Disease-resistant, high-yielding carrot hybrid Laguna F1
The Laguna F1 carrot hybrid of Dutch origin is characterized by rapid seed germination, high yield, and resistance to many diseases. The crop is not too demanding to care for, but when growing it, it is important to properly prepare the soil and planting material. Let us dwell on the nuances of agricultural technology in more detail.
Description of the hybrid, origin and development
Laguna F1 is an early-ripening hybrid with an excellent taste of root vegetables that are universal in use.
The hybrid was bred by Dutch breeders from the company Nunhems B.V. In 2007, it was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation.
Important! Since this is a first-generation hybrid, plant characteristics are not retained when seeds are subsequently planted.
Composition and properties
Carrots are a healthy root vegetable that contains fiber, vitamins C, K, group B, essential oils, sterols, potassium, phosphorus and other trace elements.
Reference. The carotene content of the hybrid is average - up to 17.2 mg per 100 g of product.
Thanks to its rich chemical composition, the vegetable is used not only in cooking, but also in cosmetology and medicine, since it has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and choleretic effects.
Ripening time and yield
Laguna is an early ripening crop. Seeds germinate 8–10 days after planting. The ripening period for carrots is 80–85 days.
High-yielding hybrid. The average is 6 kg per 1 m2; if all agrotechnical practices are followed, up to 8 kg of vegetables are harvested.With prolonged cold spells, the yield decreases.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The hybrid has strong immunity to major viral and bacterial diseases, but with improper care and high humidity it is susceptible to septoria and black rot. Among insect pests, aphids are dangerous.
Characteristics
The leaves of carrots are medium-sized, finely and medium-dissected, and have a rich emerald color.
The root vegetables themselves are cylindrical, oblong. Length - up to 25 cm, diameter - 2.5-3 cm. Average weight - 120-130 g. The core and bark of carrots are bright orange, the taste is excellent.
What regions is it suitable for?
The hybrid is grown in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia. Cultivation in regions with temperate and continental climates is preferable. Lagoon is zoned for the North Caucasus region, but it is also planted in the Urals: the vegetable ripens quickly, before the weather gets colder.
Main advantages and disadvantages
The main advantages of the hybrid:
- use for winter sowing;
- fast germination;
- early harvesting - 2.5–3 months after planting;
- resistance of the crop to major diseases and pests.
Disadvantages include the need for soil and the short shelf life of the crop.
Differences from other varieties
There are various options for planting Lagoon F1, including before winter. The crop bears fruit for a long time: under favorable weather conditions, it is possible to re-harvest.
Features of planting and growing
The hybrid requires pre-planting work, including preparation of seeds and soil, compliance with planting dates and crop rotation rules.
Preparing for landing
The seeds of hybrids have already been treated by the manufacturer against diseases and pests, but to be on the safe side, some vegetable growers prepare planting material themselves:
- sort it by size;
- remove damaged copies;
- disinfected in a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
- harden for several hours in the refrigerator, in a damp cloth.
This will make the carrots more resistant to both disease and environmental conditions.
Soil requirements
For normal development of carrots, clay-sandy soil is suitable. Fine growing Lagoon and peat bogs. A suitable acidity level is between 6 and 6.5 pH.
10–14 days before the planting date, the soil is prepared:
- loosen the soil to a depth of 20–30 cm, remove weeds;
- add 100 g of superphosphate per 1 m2 of plot, dig up the soil along with it.
Predecessors
Carrots grow well after:
- nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes);
- pumpkin (cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkins);
- legumes;
- Luke, garlic;
- spicy herbs;
- cabbage
Bad predecessors are parsley, dill, caraway seeds, beets and celery. These cultures “endow” each other with similar diseases.
Planting dates and scheme
Planting is carried out in the spring, from the first half of April to May, or in the fall, until mid-October.
Standard scheme:
- Furrows up to 4 cm deep are made in the ground.
- Plant the seeds at a distance of 3-4 cm from each other, leaving at least 20 cm between the rows.
- The grooves are sprinkled with soil.
Features of cultivation
It is important to monitor the groundwater level in the area: it should not come closer to the surface than 1 m. Otherwise, you will have to plant carrots in the fall, since in the spring the seeds will be washed out of the garden due to melting snow.
Nuances of care
Lagoon is unpretentious, but to obtain a high-quality harvest, it is important to observe some features for caring for the hybrid.
Watering mode
Carrots are a moisture-loving crop. Water the plants regularly, but do not over-water them.
For the first time, the beds are irrigated before planting seeds: 2.5–3 liters of water are used for every 1 m2. Two weeks later, when the first shoots appear, the work is repeated. For every meter of bed, add 8–10 liters of water. Watering is stopped 10–14 days before harvest.
Thinning and weed control
Weeds are dangerous for carrots because they grow faster and choke out the plantings. Therefore, the beds are weeded on time, preferably after watering, in order to saturate the root system with oxygen. The first time this is done 1.5–2 weeks after germination, the next time - 10 days later.
Attention! During the first weeding, a free space of 2-3 cm is left between the plants, and up to 6 cm during the second.
Thinning is an important step in caring for carrots. It is carried out when plantings are very thick, so that the plants receive a sufficient amount of nutrients and sunlight, and the root crops are not deformed.
Top dressing
A month after planting carrots, fertilizers with sodium and potassium are applied. They will prevent the development of rot on root crops, which occurs due to waterlogged soil.
During the period of active development of the crop, humus-based compositions are used, which will provide the vegetables with the necessary nutrients.
Disease and pest control
Signs of the main diseases and pests to which the hybrid is susceptible, and measures to combat them are presented in the table.
| Name | Description and methods of treatment |
| White spot or septoria | The disease occurs due to high humidity and elevated temperature.
The main symptom is the formation of white streaks on the tops. To get rid of the disease, plantings are treated with Bordeaux mixture 2 times with an interval of 10 days. |
| Black rot, or Alternaria | Rarely seen. Appears as black spots on carrots.
There is no specific treatment: the affected root crops are destroyed. For prevention and protection, plantings are treated with fungicides. |
| Aphid | The most dangerous pest for crops. Small, up to 5 mm, green insects are found on carrot stems and suck the juice out of them. As a result, the leaves wither, the roots become deformed and become smaller.
If aphids are detected, the plantings are treated with garlic or soap-ash solution, ammonia, and insecticides. |
Harvest and storage
When collecting root vegetables, proceed with caution: any damage to the carrots will reduce its shelf life.
Harvest carrots twice within 2–4 months after planting the seeds. To do this, carefully remove the root vegetables, cut off the tops, 3 cm away from the base of the vegetable.
The harvest is stored in a basement or cellar at a temperature of no more than +5°C. Duration - 4-5 months.
Difficulties in growing
The main difficulty in cultivating a hybrid lies in the deformation of root crops and their loss of presentation when planted in an insufficiently prepared area. For this reason, the soil is deeply plowed before planting, fertilized, and all plant residues are removed.
Advice from experienced gardeners
The culture is moderately demanding of care. When growing it, it is enough to follow the basic rules of agricultural technology for the preparation of seed material, soil, as well as:
- adhere to crop rotation: do not plant crops where plants from the same Apiaceae family previously grew;
- apply fertilizers in a timely manner;
- disinfect the soil before planting.
To keep the harvest longer, root crops are harvested in dry, sunny weather. It is better to place the harvest in boxes with sand.
Reviews
Reviews from gardeners about Laguna f1 will help you better understand the hybrid, its advantages, disadvantages and cultivation features.
Dmitry, Moscow: “The advantages of the Laguna hybrid include high yield, beautifully shaped fruits: they turned out smooth, identical, without damage. I’m growing for sale, and I’m satisfied with all the characteristics of carrots.”
Andrey, Orel: “Despite the fact that Laguna f1 is a rather demanding hybrid in terms of growing conditions and care, I still plant it on the site every year. Among the advantages, I would like to note the early harvest, excellent presentation and taste of vegetables.”
Conclusion
The Laguna carrot hybrid is popular among gardeners due to its resistance to major diseases and pests, high yield, marketable appearance and sweet taste of root crops. The crop is early ripening with long fruiting, therefore it is grown not only in regions with warm and temperate climates, but also in short summer conditions.
The main disadvantages of the hybrid are low keeping quality, demanding soil conditions, and the need for pre-planting preparation. But most reviews about carrots are positive, so we strongly recommend that you try growing them in your own garden!