Black carrot: what is it, useful properties and growing photos

Black carrots are a curiosity for our latitudes. Few of our compatriots are familiar with the black variety of such a very useful root crop as carrots. We all know the benefits and benefits of bright orange carrots. She is a welcome guest on the tables of our compatriots at any time of the year. Young roots of this vegetable are especially valued in the spring, during the period of beriberi. After all, her saturation with vitamins and useful microelements is such that she can confidently compete with any overseas miracle fruit.

But black-colored carrots are not often seen on the shelves of our stores and vegetable markets.But, nevertheless, black carrots really exist, but whether it is inferior to our orange compatriot in terms of valuable vitamin composition, or surpasses it, let's figure it out.

A little bit of history

Black carrot with a bluish tint grows mainly in the East and Asia. This kind of skortioner is called. This variety is also very popular in the countries of North and South America, Pakistan, India, Turkey, Egypt.

In appearance, the root crop is exactly the same as the one we are used to, orange, only of a different color. This type of carrot is a perennial. But in practice, it is grown for two years. Unlike us, in countries where black carrots are grown, they are used to eating not only the root crop itself, but also the “top”, from which all kinds of salads are made.

It grows from seeds, for the first year only a part of sweet he althy root crops are harvested, which are successfully eaten, the second part is left for seeds.

In its second year, the proudly named skorcionera carrots are covered in bright yellow and fragrant flowers. Such charm serves as a decoration for any garden. With the onset of autumn, seeds ripen from the flowers, which are harvested and sown for the next season.

There are also wild varieties of such a useful plant, but in terms of taste and vitamin composition they are significantly inferior to their cultivated relatives.

Skortionera can reach quite impressive sizes: in length - 30 cm, and in width - up to 40 mm. The core is not dense, inside it can be a light yellow color (depending on the variety). The aroma is very pleasant, has distant notes of vanilla.

Variant Variety

In the wild, there are more than 200 varieties and species of skortionera. It grows in meadows and fields, often it can be seen along the roads. It is also eaten, but only cultivars have more nutritional value and better taste.

In our country, of the cultivated varieties of skortionera, only two varieties have taken root:

Sunshine premiere.
Medical.

These varieties have great nutritional value, and are second only to soy and beans in saturation with microelements.

Features of cultivation in our latitudes

To grow a black beauty in your garden, you need to have elementary skills and abilities. A feature of this variety is unpretentious care. They grow her, in principle, in the same way as an ordinary orange beauty.

It's important to remember. Do not stock up on seeds for a long period. Seeds give good germination only the next year after they ripen.

The soil for growing should be sandy or loamy. Before planting seeds, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the soil from weeds and preferably fertilize it with humus.

This variety has increased drought resistance: it should not be watered often and abundantly, but it needs timely thinning of the beds. Otherwise, the skortionera will grow poorly and the fruits will be smaller.

It usually takes 3-4 months from planting seeds to harvesting. Dig up black carrots in dry weather. After harvesting, the crop must be thoroughly dried, always in the shade, avoiding bright sunlight that can spoil the fruits: give them an unsightly green color, which indicates the appearance of very toxic substances. After drying, the fruits must be stored in a cool, well-ventilated area. Can be stored in sandboxes, polyethylene bags, cloth bags.

Useful properties of skortionera

This variety may be very unusual and unsightly for us in aesthetic appearance, but in terms of taste it is very, very superior to our usual orange beauty.

The fact is that skortionera contains 12 times more antioxidants than our ordinary carrots. This makes her a real family doctor.

Its nutritional value is huge and many times exceeds the value of our he althy orange carrot. It also contains a large amount of B and C vitamins, macro and microelements, which include such substances necessary for our body as iron, calcium and phosphorus.

The use of such a root crop will provide an indispensable service for he alth, with such ailments:

Iron deficiency anemia, spring beriberi.
With various disorders in the liver and kidneys.
Obesity of different stages.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Various colds.
Diabetes mellitus.

It is part of the dietary menu for any diseases. Vitamin A in the composition of the root crop is able to perfectly strengthen vision. And a large amount of fiber improves digestion, cleanses the body of toxins and toxins, and serves as an excellent prevention of constipation. And a large amount of vitamin C in the composition of the root crop, perfectly strengthens the immune system, helps the body cope with colds and flu in the spring-winter period. Inulin makes this carrot indispensable for diabetes.

How to use

Use this root vegetable raw, boiled and stewed. Freshly squeezed juices from skortionera are very useful, which can be consumed both in pure form and in relation to other juices, such as apple juice. Salads, stews, soups, borscht are prepared from it. This is an excellent side dish for meat and mushroom dishes.

In China and Tibet, black carrots are not only eaten, but also actively used in the production of medicines. All kinds of preparations for diabetes and anemia are prepared from it.

But black carrots are still somewhat inferior to our orange ones. It contains no carotene at all.

Contraindications for use

No matter how useful and healing this overseas root crop is, there are still some contraindications to its use. Black carrots should not be consumed by those who have a history of: