June 22 2006, 09:06

Long spring will not influence gross production of late carrot varieties in Lviv oblast

This spring has been the longest for several recent years in Lviv oblast. Usually medium term of carrot sowing is the second half of April. This year sowing terms have been postponed at least for two weeks. According to information of Tatyana Lesiv, the Agronomist of Lviv office of the Agricultural Marketing Project (AMP), the temperature of +18-25°С is optimal for carrot germinating; carrot seeds spring out in 8-12 days in these conditions. But, in connection with the temperature decrease down to +4-6°С at night and +10-15°С at daytime, carrot seeds germinated only in 15-20 days. Rainfalls were observed on the whole territory of the oblast during this period of time. However, longer period is not critical for germination of late carrot varieties. Favorable weather conditions in the period of root formation (+18-21°С for sufficiently moistened soil) are more important. Such weather has established in Lviv starting from June 12th. At the present moment 4-5 leafs of carrot plants have grown.

Taking into account the progress of carrot vegetation, AMP forecast, done in March, has been confirmed as yet. According to the forecast, carrot production will grow 38% in the oblast (on 3% due to yield growth, from 160 to 161 centners/ha and 34% due to acreage growth from 2.20 to 3.03 thousands of hectares).