Carrot Pests and Diseases

Carrot crops tend to be quite resilient throughout the process, especially when the correct techniques are applied from planting.

Of course, being a vegetable, it is not exempt from the attack of some pests and diseases that could affect it more or less seriously.

Taking care of the structure they have in the aerial part, as well as being sufficiently documented on this subject, will facilitate the work of combating any attack.And to help you with all this we have prepared this article that will surely come in handy. Let’s start.

leaf scorch

It is evident in its initial phase as small brown spots with yellow edges on the leaves.

However, later these spots become larger and yellow more until it seems that the leaves were burned .

Finally, the disease causes the leaf to dry out, making it useless for photosynthetic processes.

The most common, when there is ignorance of the matter, is to associate the problem with excessive solar radiation.The basis for this thought is the fact that it is a disease that is caused by the action of a fungus that attacks when there is heat and humidity.

carrot fly

It is the most frequent pest in carrot crops and the species in question is Psylla Rosae.

The fly, as an adult version, does not feed on the plant, but it does have preferences for the environment in which to lay its eggs.

In fact, they are deposited in the area around the root, in the ground.When the eggs hatch, the larva is the one that begins to severely affect the crops, as they create galleries on the outside of the carrot.

These galleries could be verified as wounds in the fruit, which can lead to rotting of the entire structure.However, if the attack is not very strong, the carrots could still be consumed, although they will most likely lose their commercial character.

When carrots are grown in a home garden, one of the ways that helps prevent the appearance of the fly is intercropping.In this case, rosemary and onion work as good allies .

powdery mildew

Powdery mildew is a very common fungal disease among different types of crops, including carrots.

The climatic conditions that manage to offer the best environment for its development are the high levels of humidity and temperature .

In some farming communities, ear is known as powdery mildew because its most obvious symptom is the creation of an ashy powdery coating on the leaf.

This mold appears at first on the oldest leaves, but later it moves to the rest of the leaves. In fact, when powdery mildew attacks young leaves, what you see are small white spots that gradually get bigger.

It is a disease that must be controlled as soon as the first symptoms are noticed because it is easily moved by the action of the wind.On the other hand, it is also able to survive the winter and become active again at the end of the next spring, damaging crops again.

Removing the first leaves that show symptoms and burning them will be a way to slow down the attack of the fungus.It is also a good idea to use special commercial fungicides for this type of fungus.

If the attack is not very strong and the plantation is small, a homemade option is represented by the mixture of milk with bicarbonate .

slugs

They are terrestrial-type pests that are common to see in crops that grow directly on the ground, as in the case of carrots.

Their appearance does not operate under any special circumstances, since they are molluscs that prefer humid environments.Their main food source is carrot leaves and shoots , which they consume at night.

During the day, they hide in any area that offers them shade, so it is very important to keep the surroundings of the crop clean.

And this is not only applicable to prevent the appearance of slugs, but also what has to do with snails that are capable of damaging carrots.

Traps are the best options to promote their capture, as well as the placement of bright light sources.In any case, if you have farm animals, such as chickens, the problem could be controlled since they are predators by nature.

nematodes

Nematodes are parasites that live in the soil and can cause considerable damage to carrot fields.

One of the least complex is the deformation of the fruits , preventing their development from being as common as it should be.

The biggest problem is that they generate wounds in the roots through which it is possible for certain fungi to penetrate, producing much more harmful diseases.

There are nematicides on the market that help control pests and prevent them from causing so much damage, but these are very toxic.By way of prevention, what specialists recommend is to work with good quality land that has been previously valued.

It should also be ensured that it has a good nutritional level based on the fertilizer with organic matter.Crop rotation is another of the preventive measures that generates good results, since we must not lose sight of the fact that it makes life directly on the land.

In any case, there is a treatment method known as solarization and whose objective is to raise the temperature level in the ground.This is achieved by installing a plastic material that, through the action of the sun, will help increase a few degrees.

As for the more homemade measures, it is possible to work with rue extract , which has offered good results, as well as marigold preparations.If all the appropriate measures are followed, the carrot harvest will not only be abundant, but also of excellent quality.