Carrots and radishes crack: what to do

To grow tasty and healthy root crops, gardeners try to create the most comfortable conditions for them. However, the weather makes its own adjustments. Too much rainfall or, conversely, drought has an adverse effect on root crops. One of the most common problems is cracking.

Influence of soil moisture on the yield

Cracking of vegetables, in particular radishes, beets, carrots, occurs with a large amount of precipitation or excessive watering. When soil moisture is low, they slow down their growth. Accordingly, immediately after watering, the vegetables begin to actively increase in size. It is the rapid growth that causes the root crops to crack.

Also, the following dressings affect their integrity:

• ammonium nitrate;
• nitrogen fertilizers;
• potassium monophosphate.

The soil for carrots and radishes should be fertile, sandy and loose. Otherwise, if it is clayey and heavy, these vegetables will deform and crack as they grow. Also, do not fertilize the soil with manure.

Preventing root cracks

To avoid deformations and the appearance of defects, it is necessary to ensure regular watering. To prevent excessive accumulation of moisture and, accordingly, cracking, you can plant cauliflower and lettuce between the rows of radishes and carrots.

Not all dressings are bad for these vegetables. For example, potassium sulfate, superphosphate help to avoid cracking. It is also important to choose the right type of radish and carrot before planting. Small fruits should be preferred. It is equally important to thoroughly prepare the soil. To do this, it is necessary to form a loose layer with a height of about 20–40 cm.