CARROT PRODUCTION

A complete Guide

PROMOTING FARMING EXCELLENCE

By Dahlia Shumba 0717816552
 Carrot Production
Classification Family Apiaceae
Genus Daucus
Species carota var sativus
Soil requirements Soils Well drained sandy loams or rich light soils
pH 5.5-6.8
Climatic requirements Temperature 15-21ᵒC
Winter(lowveld), all year(middle and Highveld, not
Time of planting heavy rains)
Seed requirement Seeds/gram 700-1250
Seeds/ha 4-8kg
Sowing depth 2.5cm
Spacing Interrow 15-50cm
Inrow 2.5-5cm
Plant population Minimum 150k
Maximum 1300k
Varieties Kuroda, Nantes, Ideal red, Chantenay, Star 3006, Romance, Samba, Hekla, Nantido
Fertilisation
Application Fertiliser Composition Rate/ha N P K Remarks
Basal Compound C 5 : 15 : 12 600 30 90 72 All at
planting
Top dressing Ammonium Nitrate 34.5%N 150 52 At week 3
Potassium nitrate 13 : 0 : 46 150 19 69 At week 7
Total nutrients (soil applied in kg) 101 90 141
Foliar spray Winstart 9 : 45 : 9 2kg Apply at week 2
Wingrow 19 : 9 : 19 2kg Apply at week 4
Winbloom 13 : 5 : 33 2kg Apply at week 6 and 10
Calcium nitrate 15%N, 20%Ca 2kg Apply at week 8 and 12
Notes
1. Compound C- Should be applied before planting at 60g/m² with light incorporation
2. Ammonium nitrate- broadcasted at week 3 at 15g/m² followed with light irrigation
3. Potassium nitrate- broadcasted at week 7 at 15g/m² followed with light irrigation
4. Winstart- foliar spray at 160g/16l at week 2
5. Wingrow- foliar spray at 160g/16l at week 4
6. Winbloom- foliar spray at 160g/16l at week 6 and 10
7. Calcium nitrate- foliar spray at 160g/16l at week 8 and 12
 Point to note- Soil applied fertilisers complimented with foliar fertilisers will give the best results. Never
replace soil applied fertilisers with foliar fertilisers

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Insects
Aphids (Aphis spp) Cutworms (Agrotis spp)
Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp)

Dimethoate, Diazinon, Dichlorvos, Chlopyrifos, Lambda cyhalothrin,

Oxamyl, Velum, Fenamiphos Malathion, Acetamiprid, Imidacloprid, Carbaryl, Deltamethrin
Thiamethoxam
Carrot weevil (Listronotus Carrot fly (Chamaepsila rosae) Wireworms (Agriotes spp)
oregonensis)

Carbary, Acephate, Cartap, Diazinon, Abamectin, Acetamiprid, Lambda, Deltamethrin, Chlorpyrifos

Malathion, Dichlorvos, Deltamethrin, Imidacloprid, Dichlorvos, Emamectin
Emamectin benzoate benzoate, Lufenuron, Acephate
Fungal Diseases
Fusarium rot (Fusarium oxysporum) Cercospora leaf blight (Cercospora Watery soft rot / White mold (Sclerotinia
carotae) sclerotinum)

Copper oxychloride, Benomyl Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride, Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride,

Chemlaxyl, Cymoxanil, Chlorothalonil Chemlaxyl, Chlorothalonil
Alternaria blight (Alternaria dauci) Black rot (Alternaria radiana) Powdery mildew (Erysiphe polygoni)

Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride, Chemlaxyl, Chlorothalonil, Tebuconazole, Difenoconazole, Propiconazole

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Bacterial diseases
Bacterial blight (Xanthomonas  Avoid excessive use of nitrogen
campestris)
 Keep crops free from pests and

diseases

 Hybrids have better bacterial disease

Soft rot (Erwinia carotovora)
tolerant Plant certified seed

 Use Acibenzolar-S-methyl

 Harvest onions during dry conditions

Viral diseases
Carrot yellow leaf  Keep crop free from sap sucking

pests (Aphids, Thrips etc)

 Always grow certified seed from

reputable shops

Non parasitic disorders

Bitterness
 Bitterness is a result of formation of natural compounds when exposed to
stress.
 These compounds form when plants are heat stressed or exposed to ethylene
in storage.
 High temperatures during growth increases chances of bitterness
 It is important to plant heat resistant varieties during warmer seasons like
Kuroda
Forking  Forking (fanging) may be caused by many factors which defect root growth
such as
 Dense, compact soils
 Root obstructions (rocks, etc.)
 Root damage leading to secondary roots growth, giving a forked look
 Fertilizer placement, insect/disease damage, excess nitrogen, and use
of fresh manures also injures the root, resulting in branching.
 It is therefore important to avoid all practices that lead to this physiological
disorder
Splitting and cracking  Cracking occurs in older roots and is associated with poor irrigation practices.
 When irrigation is erratic, roots take in more water and the root expands
quickly and may crack
 Splitting or shattering can also occur at harvest particularly if roots are very
cold when dug
 Large-rooted cultivars (or older roots) are more prone to split than small
(younger) ones
 Keep soils moist to ensure steady growth, especially in sandy or drought-
sensitive soils

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Bolting  Bolting is the term used to indicate a plant that has transitioned from leaf
(vegetative) growth to flower (reproductive) formation
 Flower stalks can occur at any time during growth
 Cool-weather crops like carrots often bolt when planted early or
overwintered.
 Plants exposed to several weeks of cool temperatures (<10°C) triggers the
response.
 Long days and hot temperatures triggers bolting

Program
Planting date Variety
Plant pop Area Spacing
Week after Age Date Activities Fertilisers/ m²Pesticides/ 16l Fungicides/ 16l Foliar sprays/
emergence knapsack knapsack 16l knapsack
Transplant Compound C 600g Lambda 16ml Copper 80g
Rotten manure 5kg
1 7 Dichlorvos 16ml Antracol 32g
2 14 Abamectin 16ml Acomil 50g Winstart 160g
3 21 Weeding AN(NH₄NO₃) 15g Imidacloprid 16ml Orius 16ml
4 28 Carbaryl 50g Copper 80g Wingrow 160g
5 35 Aceta + Ema 16ml Bravo 32ml
6 42 Dichlorvos 16ml Antracol 32g Winbloom 160g
7 49 PN(KNO₃) 15g Abamectin 16ml Acomil 50g
8 56 Imidacloprid 16ml Orius 16ml C. nitrate 160g
9 63 Carbaryl 50g Copper 80g
10 70 Aceta + Ema 16ml Bravo 32ml Winbloom 160g
11 77 Dichlorvos 16ml Antracol 32g
12 84 Abamectin 16ml Acomil 50g C. nitrate 160g
13 91 Imidacloprid 16ml Orius 16ml
14 98 Carbaryl 50g
15 105
16 112
17 119

Promoting Farming Excellence