OPTIMIZING THE HARVEST TIME OF CARROT

Effect of harvest time on yield and storability of carrot was examined on vegetable farms and at a research station in southwestern Finland in 1995–1996. In warm autumn 1995, the mean carrot root weight increased 16–60 % during the four-week harvest period (12 September - 10 October). In 1996, when night frosts injured the plants in September, yield increase was 0–36 % during the six-week harvest period. On every third farm, growth continued till the last harvest on 21–22 October. At the research station, the yield of cultivar ‘Fontana’ increased until the last harvest on 28 October but in cultivar ‘Panther’ no significant growth was observed after 7 October.

Delaying harvest to October improved storability of carrots on most farms and at the research station. Only on one farm storage losses increased between the last two harvests in 1996. Visible frost injuries or rain at the time of harvest did not noticeably increase storage losses.