Ball-sized carrot – the first of the season. Parijse Markt 4 (Paris Market) is an old French variety with short, almost spherical roots measuring 3–5 cm in diameter. It is very early, and thanks to its shallow root, it grows where long carrots have no chance: in heavy, stony soil, in a balcony planter and under cover. Delicate and sweet, it is excellent for eating raw and crunchy.
At a glance
- Type: very early carrot, spherical root
- Root: orange, round, 3–5 cm
- Sowing outdoors: March–April; under cover from February; also in autumn
- Harvest: June–July (for spring sowing)
- Position: sunny; tolerates shallow and heavy soil
- Difficulty: very easy – also suitable for pots
- Number of seeds per packet: approx. 2,400 (3 g)
What makes this variety special
Paris Market is an unusual carrot: instead of a long root, it produces a round, orange ball that can be harvested just 50–60 days after emergence. The roots have smooth skin, a small core and pronounced sweetness – this is a vegetable to eat whole, without peeling or cutting. The variety copes well with soils where ordinary carrots grow crooked and forked, which is why it is recommended for new allotments and container growing.
It is also suitable for the earliest harvest: sown under cover in February or outdoors in autumn (October–November), it starts growing with the first warmth and produces young carrots before long varieties have time to develop a root.
Growing step by step
Sowing (March–April outdoors, from February under cover): sow the seeds shallowly, at a depth of 1 cm, in rows 20–25 cm apart. For the earliest harvest, sow under a tunnel or fleece, or already in autumn – the seeds will overwinter in the soil and emerge in early spring. Sowing can be repeated every 3–4 weeks until July to enjoy young carrots throughout the season.
Thinning: thin the seedlings to 3–4 cm apart in the row – spherical roots need less space than long ones. In a balcony planter 15 cm deep, a spacing of 5 × 5 cm is sufficient.
Care during the season: even watering and weeding – that is all there is to it. The soil does not need to be deeply loosened, but it should be well drained. It is worth covering the bed with fleece: this speeds up emergence and protects against carrot fly.
Harvest: pull up the roots when they are 3–4 cm in diameter; overgrown roots become woody and lose their sweetness. Harvest successively while young – these carrots are ready to eat immediately, although they will also keep for several weeks in a cellar.
Uses
Parijse Markt is a carrot for eating raw – perfect for crunchy snacking whole, in salads, as a snack for children or for juicing. The small roots are ideal for boiling and roasting whole, glazing and freezing without cutting. The best choice for balconies and planters, as well as for heavy, clay soil where long carrots refuse to grow.
Gardener’s tip
On a balcony, sow it in a planter 15–20 cm deep, using a mixture of universal potting soil and sand (3:1). Water less often but thoroughly – the balls like moisture, but they rot in standing water. After six weeks, you will have home-grown carrots within easy reach.
Specifications
| Latin name | Daucus carota subsp. sativus |
| Variety | Parijse Markt 4 |
| Root colour | orange |
| Position | sunny |
| Seasonality | biennial plant grown as an annual |
| Sowing period under cover | February–March |
| Outdoor sowing period | March–July and in autumn (X–XI) |
| Harvest period | June–September (depending on sowing date) |
| Spacing | 20–25 × 3 cm |
| Net weight | 3 g (~2,400 seeds) |
| Series | Traditional |
| Manufacturer | W. Legutko |
| EAN code | 5903837444502 |