Amsterdam Forcing 3
A slim early carrot for quick sowings and smaller roots. Good for a light soil and picking young.
Daucus carota subsp. sativus

Carrots do best in a deep, light, stone-free soil with plenty of sun. Sow direct in short batches from late winter into early summer, thin carefully, and keep roots covered to help reduce carrot fly damage.
30 cm · Full Sun · Moderate Water
Calibrated to Perth · last frost ≈ 9 May
| Activity | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow outdoors | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Harvest | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
What to do through the growing season
Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.
Use this for the earliest outdoor sowings under fleece or a cloche. It helps you get a jump on the season in a cool UK spring.
01
Work the soil to a fine tilth before 8th February - 2nd May and remove as many stones as possible. Avoid manured ground, because carrots fork easily in rich, freshly fed soil.
02
Sow seeds thinly in shallow drills around 8 Feb - 6 Jun, then cover with of fine soil and water in carefully. Early sowings often do best under fleece or a cloche to warm the ground a little.
03
Fit insect-proof mesh over the row straight after sowing, from 8th February. Keep it in place through the growing period so carrot fly cannot reach the crop.
04
Thin the seedlings carefully from 1st March to apart once they are large enough to handle. Water lightly after thinning to settle the soil and reduce the smell that can attract pests.
05
Begin lifting usable roots from 19th April and keep picking through 19th April - 8th November. Early sowings can size up faster than expected, so check them regularly rather than leaving them too long.
Popular varieties of Carrot to consider
A slim early carrot for quick sowings and smaller roots. Good for a light soil and picking young.
A dependable maincrop type with blunt, sweet roots and good texture. Common in UK gardens and suits most free-draining soils.
Bred to help reduce carrot fly damage in the garden. Useful where pest pressure is a regular problem.
A classic long-storing maincrop carrot with good flavour and size. Best when given a deep, stone-free bed.