One of the best mid-early carrot varieties is the Cordoba f1 variety. Plants are notable for their high growth rate and unpretentious care, and the commercial quality and taste of the fruit received many positive reviews from gardeners who grew this variety in their plots. The characteristics of Cordoba carrots f1, the features of its planting, the rules for caring for plants and tips for harvesting ripe fruits, as well as ways to deal with possible difficulties, are listed further in the article.

Characteristics and description of the variety

Cordoba carrots f1 was bred in 1899 in Holland. The breeders of the famous Dutch company Bejo worked on the creation of a new variety. The resulting variety of vegetables had excellent characteristics, so it quickly spread to other countries.

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A brief description of this variety is presented below:

1. The ground part of the plant is strong and has a fast growth rate.
2. Cordoba f1 carrots have an upright rosette consisting of long light green leaves. Its total height is 43–48 cm.
3. The leaf plate is characterized by medium dissection.
4. The ripe fruit has medium sizes, a conical or cylindrical shape and a slightly pointed apex.
5. Outside, carrots are covered with smooth orange peels, and its flesh is also colored in orange.

Most suitable landing regions

Due to the unpretentiousness of the variety to environmental conditions, today the sale of carrot seeds Cordoba f1 is carried out in Ukraine, Russia, the Republic of Belarus and Kazakhstan. In Russia, this variety is recommended to be grown in the regions:

• Central;
• Volga-Vyatka;
• Central Black Earth.

Important! 100 g of Cordoba f1 carrots contain about 6-10% sugar and about 17 mg of carotene.

Ripening time

This type of carrot attracts many gardeners with its early ripening. From the moment of planting the seeds to the harvest of the first ripe root crops, 85 to 118 days pass, therefore Cordoba f1 carrots are often grown for the early sale of fresh vegetables. But despite the early ripening, the fruits of this variety are characterized by excellent keeping quality, preserving the taste and attractive presentation even during long-term storage.

Productivity

Cordoba f1 carrots are characterized by high productivity and excellent commodity characteristics of fruits. Ripe vegetables have an attractive appearance and good taste, rich chemical composition. The main characteristics of the yield and fruits of this variety are listed below:

• when following the recommendations for planting and growing, the yield of the variety is 460–740 kg / ha;
• ripe vegetable, on average, reaches a length of 15–20 cm;
• the average weight of one ripe carrot is 120–250 g;
• the ripe fruit has a sweet taste;
• dry matter fraction in carrots Cordoba f1 - about 12%;
• the output of marketable products is from 75 to 95%.

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the early varieties of carrots:

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Advantages and disadvantages of other varieties

Cordoba f1 carrots have several advantages that distinguish it from vegetables of other varieties. That is why it quickly gained popularity among many gardeners and is often grown in large and small households.

• The list of positive qualities of the variety include:
• rather early ripening of the crop;
• persistent immunity of plants to diseases;
• unpretentiousness to the conditions of cultivation and care;
• resistance to cracking;
• excellent taste of the vegetable, lack of bitterness;
• good keeping quality;
• resistance to heat;
• universality of the use of fruits;
• resistance to fungal infections.

The only drawback of the variety is the dependence of the quality of the fruit on the amount of moisture in the soil. The plant can tolerate short-term drought, but with a prolonged lack of water, the flesh of the carrot becomes hard and less sweet.

Landing technology

The seeds of carrots Cordoba f1 have good germination, but when they are sown in the soil, it is recommended to observe several rules. First of all, you need to select a suitable site for growing a crop and prepare the soil on it to create comfortable conditions for plants to grow. At the same time, crop rotation rules must be taken into account in order to achieve high crop yields.

Did you know? The fruits of wild carrots originally grew in Afghanistan and had a purple color. The orange color of vegetables arose as a result of selection.

The procedure for planting seeds of carrots Cordoba f1 in the soil does not have specific features, but must be carried out strictly according to instructions. Plants are usually placed in rows in rows, between which at least 15–20 cm of free space should be left. At the same time, planting material is immersed in longitudinal furrows, placing adjacent seeds at a distance of 2 cm from each other.

Site selection and soil preparation

Choosing a site for growing this crop, you need to consider its location, the degree of illumination and soil composition. All these factors affect seed germination and yield indicators, as well as the size and taste of ripe vegetables. The plot for growing carrots Cordoba f1 must meet the following requirements:

• loose and nutritious soil - provides rapid seed germination and the formation of beautifully shaped fruits;
• flat surface of the site - in the presence of lowlands or pits, rain water can accumulate in them, which will lead to decay of root crops;
• soil acidity level is neutral or slightly acidic;
• good sun exposure - in the shade, the culture of this variety will grow much more slowly, and root crops will not reach large sizes;
• the groundwater level is no closer than 60–80 cm from the soil surface - with excess moisture, the underground part of the plant can decay, and root crops become ugly.

Find out what soil carrots love and how to prepare it for planting.

Before sowing seeds, it is necessary to prepare the soil in the selected area. To do this, perform the following actions:

• after harvesting, the soil is cleaned of weeds and all plant debris;
• in the autumn, the earth is dug up to a depth of about 30 cm, adding sawdust and peat to the soil (about 3 kg of the mixture per 1 m²);
• in spring, the soil surface must be well loosened and applied for every 1 m² of a half-bucket of humus, 2 tbsp. l superphosphate, 1 tsp saltpeter and 0.5 l of wood ash.

Crop rotation rules

To maintain high yields, carrots of this variety are not recommended to be planted in the same place for two consecutive years. It is best to grow this crop in the area where suitable predecessors had grown before.

Experienced gardeners are advised to plant Cordoba f1 carrots after such crops:

• zucchini;
• potatoes;
• cabbage;
• cucumbers
• Tomatoes
• onion.

Bad predecessors for plants of this variety are legumes, dill, celery and parsley.

Important! Re-grow carrots in the same place is possible only after 3-4 years.

Direct landing

Planting seeds of Cordoba f1 carrots in an open area usually begins in the second half of April, but for the northern regions, sowing dates are shifted to early May. It is necessary to focus on weather conditions - the seeds of this crop germinate best at a temperature of +15 ... + 18 ° С.

Step-by-step instructions for sowing carrots Cordoba f1 are presented below:

1. Immerse planting material in a glass of water for several minutes. Floated seeds must be removed - they will not germinate after planting in the ground.
2. Before planting, soak the selected seeds in a container of water for 48 hours, so that they swell well. Then put them on a napkin and dry them a little.
3. In the prepared area, draw long furrows with a depth of 2.5–3 cm. If the ground is too dry, you can slightly water the indentations with water.
4. Submerge the seeds at the bottom of the furrow, keeping a distance of at least 2 cm between them. Sprinkle the planted material with loose earth.
5. Sprinkle the surface of the bed with water and cover with a film to provide the seeds with heat and high humidity. Under such conditions, the first seedlings appear after 10-12 days. After that, the shelter can be removed.

Video: planting carrot seeds

Growing and caring for carrots

This variety of carrots is unpretentious to the growing conditions, so the gardener does not need much time to care for the crop. After the emergence of seedlings, it is immediately recommended to thin out the plantings in order to avoid excessive thickening and reduce the risk of diseases.

About 4-8 cm of free space are left between adjacent plants in a row. Further care for Cordoba f1 carrots comes down to proper watering, timely fertilizer application and the fight against possible diseases and pests.

Watering

When watering this variety of carrots, it is necessary to observe a measure so that the land on the beds does not dry out too much, but also is not oversaturated with moisture. In the first case, the taste of the vegetable deteriorates, and in the second, the plant begins to actively increase the tops, which leads to a decrease in the size of root crops.

Important! For irrigation of carrot beds, it is recommended to use the drip irrigation method - it helps to moisten the earth evenly and does not erode the soil around root crops.

The main recommendations for watering Cordoba f1 carrots are listed below:

• it is recommended to irrigate plants additionally only in case of prolonged absence of rain, otherwise the fruits will rot;
• the rate of water consumption in the process of active growth of the crop is about 5 liters per 1 m² of beds;
• the frequency of irrigation during extreme heat is up to 3 times a week;
• plants are watered in several approaches with small portions of water - so moisture will evenly penetrate the soil;
• water temperature for irrigation should be around +22 ... + 25 ° С;
• at the stage of formation of the fruit, the beds are watered about once every 7–10 days, spending about 15 liters of water per 1 m²;
• It is recommended to irrigate carrots in the early morning or evening after sunset - this will avoid burns on the leaves of plants and prevent the rapid evaporation of moisture;
• after the root crops are fully formed, the watering of the beds is stopped so that the ripened fruits are better stored and do not crack.

During drip irrigation, water is supplied directly to the root zone of cultivated plants and is regulated in small portions using dropper dispensers.

Fertilizer application

To get a generous crop of large fruits from the beds, it is necessary to periodically feed the carrots with fertilizers. At the same time, it is necessary to adhere to the feeding schedule and know what kind of nutrients the plant needs during each period of its growth.

Did you know? Carrot tops are widely used in cooking. It is added to soups, used to prepare vegetable salads, as well as for brewing tea.

Fertilizer rules for Cordoba f1 carrots are listed below:

• 30 days after the appearance of the first seedlings, the carrots are watered with a nutrient solution prepared from 30 g of ammonium nitrate and 10 l of water;
• 3–3.5 weeks after the first feeding, the plants are fertilized with a solution of superphosphate (15 g per 5 l of water);
• in August, potash and phosphorus fertilizers are added, which are necessary for a good taste of the vegetable - 30 g of superphosphate and potassium salt are dissolved in 10 l of water;
• about 1 liter of the above nutrient solutions is consumed per meter of beds;
• before fertilizing, you need to water the carrots - so the nutrients are better absorbed into the soil;
• fertilizers are dissolved in water for irrigation and the resulting mixture is introduced into a groove dug between rows of plants;
• At the stage of fruit formation and ripening, nitrogen fertilizers cannot be applied - they stimulate the growth of the ground part of carrots, but worsen the quality and taste of the fruit.

The appearance, taste and duration of storage of carrots depend on properly selected and timely fertilizer application

Disease and Pest Prevention

The Cordoba f1 variety is characterized by good immunity to diseases and pests, but with improper care they can still infect plants. To fix the problem, you need to notice the first signs at an early stage and immediately begin treatment.

Read more about ways to control carrot pests.

The most common diseases and pests of carrots of this variety are listed below:

1. Carrot fly. The larvae of this insect damage the root crop, making narrow and long passages in its pulp, as a result of which the carrots become unsuitable for storage. At the same time, plant growth slows down, the tops acquire a bronze hue and gradually die off. To destroy the caterpillars, the soil on the beds is sprinkled with a mixture of tobacco dust and ash or watered with ammonia. In case of severe infection, special preparations are used (for example, Ziper, Actellik).
   

2. Carrot leaf-flea. The insect lays eggs on the green leaves of the plant, and the emerging caterpillars feed on their juice. As a result of this, the ground part of carrots turns yellow and dies, and root crops do not have time to reach the desired size and ripen. You can remove the pest from the site by spraying the carrot beds with a soap solution or liquid tobacco infusion.
   

3. Wireworm. This pest is the larva of a nutcracker bug and harms root crops. Signs of infection include a slowdown in plant growth, lethargy of leaves and round through holes on the surface of the vegetable. To get rid of wireworm, the beds are fertilized with substances containing ammonia. In case of severe infection, insecticides are used (for example, Aktara).
   

4. Phomosis (dry rot). The disease has a fungal nature, and its main symptom is gray-brown spots on the tops and fruits. In the process of further spread of the infection, carrots begin to rot and become unusable. Dry rot is not treatable, and the affected plants must be removed immediately from the site to prevent the spread of infection to other beds.
   

5. White rot. The disease affects the fruits and manifests itself mainly during the storage of the crop, covering the vegetables with a layer of white fluffy plaque, which in appearance resembles cotton wool. The surface of the fetus under a coating is covered with mucus and begins to rapidly deteriorate. To fight the infection, you need to destroy the affected root crops and spray carrots with preparations containing copper.
   

6. Rhizoctonia (felt rot). With this disease, dark gray spots appear on the surface of the carrot, which deeply penetrate the flesh of the vegetable. Subsequently, the root crops are covered with a violet felt coating, leading to rotting of the root crop. It is impossible to save diseased plants - they are removed from the garden and destroyed. The remaining plantings are sprayed with preparations based on copper oxychloride.
   

To prevent the occurrence of these difficulties, it is enough to implement simple preventive measures:

• adhere to the recommended planting scheme;
• thinning seedlings;
• observe the correct regime of watering and fertilizing;
• carry out autumn digging of the soil on the site;
• observe crop rotation;
• regularly remove weeds and loosen the soil between the rows.

Harvesting and storage of crops

Harvest of carrots Cordoba f1 begins to ripen in August. The main sign of fruit maturity is the yellowing of the lower leaves of the tops and the saturated orange color of the top of the root crop.

Important! Ripe carrots need to be dug out of the soil immediately so that its flesh does not become sluggish and loose from prolonged exposure to the ground.

The basic rules for the collection and storage of root crops are listed below:

• Carrots are dug up in dry and sunny weather, before the rainy and cold season begins;
• they dig up vegetables with a fork, and then carefully pull them out of the ground for the tops;
• the fruits must be carefully cleaned by hand from the clumps of earth that have stuck, but they can not be washed in water;
• at the dug up plant, the tops are cut - with the help of a knife, leaves and about 3 mm of the root root are removed;
• for drying, the fruits are laid out in a small layer in the shade on the street or in a well-ventilated room for several hours;
• before laying on storage, fruits are sorted out, removing copies damaged by rot or pests;
• vegetables are stored in a dark basement with good ventilation at a temperature of 0 ... + 2 ° C and humidity of 90–95%.

Even a novice gardener can grow carrots of Cordoba f1 in their area. Using the rules and recommendations presented in this article, you can choose the most suitable place for planting this variety and get a generous harvest of beautiful and tasty fruits.