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 1 | — | — | June – July | July – September |
| Zone 2 | — | — | May – July | July – September |
| Zone 11 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 12 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 13 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| 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 |
Succession Planting
Direct sow every 2-3 weeks from March through early May in zone 7, then stop — germination stalls and roots turn bitter once daytime highs push reliably past 80°F. Pick back up with sowings in late August through September for a fall harvest; roots sweeten noticeably after the first light frost. Paris Market's 50-60 days to maturity means a September sowing finishes well before hard freezes arrive in most of zone 7, and a 14-day cadence keeps the harvest rolling without a glut hitting all at once.
Complete Growing Guide
This diminutive French heirloom matures in just 50–60 days, allowing succession plantings every three weeks for continuous harvests. Unlike longer carrot varieties, Paris Market thrives in heavy clay and compacted soils where Imperator types would fork and split, making it invaluable for challenging garden beds. Sow seeds directly in spring or summer, keeping soil consistently moist during germination; these small roots are prone to cracking if watering becomes irregular after establishment. Thin seedlings to just 2 inches apart—they need far less space than standard carrots. Watch for carrot rust flies, which can tunnel through the thin skins, and consider floating row covers during vulnerable growth stages. The key practical advantage: harvest these golf ball-sized roots at 50 days rather than waiting for full maturity, capturing peak tenderness and sweetness before the roots become woody or develop the woody core that affects longer varieties in extended seasons.
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
Paris Market Carrots are ready to harvest when their distinctive round roots reach about 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter, displaying a vibrant orange color at the shoulder where they emerge from the soil. Gently brush away soil to inspect size before pulling, as these compact carrots mature quickly between 50 and 60 days. For continuous harvests, thin seedlings as they grow and pull every other root when golf ball-sized, allowing remaining plants to develop further. For a single flush harvest, wait until most roots reach peak size simultaneously. A crucial timing tip: harvest these carrots in the morning after soil has dried slightly, as the crisp night moisture makes them snap cleanly from the ground while maintaining their tender texture, and cooler temperatures preserve their natural sweetness.
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.
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
Originating in France during the 19th century, the Paris Market carrot emerged from European heirloom traditions that favored compact, round-rooted varieties suited to intensive market gardening in and around Paris. While specific breeder documentation remains sparse, this variety represents a distinct breeding line developed within French seed-saving and market gardening communities who selectively cultivated shorter carrots optimized for heavy clay soils prevalent in Northern Europe. The variety gained prominence through French seed catalogs and was later preserved by heritage seed companies, becoming a standard offering in European heirloom collections. Its continued popularity reflects both its practical advantages for home and container gardeners and its role as a link to 19th-century French horticultural practices.
Origin: Europe, Eastern Asia and northern Africa
Advantages
- +Perfect for containers and heavy clay soils where standard carrots fail
- +Golf ball-sized roots mature quickly in just 50-60 days
- +Exceptionally sweet and tender flavor makes them ideal for gourmet cooking
- +Unique round shape delights children and adds visual interest to gardens
- +Easy to grow with minimal horticultural knowledge required
Considerations
- -Susceptible to carrot fly, aphids, and wireworms requiring pest management
- -Vulnerable to leaf blight, black rot, and cavity spot diseases
- -Small round shape means lower overall yield per plant compared to longer varieties
Companion Plants
Chives and rosemary are the companions worth actually planting near Paris Market — both release volatile sulfur and camphor compounds that interfere with carrot fly (Psila rosae) host-finding, which works by scent. Marigolds pull similar duty and fit easily at row ends without competing for space. Radishes earn their spot for a mechanical reason: sow them in the same band and they germinate in 5-7 days, physically breaking the soil crust before your carrot seed even sprouts at 14-21 days. Keep dill, fennel, and parsnips out of the same bed — dill and fennel risk cross-pollination if you're saving seed, and parsnips share identical pest and disease pressure, which defeats any rotation benefit you'd get from moving Apiaceae crops around.
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
Troubleshooting Paris Market Carrot
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Seedlings collapse at soil level — stems pinched and dark, roots slimy, plants fine one day and gone the next
Likely Causes
- Damping off (Pythium or Rhizoctonia species) — triggered by cold, waterlogged soil and poor drainage
- Sowing too early into soil below 50°F, which slows germination past 21 days and leaves seed vulnerable
What to Do
- 1.Wait until soil temps are consistently above 50°F before direct sowing
- 2.Thin to 2-3 inch spacing promptly — crowded seedlings trap moisture and raise humidity right at the crown
- 3.Water in the morning so the soil surface can dry before nightfall; skip evening overhead watering entirely
Forked, stubby, or heavily branched roots at harvest, rarely reaching the full round shape
Likely Causes
- Wireworm (Agriotes species) tunneling — especially in beds converted from lawn or weedy ground within the last 2-3 years
- Rocky or compacted soil forcing roots to split around obstacles
- Fresh uncomposted manure in the bed, which causes roots to fork as they chase nitrogen pockets
What to Do
- 1.Work beds to at least 8 inches deep and remove stones before sowing — Paris Market is round but still needs loose, fine tilth to size up properly
- 2.Amend with fully finished compost only; no fresh manure
- 3.If wireworm damage keeps recurring, rotate the bed out of root crops for at least 3 years, per NC State Extension's IPM guidance
Feathery tops dying back from the tips with dark brown lesions at leaf margins, and rust-colored tunnels visible just under the root skin
Likely Causes
- Carrot fly (Psila rosae) larvae — tunnel into the root just below the soil surface, leaving rusty brown scarring
- Leaf blight (Alternaria dauci) — dark lesions starting at foliage margins, spreading inward in warm, humid conditions
What to Do
- 1.Cover beds with row cover immediately after sowing and keep it on through harvest — carrot fly locates hosts by scent and physical exclusion stops it cold
- 2.Pull and trash (not compost) any tops showing Alternaria dauci lesions; thin to 2-3 inch spacing to open airflow between plants
- 3.Rotate the bed out of Apiaceae family crops — parsnips, parsley, celery — for at least 3 years, since carrot fly pupae overwinter in the soil
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you grow Paris Market carrots in containers?▼
How long do Paris Market carrots take to grow?▼
What do Paris Market carrots taste like?▼
Are Paris Market carrots good for beginners?▼
When should I plant Paris Market carrots?▼
Paris Market vs regular carrots - what's the difference?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.