Thumbelina Carrot
Daucus carota 'Thumbelina'
An adorable golf ball-sized carrot that's perfect for container gardens and shallow soils where longer varieties struggle. Despite their tiny size, these round carrots pack full-sized flavor and sweetness. Winner of the All-America Selections award for its exceptional performance and unique appeal to gardeners with space constraints.
Harvest
65-70d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
4–11
USDA hardiness
Difficulty
Easy
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Thumbelina Carrot in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 root-vegetable →Zone Map
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Thumbelina Carrot · Zones 4–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | — | — | May – June | July – October |
| Zone 4 | — | — | April – June | July – October |
| Zone 5 | — | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | — | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 7 | — | — | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | — | — | March – April | May – December |
| Zone 9 | — | — | February – March | April – 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
Store freshly harvested Thumbelina carrots in the refrigerator crisper drawer for up to 3 weeks. Remove green tops immediately after harvest—they draw moisture from the roots. Don't wash until ready to use; brush off soil and store in perforated plastic bags to maintain humidity while allowing air circulation.
For longer preservation, blanch whole carrots for 2-3 minutes and freeze in sealed containers for up to 8 months. Their small size makes them perfect for freezing whole—no chopping required. They also excel for pickling due to their uniform size and sweet flavor. Create quick pickles using equal parts water and vinegar with salt and your favorite spices.
Dehydrating works well for baby food or soup mixes—slice into rounds and dehydrate at 125°F for 8-12 hours until crisp. Their concentrated sweetness intensifies when dried, making them excellent for trail mixes or healthy snacks.
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 fly and aphids with strong onion scent
Leeks
Deters carrot rust fly while carrots repel leek moth
Rosemary
Strong aromatic oils confuse and repel carrot fly
Sage
Repels carrot fly and other harmful insects with pungent fragrance
Lettuce
Shallow roots don't compete, provides living mulch and efficient space use
Radishes
Loosens soil for carrot growth and matures quickly before carrots need space
Tomatoes
Provide partial shade and may improve carrot flavor
Peas
Fix nitrogen in soil and light foliage doesn't shade small carrots
Keep Apart
Dill
Can stunt carrot growth and attract carrot fly when mature
Parsnips
Compete for same soil nutrients and space as fellow root vegetable
Coriander
May inhibit carrot germination and early growth through allelopathy
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #170393)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good overall disease resistance
Common Pests
Carrot rust fly, aphids, flea beetles
Diseases
Alternaria leaf blight, damping off