All About Parisienne Carrots

Are you looking for a hardy, tender, sweet-tasting carrot to add to your vegetable garden? Parisienne carrots are a great option! Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a beginner, these carrots are perfect due to their low-maintenance nature and disease resistance.

Continue reading to learn more about this delicious carrot variety and how you can grow them at home!

Are you looking to buy Parisienne carrot seeds? Check availability.

---

History of the Parisienne Carrot

Parisienne, or Parisian, carrots stem from France sometime in the 1800s, but their exact origins are unknown. Since its creation, it has been a popular carrot option all over France.

The carrot wasn’t introduced to the United States until around the second half of the 19th century. Now you can find them at specialty farmer’s markets and purchase the seeds to grow in your garden!

---

Characteristics of the Parisienne Carrot

This carrot variety is cold-hardy, making it great for cooler areas. Sometimes spring nights can be a little chilly, but this carrot won’t die due to some cold weather. You’ll also find that these carrots aren’t susceptible to many diseases. They’re generally hardy and easy to take care of.

Carrot Qualities

Parisienne carrots are funny-looking in the sense that they have a globe shape rather than a typical carrot shape.

These fat and stubby little globes are a beautiful bright orange like normal carrots. And they have long green fronds that stick out from the soil. The ends of the fronds are a little reminiscent of parsley.

Carrot Size

The carrot itself is usually about 1-2 inches in diameter. And the combined length of the vegetable and fronds is about six to ten inches long.

---

Growing and Caring for Your Parisienne Carrots

Planting carrots is easy as long as you provide them with the correct care. Use the following parameters as a guide when planting your Parisienne carrots.

Planting Zones

This carrot variety does best in USDA hardiness zones 3-10. These zones extend all over the United States, so these carrots can handle a range of temperatures and weather.

Growing Season

The carrot growing season is roughly from April to July. You can plant them anytime between April and May. But, if you start planting in April, just ensure you begin after the last frost. Plant them about ⅛ to ¼ of an inch deep in the soil.

Size and Spacing

Since these carrots are very small in size, they don’t need much space between each other. Generally, two to three inches is enough space between each carrot. Rows should be about one to two feet apart.

Soil Requirements

Parisienne carrots prefer slightly acidic soil, which is typically between 5-7 on the pH scale. They also like well-drained, non-compacted, sandy soil so they can grow freely. Compacted soil can stunt growth. Unlike other carrot varieties, this carrot can also thrive in rocky soil if needed.

Sunlight

This carrot variety will need full sun to grow properly, which is about 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day.

Watering

Parisienne carrots need about an inch of water per week and always need moist soil. Use a soaker hose or sprinkler to make sure the soil is always moist.

Fertilizing

You should fertilize your carrots when the tops, or fronds, are about three to four inches long. You can use a low-nitrogen vegetable fertilizer. Too much nitrogen causes abnormalities in the carrots.

Thinning

After the fronds are about two inches tall, you’ll need to thin your carrots. This involves removing the smaller seedlings that are growing much slower than the rest. Doing this allows the strong seedlings to grow without competition. You might also need to thin again when the fronts reach around four inches.

Pollination

Carrots do not need to be pollinated to produce a vegetable.

Possible Diseases

Parisienne carrots are generally disease-resistant but can sometimes be susceptible to black rot and cavity spots. Black rot is a bacterial disease that causes black discoloration and rotting. Cavity spots are circle-shaped indents due to fungus.

Since you won’t know about these diseases until harvest, you cannot prevent them. However, using a calcium mixture in the soil might help reduce the chances of these diseases.

Possible Pests

Carrots are susceptible to the following pests:

• Aphids – a sap-sucking bug.
• Carrot weevils – beetles that will eat carrots.
• Carrot rust flies – a flying insect that lays its larvae in carrots.

Again, you won’t know if your carrots are in danger until harvest. But, using row covers can help block these pests from getting in.

---

When to Harvest Parisienne Carrots

This carrot variety is ready for harvest well before other varieties. You can harvest them about 55 to 60 days after sowing the seeds. The tops of the carrots where the fronds sprout should have a diameter of about an inch.

---

Eating Parisienne Carrots

You can enjoy these carrots raw or cooked. They taste delicious either way, but you’ll notice that their sweetness truly shines when you cook or bake them.

What Do They Taste Like?

These carrots are sweeter than your typical grocery store carrots and have a slightly earthy taste. If you cut them up, they’re great for snacking. Or you can throw them into any recipe that requires carrots!

Cooking and Baking With Parisienne Carrots

This carrot variety is great for roasting, allowing you to taste its true flavors. But they can also make a great addition to salads, soups, stews, and carrot cake. You can add them to sweet or savory dishes!

Parisienne Carrot Recipe Ideas

Here are some delicious recipes to try out with your Parisienne carrots:

• Buttery Cooked Carrots
• Carrot, Potato, and Cabbage Soup
• Carrot Cake

---

Health Benefits of Parisienne Carrots

Carrots have high amounts of vitamin A, which is great for eye health and DNA protection! Regular consumption of carrots can also do the following:

• Boost your immune system with vitamin C
• Keep blood sugar under control
• Lower your cholesterol

Wrapping Up the Parisienne Carrot

Consider planting the Parisienne carrot if you want a fast-growing, sweet, and tender carrot variety! It’ll make the perfect addition to your garden with its low-maintenance needs, cold hardiness, and resistance to most carrot diseases.

Check out our carrot page for information on growing these tasty beauties!