It’s time to fertilize carrots!
And if you want them to be beautifully juicy, sweet and store well – do it right. In the article below, I’ll tell you what I’m watering carrots with right now, when and why, and I’ll also share with you the years-tested procedure for preparing the crop for storage.

First water, then nutrients
Before I start fertilizing, I always first water the bed with plain, lukewarm water. Only then do I apply a nutrient solution. It’s a simple but very important step – thanks to this, the delicate roots are not “burned” and the plants absorb nutrients better.

Nutrition that works
To prepare the fertilizer, I use this simple but proven recipe (for 10 liters of water):

2–3 grams of potassium permanganate (so-called “hypermanganese”)
2 grams of boric acid
One such bucket is enough for about 3–4 m² of bed. And because carrots deserve it, I repeat the procedure in three weeks. The result? Strong, healthy and juicy roots.

How to prepare carrots for storage
To make the crop last as long as possible and not lose quality, I follow a few simple rules:

After pulling, I immediately remove the stalk – I cut it as close to the head as possible. This prevents moisture loss.
I skip washing. I just lightly clean the carrots from the soil and let them dry for 24 hours in a dry, ventilated area.
If the sun is shining – I cover them with an old cloth so that they don’t burn.
If it’s cloudy – I leave it alone.
I only harvest in dry weather – the carrots are cleaner then and easier to prepare for storage.
I store them in white bags and put them in a cool cellar.
I never store damaged or stunted pieces – I use them in the kitchen as soon as possible.
Forked (“horned”) carrots? Excellent for cooking or in salads – cleaning after cooking is a joy!
Final tip:
If you want to extend the shelf life of carrots even more, try sprinkling them lightly with dry sand or wood ash when storing them. This helps against rot and prolongs freshness.

May your carrots grow beautifully, your harvest is rich and you always enjoy working in the garden!