Amsterdam Forcing

Family: Apiaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Amsterdam Forcing to a garden.

Sweet, carrot-scented sunshine fills the garden as Amsterdam Forcing develops—tender roots with a crisp, fine-grained bite and a vivid, true-orange glow.

This Amsterdam Carrot class is prized for its smooth, well-shaped roots that stay pleasantly delicate, making them a favorite for fresh use and for quick-roasting style preparations, as well as brightening sauces and pickling. Sow with confidence for a reliable, early harvest rhythm around 70 days, and enjoy the clean, garden-fresh flavor that tastes as lively as it looks.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Rosette

Botanical illustration of Amsterdam Forcing

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Amsterdam Forcing Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Aug 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 24th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 28th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 24th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 22nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 17th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jul 13th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jul 10th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jul 4th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Jun 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	Jun 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	May 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	55
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Amsterdam Forcing carrots are built for eating early: fine-grained and crisp, they caramelize in a hurry without turning tough, so you get sweetness plus a real snap. Their clean, true-orange flavor stands up to zingy acid and fats—think lemon-butter sheen or yogurt-coriander tang—rather than heavy spice.

Best Uses

quick-roast slices or batons for caramelized edges
shaved raw carrot salads with a sharp vinaigrette
quick pickling for bright, crunchy coins
smooth-blended carrot-tangy sauces and glazes

Flavor Profile

sweet, carrot-forward flavor crisp, fine-grained snap clean, slightly earthy sweetness tender enough to roast fast without going woody

Kitchen Pairings

honey ginger lemon butter yogurt coriander

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage downy mildew and leaf spots on Amsterdam Forcing (beet/forçage type) if leaves start yellowing or spotting?

Keep foliage as dry as possible by watering at the soil line and spacing plants so leaves don’t stay wet overnight. Remove and discard badly spotted leaves immediately, then spray with a labeled fungicide for edible greens/root crops when you first see symptoms (follow the product’s timing and re-entry interval). Avoid overhead watering and don’t reuse infected plant debris in the compost to prevent the disease from cycling back into the bed.

How often should I water Amsterdam Forcing during the main growing phase to get good roots?

Water deeply to keep the top 1–2 inches of soil evenly moist, especially from emergence through root swelling (about the first two-thirds of the 70-day cycle). In typical home gardens this often means about 1 inch per week total, split into 1–2 watering sessions—more often during hot spells, less when the soil stays cool and damp. If the soil dries out between waterings or turns waterlogged, roots tend to be rough and uneven, so aim for consistent moisture without standing water.

When is Amsterdam Forcing ready to harvest, and how do I know it’s the right size?

Start checking around day 60, but harvest at about 70 days when roots are about 1.5–2 inches across and the tops are sturdy rather than overly stretched. Lift a plant or two to confirm size—beets (including forcing types) are best when they’re tender, so don’t wait until they’re much larger. If you see roots cracking or getting very firm, harvest promptly to prevent toughness.