Why curly carrots: what to do, folk remedies and methods

Growing carrots is a simple process, but it requires knowledge of some nuances: timely planting, high-quality thinning, moderate watering, knowing why it is necessary to feed the plant - only when these factors are combined, the gardener will receive a plentiful and high-quality harvest. However, if the carrot leaves begin to curl, the future harvest is in jeopardy - not everyone knows why carrots curl. Let's find out.

Causes of curly carrot leaves

In a normal state, carrot tops have a bright green color. The socket has axillary buds, the leaves of carrots grow on a long petiole.

If a carrot leaf twists, then the gardener starts to worry and look for the cause in the development of all kinds of diseases. This is wrong: curly hair is the result of pests.

The presence of such insects can negatively affect the appearance of the leaves, the appearance of curl and the development of the root crop:

Carrot aphid. Another name that this pest bears is the psyllid. This is a very small insect that winters near gardens. With the onset of heat, the psyllid flies to carrot beds in order to begin reproduction. Soaked throughout the winter with needles, the insect needs useful substances. Having laid eggs on the inner surface of the carrot leaves, the insect begins to suck out all the juices from the root crop. When affected by this pest, the color of carrot leaves remains the same. It is very difficult to notice the parasite in time.
Carrot aphid.After the appearance of unwanted "neighbors", the carrot leaves twist, and in the meantime, the aphids feed on the juices of the root crop. The insect is especially active in hot dry periods. If the summer is hot, the gardener should show maximum attention, carefully inspect the leaves of the vegetable for the presence of pests. The appearance of aphids on a plant can be facilitated by ants that spread it throughout the garden. Carrots grow small, tough and tasteless, and the leaves continue to curl.
Carrot fly. At early shoots, this insect lays its eggs. The most dangerous time is the phase of two true leaves. There is a penetration of larvae into the root crop and its destruction. The second generation of carrot flies, born in August - September, can harm carrots. The leaves curl and the root crop suffers.

The period of greatest activity of psyllids and other insects lasts from the second half of June to the end of July. At this time, you need to carefully monitor the seedlings, and in case of danger, immediately take measures to combat the pest.

In addition, there are other reasons that the leaves curl - this is a lack of trace elements in the soil. The problem is solved quite simply: the plant can easily get the missing potassium and magnesium in the form of top dressing, which you can cook yourself.

In some cases, gardeners panic for no reason at all. Carrots can be curly due to the variety: worries about “curls” on the leaves are unnecessary, but it is still necessary to exclude the possibility of pests. Curly carrots are prone to pests.

Pest elimination method

When the question arises of what to do and why carrots curl, many are at a loss. Summer residents are very afraid of the appearance of pests on carrots, since the crop can be considered lost. However, if the infection has begun recently, it is still worth fighting for the vegetable.

To keep carrots from curling, you can use one of the following methods:

Using chemicals.
Processing folk remedies.
Using agricultural practices.

There are many different options for insecticides. We spray plantings with special substances. So, the preparation "Zeta" perfectly copes with the psyllid. To prepare the working composition, it is necessary to dilute 1 tablet of the product in 10 liters of water. You can process plants once or twice a season.

A universal remedy that helps to cope with aphids or any other pests - "Aktara". Having destroyed insects with the help of this drug, you don’t have to worry: if it was a carrot aphid, then over the summer the parasite gives only one generation. If we are talking about a carrot fly, then in the second half of summer, carrots should be observed: when the first signs of the reappearance of the pest appear, treat the twisted leaves again.

It is important that you can spray carrots with these drugs once or twice. Their use can be carried out no more than twice in one season. The use of insecticides will be superfluous if there are less than 30 days left before harvest.

If the carrot has grown and can already be eaten, and the leaves are curled, then insecticide treatment is contraindicated. In this case, folk remedies should be used. Pests do not tolerate infusions of celandine, garlic, horse sorrel, yarrow. Some summer residents even use laundry soap for this purpose, spreading 300 grams of chips in a bucket of water. Spray the bed several times with this remedy.

You can use wood ash in the fight against aphids. Its combination with tobacco dust is an even better option. Dusting with this composition will help the gardener get rid of the pest and save the garden. The processed sheet will stop curling.

Help to cope with the problems of exposure to insects and some agrotechnical methods. So, you can not plant carrots in the place that was once infected with a pest that affects it. Pine trees next to the garden pose a direct danger to carrots: it is on them that harmful insects overwinter. It is not worth planting spruce trees on or near the plot on your own so that the carrots do not spin.

Good for carrots if the place for organizing the beds is chosen next to garlic or onions. The pungent smell of these plants will scare away the carrot fly, save the future harvest: the leaf curls less, the plant does not suffer.

Consequences of curly leaves in carrots

The appearance of pests on the leaves of carrots will not pass without a trace. If the gardener is inactive, then most of the crop may die. In addition to fruits, labor will also perish, and this is the saddest thing. When the first signs of crop growth failure appear, the battle for the crop should begin, especially if the leaves are already curled.

If you skip the appearance of pests and do not water the carrots with protective agents, then the root crops will become tough. Their taste will change, the carrots will lose their sweetness, they will become more like fodder. Leaves may change color to yellow or reddish. If you do nothing, most of the crop will have to be burned.