Round Carrot
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The Parisian Carrot is a heirloom variety that defies the long, tapered shape most gardeners expect. Instead, it grows as a short, squat globe, practically the size and shape of a young turnip, reaching just 4-8 inches tall and maturing in 55 days. This unique form makes it extraordinarily adaptable to challenging growing conditions, thriving in heavy clay, rocky, and poor soils where standard long carrots struggle. Hardy from zones 2-10 and container-friendly, it delivers full carrot sweetness and crunch in a diminutive package, making it especially valuable for gardeners with less-than-ideal soil and small spaces.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-10
8in H x 2in W
Biennial
Moderate
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The Parisian's globe shape is its greatest asset. Because the roots grow outward rather than deep, this variety succeeds in heavy clay and rocky soil where other carrots fail, expanding your growing options considerably. It's exceptionally forgiving for newer gardeners navigating imperfect soil conditions, and its compact size makes it a natural fit for containers, square-foot gardens, and patio harvests. Despite its modest dimensions, the flavor remains full and sweet with genuine carrot crunch, proving that smaller doesn't mean less satisfying.
These carrots excel as snacking vegetables, eaten raw and whole straight from the garden. Their small, sweet globes are perfect for patio gardens and container harvests where fresh eating is the goal. They work beautifully in salads, roasted whole as a side dish, and are small enough to pickle or preserve intact. The compact size makes them appealing for children's gardening and quick-harvest crops that don't demand long storage.
Direct sow from mid-April until early August in friable, fertile, deeply worked soil. Choose your least weedy soil for carrots, as young seedlings are vulnerable to weed competition. Sow seeds and keep soil consistently moist; carrots can take 10 days to germinate.
Harvest Parisian Carrots once they reach their characteristic globe shape and reach a mature size of 4-8 inches tall and 2 inches wide, approximately 55 days from sowing, though some sources indicate 69 days in cooler conditions. The roots can be gently loosened with a fork or pulled by hand once the soil is moist. Look for a sweet carrot aroma and firm resistance when pulled as signs of readiness.
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“The Parisian Carrot is an heirloom variety whose preservation matters deeply to the seed-saving community. As seed availability for this cultivar has become increasingly scarce in commercial channels, gardeners and heritage seed companies have taken on the work of maintaining it. True Leaf Market's data identifies it as a non-GMO heirloom, emphasizing its traditional lineage and the role contemporary gardeners play in keeping it viable for future seasons.”