High-yielding first generation carrot hybrid: Baltimore f1
Dutch breeders are known for their developments around the world. The seeds they create are characterized by a high percentage of germination, resistance to various diseases, excellent taste of the resulting fruits, and high yields.
One of the famous representatives of the Beyo breeding company is the Baltimore F1 carrot. In the article we will look at what its main features and advantages are.
Description of carrot hybrid Baltimore f1
Root vegetables are shaped like a cone with a rounded tip. Their length is 22-25 cm, diameter is 3-5 cm, weight is 200-220 g. The skin is smooth, thin, and has a bright orange hue. The pulp is not loose, homogeneous, juicy, the core is thin. The hybrid has powerful, dissected leaves. The tops reach a height of 40 cm.
Origin and development
Baltimore F1 carrots were bred by the Dutch breeding company Bejo. The hybrid is part of the extensive Berlicum/Nantes varietal group. The selection was based on the Nandrin F1 variety.
Scientists have improved the original variety by crossing it with others. As a result of the work carried out, the taste quality has improved and the tops resistance to diseases has increased.
Baltimore F1 is a first generation hybrid. The seeds obtained from it will give a weak carrot harvest. Therefore, seed material must be purchased in stores.
Chemical composition and beneficial properties
100 g of carrots contain: fructose 8–9.5%, dry matter 11.6–12.4%, beta carotene 23.7 mg.The energy value of one fruit is 26 kcal.
Content of macroelements in fruits:
- potassium - 200 mg;
- calcium - 27.6 mg;
- phosphorus - 57 mg;
- magnesium - 39.1 mg;
- sodium - 20.4 mg.
Microelements content:
- iron - 740 mg;
- zinc - 420 mg;
- aluminum - 330 mg;
- manganese - 215 mg;
- boron - 205 mg;
- vanadium - 100 mg;
- copper - 82.2 mg;
- fluorine - 53.7 mg;
- molybdenum - 21.6 mg.
Composition of vitamins:
- A - 9.2 mg;
- B1 - 0.06 mg;
- B2 - 0.07 mg;
- B8 - 29.3 mg;
- B9 - 0.1 mg;
- C - 5.8 mg;
- RR - 1.2 mg;
- E - 0.9 mg.
Carrots have always been used as an additional remedy to medications for the treatment and prevention of various diseases.
The vegetable is useful for diseases of the heart, gastrointestinal tract, anemia, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, pyelonephritis.
Carrot juice normalizes acidity during gastritis, increases appetite, neutralizes the effect of antibiotics on the body, and improves vision.
Ripening period
Medium ripening hybrid. 90-100 days pass from the emergence of seedlings to harvest.
Productivity
The performance of the hybrid is at a high level. The yield per hectare with proper agricultural cultivation technology is 335 - 605 centners.
Disease resistance
The hybrid is resistant to fungal infections and powdery mildew. But the crop is often affected by dry, white and gray rot. To prevent diseases, potassium fertilizers are added to the soil and the tops are treated with Bordeaux mixture.
Characteristics, appearance and taste
The hybrid is classified as mid-season, the ripening period is about one hundred days. Tolerates temperature changes well.
Baltimore has well-developed tops, up to 60 cm high. This allows large areas to be harvested using mechanized equipment.
The leaves of the tops are carved, rich green in color, with a noticeable waxy coating. The stem is light green in color, slightly thickened.
The hybrid's root crops look attractive: they have an even cylindrical shape with a rounded tip. The fruits are approximately the same size, length - 22-25 cm, weight - 200-220 g, diameter at the base - 3-4 cm.
The skin is thin, the color ranges from orange to dark orange. The core is thin and does not separate from the pulp.
The hybrid has excellent taste. Root vegetables are juicy, crunchy, sweet and firm. Used for baby and diet food.
For which regions is it best suited?
Thanks to its fast ripening time and excellent frost resistance, Baltimore F1 is grown even in the northern part of Russia.
The hybrid is suitable for cultivation in the Central, Northwestern, Western and Eastern Siberian, Far Eastern, Volga-Vyatka, Lower Volga and Ural regions. The best yield indicators are in the Central region of Russia.
The main advantages and disadvantages of a hybrid
Main advantages:
- increased sugar content, which gives the fruit a sweet taste;
- fruit juiciness;
- high carotene content;
- increased resistance to cold and temperature changes;
- resistance to long-term transportation and high shelf life.
Disadvantage: Seeds must be purchased from garden centers or online stores.
What is the difference from other varieties:
- root vegetables are even, approximately the same size;
- the hybrid is more resistant to many diseases and pests;
- the possibility of harvesting using mechanized equipment;
- tolerates long-term storage.
Features of planting and growing
Carrots are considered an unpretentious crop to grow, but the necessary agrotechnical conditions for the full growth of root crops must be observed.
Preparing for landing
For growing carrots, choose sunny areas. Preparation of the land plot is carried out two weeks before sowing. Wood ash and humus are added to the soil. The area is dug up, leveling the surface, and the remains of weeds, compacted parts of the soil, and stones are removed.
Soil requirements
The beds with the crop are placed on loose, breathable soils. Slightly acidic and neutral soils, sandy and sandy loam soils are well suited.
If there is chernozem, clay and loamy soil on the site, you must first add sand and peat to it. In dense soil, it is difficult for vegetables to get out of the soil layer; they will grow in an irregular, clumsy shape.
Predecessors
Experienced gardeners pay great attention to the question of what vegetables grew on the plot before carrots were planted on it. It is believed that the best predecessors are tomatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, and onions.
Dates, scheme and rules of planting
Carrots are sown in early March or October. For planting seeds, choose light, well-drained soil. The area should be sunny. It is not recommended to plant vegetables in the shade of tall trees.
First, rows are formed at a distance of 18-20 cm from each other. Then make grooves 2-3 cm deep. Seeds are placed in 3-5 pieces every 4-5 cm.
To ensure that root crops grow evenly and not deformed, high beds are made. The thickness of the soil layer should correspond to the length of the future vegetable and not exceed 23-25 cm. The beds require regular fluffing.
If sowing is done before winter, it is done in November, after the onset of stable cold weather, so that premature seed germination does not occur.
Cover the seeds with dry soil. After this, the beds are sprinkled with peat in a layer of 2-3 cm.
When snow falls, snowdrifts are formed over the beds for insulation. With the onset of spring, excess snow is removed. When the snow melts, the soil naturally moistens.
The gradually warming soil is carefully loosened so as not to damage the seedlings.
Features of cultivation
To speed up germination, seed material is soaked in clean warm water for 24 hours before sowing.
When growing crops, it is necessary to take into account that at first carrots grow slowly. Weeds outstrip it in growth, suppressing young shoots. Therefore, before sowing, all weeds are carefully removed. Subsequently, during the growing season, it is necessary to remove weeds in a timely manner.
Important! Do not allow the formation of an earthen crust that interferes with the appearance of young shoots. The crust must be destroyed using a rake and other garden equipment.
Nuances of care
Since the seeds were planted several at a time, they germinate in different sizes. Weaker sprouts are removed. When removing weakened seedlings from the soil, the root system of the remaining sprouts can be disrupted, so this is done with caution.
After thinning, the beds are watered to restore the growth of the remaining seedlings.
Watering mode
The first watering is carried out a week before planting the seeds in the soil. It is necessary to facilitate seed germination.
Reference. Watering before sowing is carried out by adding potassium permanganate to the water. This will protect the seedlings from pathogenic microorganisms in the soil.
After sowing, the beds are watered by drip method so that the water pressure does not wash the seeds out of the soil. In dry weather, before shoots appear, they are covered with a transparent film.
After their appearance, watering is carried out once every 5 days, depending on weather conditions. Do not allow stagnation of water - this will destroy the fragile roots.
During the formation of root crops, the frequency of watering is reduced to once every 8-10 days, but at the same time more water is consumed. The soil should be moistened to a depth corresponding to the length of the fruit.
Attention! 15-20 days before the start of harvesting, watering of the crop is stopped.
Thinning and weed control
The first thinning is carried out 10-12 days after the appearance of shoots. When it thickens, weak specimens are removed, and a gap of 2 cm is maintained between the remaining ones.
The second thinning is performed when the plants have five leaves. The recommended distance between them is 5-6 cm.
During thinning, weeds are removed. This is necessary so that they do not interfere with the growth of the culture.
Top dressing
The taste characteristics of fruits depend on the added nutrients and microelements during the growing season. Feeding is carried out three times per season.
Before sowing, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers are applied and the soil is dug up.
Potash fertilizers are used during the formation of root crops. It is advisable to add potassium to the soil in the form of liquid solutions. Potassium chloride is not used - the effect of chlorine inhibits plant growth.
It is not recommended to use fresh manure - the root crops will grow irregularly shaped and their shelf life will be reduced.
Important! Fertilizers are applied after the soil is moistened.
For the first feeding, prepare the following composition: 25 g of ammonium nitrate, 30 g of superphosphate, 30 g of potassium sulfate are diluted in 10 liters of water.
The second feeding is carried out 20 days after the first with the same composition.
During the third feeding, nitrogen is not used.
Disease and pest control
The culture is often affected by the following diseases:
- Dry rot - phomosis, a fungal disease, during which the above-ground part (tops) is first affected, then the root crops. Its development is stimulated by unremoved plant debris. To prevent disease, potassium and phosphorus fertilizers are added to the soil.
- White rot. Signs of its appearance are softening of the root crop with the appearance of a white fluffy coating. Potash fertilizers and insecticides containing copper help in the fight against it.
- Gray rot - fungal infection of fruits. To eliminate it, nitrogen fertilizers are applied to the soil. Plants are treated with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture.
One of the pests is the carrot fly. Its larvae develop in the ground, feeding on root crops. To combat it, the drugs “Actellik”, “Decis Profi”, “Shar Pei” are used. Regular weeding and weed removal are required.
Harvest and storage
Harvesting begins in the second half of September. Dig up fruits in dry weather. It is necessary to wait for the onset of cool days, since the temperature difference - warm air outside and cold air in the cellar - will negatively affect the storage of the crop.
How and when to collect
When the air temperature drops to +5°C, the growth of vegetables stops. At this time, the harvest begins. Before digging, the beds are moistened to make it easier to remove the carrots.
Since the tops of the hybrid are tall and powerful, mechanized equipment is used for large volumes. The extracted fruits are carefully peeled off the ground and the tops are removed.
Storage features and shelf life of the hybrid
The collected carrots are dried for several days on a dry surface. Then they start sorting. Damaged fruits are discarded to avoid rotting of other vegetables.
The harvest is moved to vegetable storage. Optimal conditions for storing fruits: maintaining a temperature of -1-2°C and high humidity - 85-95%.
The hybrid has excellent shelf life - 90-95%. If all conditions are met, the harvest is stored until spring.
Read also:
Early maturing, cold-resistant hybrid of Dordogne carrots.
What difficulties may there be when growing
The culture is demanding in terms of growing conditions. On heavy dense soils, the root crops will be severely deformed.
If there is insufficient lighting, plants will grow weak.
If you miss the period of harvesting early carrots, they often crack in the ground, lose all their juiciness and, as a result, taste.
Great importance is given to crop irrigation. If carrots are not watered for a long time and then watered abundantly, the fruits will crack.
Important! It is necessary to constantly loosen the soil and remove the soil crust in time.
Advice from experienced gardeners
Experienced gardeners recommend not storing root crops even with slight signs of rot - hoping that it will disappear when dried. The rot will not only remain, but will also transfer to healthy fruits.
Vegetable growers also advise pre-disinfecting containers for storing crops.
Gardeners do not recommend frequent and shallow watering - it is better to water abundantly, twice a week.
Reviews
Let's consider reviews from real summer residents about Baltimore F1 carrots.
Svetlana, Saratov: «The salesperson in the seed department advised me to try the Baltimore F1 carrot hybrid. I liked the harvest. The carrots are smooth, without cracks. The taste is very pleasant, crispy and sweet. The grandchildren were happy.”
Vladimir, Moscow: “A neighbor in the area recommended the Baltimore f1 carrot seeds he tested. I tried sowing the seeds at the end of October. Most of them sprouted in spring. I liked the quality of the fruit.”
Elena, Pskov: “I planted two varieties of carrots on the plot. Baltimore f1 tasted better. It is much sweeter, juicier. The fruits are beautiful, smooth, approximately the same size. I will plant more."
Conclusion
The Baltimore f1 carrot hybrid is considered easy to grow, gives a high yield, and is ideal for long-term storage. It is in high demand among amateur summer residents.
The excellent quality of root crops allows us to say that the hybrid of the Dutch selection Baltimore F1 is undoubtedly one of the best. Try planting it on your site and see for yourself its advantages.