Repotting guide

When & how to repot 'Paris Market' Carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus 'Paris Market')

Also called Round carrot, Parisian carrot, Tonda di Parigi.

More about 'paris market' carrot

About 'Paris Market' Carrot

Daucus carota subsp. sativus 'Paris Market' · also called Round carrot, Parisian carrot · edible

'Paris Market' is a French heirloom carrot producing small, round, golf-ball-shaped orange roots rather than long tapers. Its short, rounded shape makes it ideal for heavy, shallow, or stony soils and for containers where long carrots struggle. Sweet and tender, it matures quickly in around 50-60 days and is best harvested young.

Mature size: Roots about 2.5-5 cm (1-2 in) across, golf-ball sized; tops 25-35 cm (10-14 in) tall.

Watch for — Over-maturity and woodiness: Left in the ground too long, the small round roots turn woody and lose sweetness. Harvest young at golf-ball size for the best texture and flavour.

How to tell 'paris market' carrot needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For 'paris market' carrot, watch for these signs:

Roots circling the bottom of the module or pot, or poking out of the drainage holes.
The seedling dries out within a day and growth has visibly stalled.
Roots are white and matted in a tight spiral when you tip the plant out.
It has outgrown its current container for the stage of the season — pot 'paris market' carrot on before it becomes hard root-bound.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot 'paris market' carrot

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot. 'Paris Market' Carrotis grown for one season, so the question is really “how often to pot on” — keep moving it up before the roots circle. Feathery green foliage above a small, round-to-oblate taproot. A biennial grown as an annual; flowers on a tall umbel in its second year or when stressed..

What size pot to step 'paris market' carrot up to

Pot 'paris market' carrot on gradually — a seedling jumped straight into a huge pot sits in cold, wet, airless soil and stalls. Step up one or two sizes at a time as the roots fill each container, finishing in a large final pot or the ground. The aim is roots that never circle and never check.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot 'paris market' carrot

Pot 'paris market' carrot on through the active growing season, whenever roots fill the current container — there is no single date, just "before it becomes root-bound". Avoid potting on during a cold snap.

Step-by-step: repotting 'paris market' carrot

Pot on before it is root-bound. Check 'paris market' carrot regularly; move it up as soon as roots reach the edge of the cell or pot, not after they have circled.
Step up one or two sizes. Choose the next container up — not a giant one. Cold, wet, unused soil around a small root system stalls seedlings.
Knock it out gently. Support the stem, tip the pot, and ease the rootball out without breaking it. A little teasing of circled roots at the base is fine.
Pot into rich mix. Set it into fresh loose loam, but tolerant of heavier or shallow soil, ph 6.0-6.8 at the same depth (tomatoes are the exception — they can go deeper to root along the stem).
Water in and grow on. Water well, keep it in good light, and resume feeding once it is established and growing again.

Aftercare

Water 'paris market' carrot in well and keep it in bright light; a freshly potted-on seedling can wilt for a day while roots settle, so do not overcompensate by drowning it. Do not fertilise for about 1 week — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for 'paris market' carrot

'Paris Market' Carrot wants loose loam, but tolerant of heavier or shallow soil, ph 6.0-6.8. Its short round root means it succeeds in heavier, shallower, or stonier ground where long carrots fork. Still grows best in friable, stone-free, unmanured soil; loosen the top 15 cm well. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting 'paris market' carrot — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot 'paris market' carrot?

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot for 'paris market' carrot. 'Paris Market' Carrot is a seasonal crop, so you pot it on as a growing plant rather than repotting a perennial. Step seedlings up gradually into loose loam, but tolerant of heavier or shallow soil, ph 6.0-6.8 so the roots never circle the cell, ending in a large final container. A root-bound transplant stalls and never fully recovers.

What size pot does 'paris market' carrot need?

When is the best time of year to repot 'paris market' carrot?

Can you put 'paris market' carrot straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing 'paris market' carrot should only go up one pot size at a time. A vastly oversized pot holds a reservoir of wet soil the roots cannot reach, which stays cold and soggy and rots the roots — the opposite of what you wanted.

Should you fertilise 'paris market' carrot after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 1 week after repotting 'paris market' carrot. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.