How to Grow Touchon Carrot
Daucus carota 'Touchon'
Touchon Carrot is a classic heirloom variety prized for its deep orange color and sweet flavor. Gardeners grow this cool-season root vegetable to enjoy fresh harvests in spring or fall gardens across many USDA zones.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Touchon Carrot: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Touchon Carrot is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors two to six weeks before the last frost; do not transplant seedlings as carrots develop taproots that are easily damaged.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, stone-free soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8 before sowing. As a cool-season crop, sow seeds directly outdoors two to six weeks before your last expected frost date. Press seeds lightly into the soil at a depth of about one-quarter inch. Germination typically takes fourteen to twenty-one days under consistent moisture.
Space seedlings two to three inches apart within rows that are twelve to eighteen inches wide. Provide an inch of water per week, ensuring moisture remains consistent for straight roots. Apply a light mulch around the base to retain soil temperature and suppress weeds, but keep it away from the crown.
Watch for carrot rust fly, wireworms, and aphids; use row covers or insecticidal soap as needed. Monitor for alternaria leaf blight and bacterial soft rot by avoiding overhead watering. Harvest roots sixty-five to seventy-five days after sowing when they reach desired size by gently pulling or digging them up.
When to Plant Touchon Carrot
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | June – July | August – September |
| Zone 2 | — | May – July | July – September |
| Zone 3 | — | May – June | July – October |
| Zone 4 | — | April – June | July – October |
| Zone 5 | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 7 | — | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | — | March – April | May – December |
| Zone 9 | — | February – March | April – December |
| Zone 10 | — | January – March | March – December |
| Zone 11 | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 12 | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 13 | — | January – February | February – December |
Companion Plants for Touchon Carrot
✓ Good companions
Repels carrot fly and aphids with strong sulfur compounds
Natural pest deterrent against carrot fly and root maggots
Shallow roots don't compete, provides living mulch and space efficiency
Strong sulfur scent confuses and repels carrot fly
Break up compacted soil and mature quickly without root competition
Strong aromatic oils mask carrot scent from carrot fly
Repels carrot fly and cabbage moths with potent fragrance
Natural pest control through solanine compounds that deter soil pests
✗ Keep away from
Stunts carrot growth and attracts carrot fly when flowering
Allelopathic compounds inhibit carrot germination and growth
Competes for same nutrients and attracts similar root pests
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
