Abstract:
What leads towards financial success with carrots? I suspect many will respond 'attention to detail at all stages' and this is not a bad place to start.
Here are my top ten steps based upon experiences of commercial production in the UK, Ireland, France and Portugal.
1. Make a Good Plan
This is a critical starting point. The plan contains the elements of customer requirements and sequence of delivery and how this is to be achieved using available land.
Once made the plan needs to be communicated to the whole growing team.
The plan is used throughout the production sequence and again at the review, item 10.
2. Secure the Best Available Land
Best means the correct texture and free of persistent weeds, pests and diseases.
Rejection of marginal land is the second step and will significantly contribute to success.
3. Prepare the Land Well
Land preparation is the key to root shape and cannot be influenced once the seed is in the ground.
Textures away from pure sand are the trickiest to prepare but must be well worked to make them perform like sandy soils.
4. Establish an Even Stand of Plants
I have often said that once the crop is established 90% of the quality potential is already fixed.
The rest is detail!
5. Don't Let the Weeds Get Away
When the crop is small, weeds are very competitive.
6. Grow the Crop Smoothly
Attention to irrigation is well repaid in terms of bulk and skin finish.
7. Protect the Crop from Pests
Soil and flying pests can make a mess of the crop if not well controlled.
From a position of strength, the availability of agrochemicals is set to decline.
More attention to management will be required to avoid pest problems.
8. Protect the Crop from Foliar Diseases
Major losses can be incurred from Alternaria. Use of variety resistance and disease prediction systems can be a great help. Cercospora, mildew and Itersonilia may also need to be targeted depending on local conditions. Sclerotinia first appears as a foliage disease and will progress into a core rot of the root.
9. Protect the Crop from Root Diseases
Sclerotinia and cavity spot (Pythium sp.) are the most common in the UK with occurrences of violet root rot (Helicobasidium purpureum), Mycocentrospora and Rhizoctonia- It could be argued that all are difficult to control.
Newer chemistry is helping with some of these.
10. Monitor and Review
Monitor what is done, continually measure the results against the plan and define areas for future attention.
Communicate well with the growing team.
| 
