, orange. Root weight 80 - 130 grams. 100 grams of raw pulp contains: dry matter 10.1 - 13.8%, total sugar 5.0 - 7.3%, carotene 17.2 grams.

Characteristics

• In terms of ripening, Laguna belongs to the early maturing varieties - you can harvest the crop within 80 - 95 days after germination. Early maturity endows the hybrid with advantages, the main of which is the ability to get a crop twice a season. In order to grow early beam products, 60 - 65 days are quite enough;

• carrots are quite fruitful. After variety trials, the State Register provides data on the marketable yield of 186 - 316 c / ha. These indicators correspond to the level of yield taken as the standard of Losinoostrovskaya 13. The maximum indicator was recorded in the Rostov region, it was 391 c / ha. According to other sources, 4.6 - 7.6 kg of vegetables can be harvested from one square meter;
• Root crops of high commercial quality, even in moist soil, they maintain their integrity, do not crack, so there is practically no waste during harvesting. The output of marketable products is quite high - 70 - 91%;
• with regard to the immunity of the variety, the State Register does not provide any data. The originators declare high resistance to major diseases and pests of the crop. Resistance to flowering and shooting is noted;
• the ability of the harvested crop to endure long-term transportation is excellent;
• however, the early ripe hybrid is not suitable for storage. But experienced gardeners recommend sowing carrots again - in the summer.And then fully ripe root crops can lie until February, completely without losing their excellent taste and appearance. But during storage, it is necessary to periodically inspect the crop for damage;
• the way of use is universal. Carotene-rich pulp with excellent palatability will benefit naturally. Fresh juice can be prepared from the crop. Root crops are intended for baby or diet food. Of course, carrots are indispensable in the preparation of most of the first or second courses. A sweet tooth can be pampered with carrot sweets, which will not only be tasty, but also healthy. Also, root vegetables are used for canning, for example, in assorted vegetables, and for freezing.

A feature of the variety is the uniform color of the root crop, and the complete absence of green in the upper part. This is due to the fact that during the growing season, the root crop is completely submerged in the soil.

Agrotechnics

Carrots are a fairly cold-resistant crop, their seeds can germinate at temperatures between 3 ° C and 5 ° C. Therefore, the sowing of the Lagoon in the region of admission can be started in April. The optimum temperature for the development of a full-fledged crop is + 20 ° C. To obtain a second harvest, sowing is carried out at the beginning of summer. Before choosing a place for a garden, it should be borne in mind that carrots are vegetables that need good lighting. Observance of crop rotation will not be superfluous, therefore, the crop should be planted in the beds where onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage previously grew. Before sowing, the site should be carefully prepared. The bed is dug deeply, on the bayonet of a shovel, while bringing in up to 5 kg of organic matter per square meter, 15 - 20 grams of superphosphate and 20 - 30 grams of potassium chloride to the same area. Seeds are planted to a depth of 1.5 - 2.0 cm. Agricultural technology is common for the culture as a whole. After the emergence of full shoots, the thinning of the beds should be carried out so that the root crop has enough room for development. Watering is carried out as needed to keep the soil in a moderately moist state. Weeding and loosening should be done carefully. Our heroine is also successfully used for pre-winter sowing, which allows you to get a very early harvest.

Separately, I would like to note the excellent germination of seeds, it is 95%. This is also confirmed by many gardeners. High germination rates can significantly save on seed.

Hybrid Laguna is called the dream of any gardener for a reason. The plant is early maturing, healthy and very tasty. Young sweet carrots are especially popular with young children. Excellent productivity with minimal care is possible due to the high resistance of the variety to diseases and tolerance to various weather conditions. The variety is excellent for bunch production, the roots are even, uniform, brightly colored. The harvest is used not only for the preparation of ordinary dishes, but also allows you to get excellent vitamin goodies, for example, sweets or pastries. The disadvantage of our heroine, perhaps, is one - she is unsuitable for long-term storage.