Paris Market Carrot
Daucus carota 'Paris Market'
A charming French heirloom perfect for containers and heavy soils where longer carrots struggle. These golf ball-sized roots are incredibly sweet and tender, making them ideal for gourmet cooking and an excellent choice for children's gardens due to their unique round shape.
Harvest
50-60d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
4–11
USDA hardiness
Difficulty
Easy
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Paris Market Carrot in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 root-vegetable →Zone Map
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Paris Market Carrot · Zones 4–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | — | — | May – June | June – October |
| Zone 4 | — | — | April – June | June – October |
| Zone 5 | — | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | — | — | April – May | May – November |
| Zone 7 | — | — | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | — | — | March – April | April – December |
| Zone 9 | — | — | February – March | March – December |
| Zone 10 | — | — | January – March | March – December |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed.
Harvesting
Small, dry, and ribbed with bristly hairs. The compound umbel of fruits folds inward to form a roundish shape that can be blown by the wind and roll across the ground dropping seeds.
Color: Brown/Copper. Type: Achene. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Bloom time: Fall, Summer
Edibility: Leaves, roots, flowers, and seeds are edible. The young fleshy roots can be cooked or eaten raw, the flower clusters can be french-fried to produce a carrot-flavored dish, the aromatic seed is used as a flavoring in stews, etc. The dried roasted roots are ground into a powder and are used for making coffee.
Storage & Preservation
Fresh Paris Market carrots store best in the refrigerator with tops removed, leaving ½ inch of stem to prevent bleeding. Store in perforated plastic bags in the crisper drawer where they'll maintain quality for 3-4 weeks. Their compact size means they lose moisture faster than larger carrots, so use them within a month.
For longer storage, these carrots excel at preservation due to their tender texture. Blanch whole carrots for 3 minutes before freezing—their small size means they freeze and thaw more evenly than larger varieties. They're perfect for pickling whole, maintaining their shape beautifully in brine. Their sweet flavor also makes them excellent for dehydrating into carrot chips or grinding into powder for seasoning. Root cellaring works well in consistently cool (32-35°F), humid conditions for up to 3 months.
History & Origin
Origin: Europe, Eastern Asia and northern Africa
Advantages
- +Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Pollinators
- +Edible: Leaves, roots, flowers, and seeds are edible. The young fleshy roots can be cooked or eaten raw, the flower clusters can be french-fried to produce a carrot-flavored dish, the aromatic seed is used as a flavoring in stews, etc. The dried roasted roots are ground into a powder and are used for making coffee.
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Leaves, Sap/Juice): Low severity
- -Causes contact dermatitis
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Chives
Repels carrot flies and aphids while improving soil health
Rosemary
Strong scent deters carrot flies and other root pests
Leeks
Repels carrot flies through scent masking and attracts beneficial insects
Lettuce
Shallow roots don't compete, provides ground cover to retain moisture
Tomatoes
Help break up soil for carrot root development and provide pest confusion
Marigolds
Root secretions repel nematodes and other soil-dwelling pests
Radishes
Break up compacted soil ahead of carrots and can be harvested early
Sage
Aromatic oils deter carrot flies and other flying pests
Keep Apart
Dill
Can stunt carrot growth when planted too close and may cross-pollinate
Parsnips
Compete for same soil nutrients and space, attract similar pests
Fennel
Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathic compounds
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #170393)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to splitting and cracking
Common Pests
Carrot fly, aphids, wireworms
Diseases
Leaf blight, black rot, cavity spot