Carrot ‘Parmex’
Words: Graham Rice
Last year’s Wisley trial of early carrots produced nine Award of Garden Merit winners, from a total of 29 entries. These early types are especially suitable for successional sowing to create a continuous supply of relatively small roots to eat raw or quickly steamed. Most were slender Nantes types, but one which stood out, for a number of reasons, was ‘Parmex’.
‘Parmex’ is almost round in shape, roots were measured by the trials staff and typically proved to be 4.5cm deep and 3.5cm across. They were deep orange in colour, with a good flavour.
Perfect for successional sowings
The core to flesh ratio was also measured: the more flesh relative to the thickness of the central core, the more tender the carrot. ‘Parmex’ proved to have a very respectable core to flesh ratio of 1:3, the best in the trial were assessed at 1:4.
‘Parmex’ also proved very quick to mature and so is particularly valuable for successional sowings. Roots can be pulled very easily, and they also wash easily for the table or steamer. Kids seem to enjoy the shape.
A winner for window boxes
One special advantage of this round-rooted type is that it’s especially valuable on clay or rocky soils, where it may only be possible to create a shallow layer of good soil. It’s also the top choice for window boxes and other containers.
Another heartening factor in the award of an AGM to ‘Parmex’ is that it first received its award many years ago and has already had it reconfirmed in 2006. In an age when vegetable varieties come and go with sometimes bewildering frequency, it was good to see ‘Parmex’ maintaining its quality.
The other early carrots to be awarded AGMs following this trial are: 'Adelaide', ‘Marion’, ‘Mokum’, 'Napoli’, ‘Parano’, ‘Prio’, ‘Trevor’ and ‘Yukon’.