Beneficial properties of yellow carrots, and what is the difference from regular orange ones

Yellow carrots have long been popular around the world, but in Russia, a vegetable of this color is rarely cultivated. The unusual color of the root vegetable is due to its chemical composition. Grow It is not difficult to grow yellow carrots, but you need to observe some nuances in caring for the plant.

What it is

This is a plant of the Umbrella family with an elongated yellow root plant immersed in the ground. The tops are a bunch of bright green leaves located above the soil surface, the shape of which resembles feathers.

Why is she yellow

The color of a vegetable depends on its chemical composition. Varieties in which pink and purple shades predominate contain a lot of anthocyanins, red and orange carrots contain more carotene, white carrots have virtually no pigment, and xanthophyll and lutein, coloring substances of the carotenoid class, are responsible for the yellow color of the vegetable.

Origin and development

The homeland of yellow carrots is Central Asia, where root vegetables of this color are even now found in the wild. They formed the basis for the creation of modern varieties and hybrids.

What is the difference between yellow and orange carrots?

The main differences between yellow carrots:

• root color;
• sweeter taste and higher calorie content;
• lower content of carotene and moisture;
• the presence of lutein in the chemical composition;
• need for a warmer climate.

Chemical composition, trace elements and vitamins, beneficial properties

Yellow carrots contain:

• magnesium;
• potassium;
• calcium;
• iron;
• zinc;
• fluorine;
• iodine;
• sodium;
• phosphorus;
• vitamins of group B, A, C, E, H, PP, K;
• proteins;
• fats;
• carbohydrates;
• cellulose;
• carotene;
• Sahara;
• xanthophyll;
• lutein

Lutein is good for vision and protects the retina from ultraviolet radiation, and xanthophyll blocks the development of cancer. Eating carrots is useful for people who have been diagnosed with urolithiasis and have problems with the bile ducts.

Calories and glycemic index

100 g of vegetable contains 33 kcal. Raw carrots have a low glycemic index of 35 units, but after heat treatment they cause a sharp increase in blood sugar levels (GI – 75-85 units).

The main advantages and disadvantages of yellow carrots

Pros:

• sweeter taste;
• reduced moisture content;
• well suited for heat treatment.

Minuses:

• the likelihood of purchasing poor planting material that will produce low productivity or the wrong color of root vegetables;
• demanding on air temperature, especially in the Mirzoi 304 variety.

How it is used

Yellow carrots can be eaten fresh and added to absolutely all dishes that require the use of carrots. It can be salads, vegetable fondue, soups, stews, pilaf, etc. This vegetable is often added to meat or fish dishes, preserves, marinades and even sweet pastries.

The seeds and pulp of yellow carrots are used in folk medicine as a laxative, to cleanse the sweat glands, liver and gallbladder, for the prevention and treatment of vitamin deficiency and anemia, as a remedy against worms in children, to treat burns, purulent wounds and sore throats.

What are the benefits for the human body?

Like carrots of other colors, yellow root vegetables improve metabolic processes in the body, have a positive effect on the functioning of the heart, have a diuretic and choleretic effect, and help fight worms. Carrots have a positive effect on the condition and color of skin, hair and nails, help in the formation of a correct bite and strengthen tooth enamel.

Yellow varieties prevent the formation of cancer cells because they contain a lot of xanthophyll, act as a means of preventing cardiovascular diseases and protect the retina.

Varieties of yellow carrots

There are quite a few varieties of yellow carrots. The most popular ones are listed below.

Mirzoi 304

Table variety, bred in the 40s. XX century at the Uzbek Research Institute of Vegetables, Melons and Potatoes.

The root vegetables are yellow or light yellow, wide-cylindrical in shape with a blunt end, grow up to 10-15 cm in length and weigh 100-150 g. The leaves are dark green, the rosette is medium-dense. The pulp is juicy, sweet, the core makes up 30% of the vegetable.

The crop reaches technical maturity 113-120 days after planting, the yield is 200-300 c/ha.

The variety is demanding on temperature and watering, and is prone to cracking under unfavorable conditions. Suitable for fresh consumption, canning, and making juices.

Yellowstone

This is an early ripening variety of yellow carrots bred in the USA - the growing season is 70-85 days. Forms spindle-shaped root crops, at least 18 cm long, of bright lemon-yellow color.

Yellowstone carrots are characterized by high yields, excellent commercial qualities, the ability to adapt to different environmental conditions and resistance to diseases.

Solar Yellow

An early ripening variety native to America.The harvest ripens in 85-90 days.

The leaves are weak, medium pubescent. The root crops are spindle-shaped, reaching 15-20 cm in length and 3.5-4 cm in diameter. Suitable for fresh consumption and canning, not suitable for long-term storage.

Solar Yellow needs long daylight hours and an air temperature of at least +18°C.

Features of planting and growing yellow carrots

Cultivation of yellow carrots involves a standard algorithm, consisting of preparing planting material, sowing, care and harvesting. Moreover, each stage has some nuances.

Preparing for landing

Seed preparation consists of several stages:

1. Selection. Seeds are placed in warm water and mixed - low-quality grains will float.
2. Heat treatment. The seeds are placed in a fabric bag, first dipped in hot (+50°C), and then immediately in cold water, after which they are dried. This procedure reduces the risk of developing diseases.
3. Growth stimulation. To improve germination, planting material is treated with growth stimulants, for example, “Fitosporin” or “Sodium Humate”), dissolving 100 or 50 ml of the drug in 1 liter of water, respectively.
4. Bubbling. The seeds are placed in a container of water for 24 hours, into which oxygen is supplied through a compressor, after which they are dipped in a solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes, washed and dried.

The site is prepared in the fall: the ground is dug up, cleared of plant debris and fed with manure.

Soil requirements

The culture grows well in light, loose and fertile soil with good moisture and air permeability.

Predecessors

It is best to plant carrots after potatoes, tomatoes, physalis, pumpkins, cucumbers, watermelons, zucchini, cabbage, strawberries, basil, tarragon, lettuce, spinach, legumes, onions, and garlic.

Not recommended plant this crop in an area where dill, parsley, celery, beets or cumin used to grow.

Dates, scheme and rules of planting

At landing carrots take into account 2 factors: air temperature (not lower than +16°C) and harvest ripening time (on average 85-120 days). Sowing before winter is carried out in early November, before the onset of cold weather.

Important! Untimely planting in the fall will lead to early seed germination and subsequent freezing of the seedlings.

Planting pattern:

1. Prepare beds about 130 cm wide.
2. Make 3-4 rows in them, keeping a distance of 20 cm between them.
3. Place the seeds in the soil every 2 cm, deepening them 1.5 cm if the soil is heavy, or 2.5 cm if the soil is light.
4. Sprinkle the seeds with a sand-peat mixture.

Features of cultivation

Yellow carrots make the most demands on temperature and humidity. For the Mirzoi 304 variety, high humidity and an air temperature of at least +16°C are important; for Yellow Solar, the minimum permissible temperature is +18°C.

Nuances of care

Caring for yellow carrots involves regular watering, fertilizing, as well as thinning seedlings and weeding the soil.

Watering mode

At an early stage of development, plants need abundant watering, but the soil should not be waterlogged. On average, carrots are watered every 3-4 days at the rate of 15-20 liters of water per 1 m².

Important! Water for irrigation must be settled and at ambient temperature.

Thinning and weed control

After the first two leaves appear on the seedlings, the plants are thinned out so that the distance between them is 3 cm. When 2 more leaves appear, the distance between the plants is increased to 5-6 cm.

Weed the ground as weeds grow, which negatively affect the development of carrots.

Top dressing

Fertilizing is applied 2 times: 20 days after emergence and 2 months after that.

Chicken droppings or cow manure diluted in water with the addition of wood ash are used as organic fertilizers. Mineral fertilizers for yellow carrots include “Nitrophoska” (1 tbsp per bucket of water) and a solution of nitrate, urea and double superphosphate.

Disease and pest control

Yellow carrots can be affected by Phoma and Alternaria blight.. To treat these diseases, the plantings are treated with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture or fungicidal preparations - “Prozaro”, “Falcon”.

Among the pests, carrot flies pose the greatest danger. Insecticides, for example, “Aktary” or “Detsis”, will get rid of insects.

Harvest and storage

It is important to harvest yellow carrots on time - if the vegetables are in the soil for too long, they become tough and bitter.

How and when to collect

Most often, the harvest is harvested in June, but you can find out for sure whether carrots are ripe or not by pulling several root crops out of the ground and inspecting them. If there are shallow roots, the crop can be harvested.

The collection is carried out on a dry sunny day, pulling the carrots out of the ground by the tops.

Storage features and shelf life

The collected carrots are carefully inspected and sorted: only specimens without mechanical damage and signs of rot and disease are suitable for storage.

High-quality root vegetables are dried in the sun or, in case of rain, under a canopy, then the tops are cut off so that the carrots do not germinate, placed in wooden or plastic boxes with holes for ventilation and placed in a room with a temperature of maximum +4°C. Shelf life – 6-8 months.

What difficulties may there be when growing

The main problems encountered when cultivating yellow carrots:

• low yields and small root crops are the result of too dense sowing of seeds and insufficient thinning;
• cracking of carrots indicates a lack of moisture and insufficient watering;
• curvature of fruits when using manure or bird droppings undiluted in water as fertilizers.

Reviews of yellow carrots

Experienced farmers speak positively about yellow carrots.

Elena, Tula: “I’ve been growing yellow carrots for several years now, specifically the Mirzoi 304 variety. I tried it as an experiment, I wanted something unusual, but in the end the whole family liked this carrot. Even the grandchildren eat it with pleasure - it’s very sweet, they like it.”

Valentina, Ryazan: “I tried growing several varieties of yellow carrots, and finally settled on the Yellowstone variety. I really like the color – so bright, appetizing, you just want to eat it. Children gobble it up with pleasure - it’s beautiful and very sweet. Of course, it is quite capricious - it needs a special temperature and must be watered often and a lot, but this is not a burden for me.”

Conclusion

Yellow carrots are one of the varieties of crops that differ from the usual orange vegetable not only in color, but also in taste, as well as chemical composition.Even novice gardeners can cope with its cultivation, provided they comply with the requirements that yellow carrots make for care and planting.