Amsterdam Forcing Carrot Seeds

Amsterdam Forcing stands out as an excellent option for early harvesting, well-suited for outdoor cultivation or under protective cloches. This carrot variety matures quickly, making it one of the earliest to reach readiness. Specifically designed for use as baby carrots (finger carrots), they exhibit exceptional sweetness and tenderness when harvested at a young age. The roots are consistently uniform, cylindrical, and slender, delivering a great performance whether enjoyed fresh or frozen. Ideal for direct seeding in the greenhouse during the winter or outdoor planting in early spring, it’s recommended to harvest them when young.

Sow Amsterdam Forcing carrot seeds from early March to late August, allowing for a nearly year-round harvest. For those aiming for a spring harvest, consider sowing the seeds in the greenhouse over the winter period.

Carrot Tips

Carrot seeds are very small and light so avoid sowing on windy days. Sow thinly to avoid waste, which can be difficult for less experienced growers – mixing the seed with fine horticultural sand for sowing can help avoid over-sowing.

Keep seeds damp after sowing by misting or watering with a very fine rose.

Some growers like to cover rows with a plank for a week after direct sowing to avoid drying out whilst the seed germinates but beware of slugs and snails.

Chitting, pre-germination, will give your carrots a great start. Take a clean piece of flat boarding and moisten it. Now spread out the Carrot seed on this, making sure, as far as possible, that one seed does not touch another, A large darning needle is an ideal tool for separating them when you have laid them out on the board.

Now set the board on a sunny window-ledge or in some similar position. See that the board is kept damp but never too wet. A mister spray is useful for this. After a few days you will see the seed beginning to germinate and can sow.

Germination will be slow at low temperatures and may take as long as 21 days. Covering with horticultural fleece or cloche will improve germination by increasing the temperature. Optimum germination temperatures over 10ºC but warmer is better.

I wouldn’t recommend starting in modules or pots and transplanting. Most often this results in distorted, multi-legged carrots.

There’s more on Growing Carrots here