Garden Guide

Garden Guide for Amsterdam, Northwestern Netherlands

Amsterdam enjoys a mild, maritime climate in Zone 8b, influenced by the North Sea. Winters are humid and mild, while summers are cool and temperate. The soil is often clayey and may require good drainage to prevent waterlogging.

In Amsterdam (Climate Zone 8b), you can get an early start on gardening thanks to mild winters and late frosts (early March). You can sow radishes from February to September and harvest them from April to November. Tomatoes can be started indoors from February to April and harvested from June to November. Lettuce can be started indoors from February to August and harvested from March to November, and pumpkins can be started indoors from March to May and harvested from August to November.

Zone 8b Last frost: Early March First frost: Early December Maritime

Also applies to: Haarlem, Utrecht, The Hague, Rotterdam, Leiden, Almere

Plan your Amsterdam garden in the Fryd app

Planting Calendar

When to start indoors, sow outdoors, and harvest in Amsterdam.

Light Water Nutrients

Start indoors Sowing Harvest

Planting calendar for Amsterdam, Zone 8b
Crop	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Carrots ●●● ●●○ ●○○
Lettuce (Lettuce) ●●○ ●●○ ●●○
Cucumber / Gherkin ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Courgette / Zucchini ●●● ●●● ●●●
Pepper / Paprika ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Potato ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Radishes ●●● ●●○ ●○○
Tomato (Bush tomato) ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Tomato (Cocktail bush tomato) ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Onion ●●● ●●○ ●●○
Bean (Dwarf bean) ●●● ●●○ ●○○
Pea ●●● ●●○ ●○○
Basil ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Beetroot ●●● ●●○ ●●○
Strawberry ●●● ●●○ ●●●
Kohlrabi / German turnip / Turnip cabbage ●●● ●●○ ●●○
Garlic ●●● ●●○ ●○○
Pumpkin / Squash ●●● ●●● ●●●
Broccoli ●●● ●●● ●●●
Chard ●●○ ●●○ ●●○

Carrots ●●● ●●○ ●○○

Lettuce (Lettuce) ●●○ ●●○ ●●○

Cucumber / Gherkin ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Courgette / Zucchini ●●● ●●● ●●●

Pepper / Paprika ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Potato ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Radishes ●●● ●●○ ●○○

Tomato (Bush tomato) ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Tomato (Cocktail bush tomato) ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Onion ●●● ●●○ ●●○

Bean (Dwarf bean) ●●● ●●○ ●○○

Pea ●●● ●●○ ●○○

Basil ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Beetroot ●●● ●●○ ●●○

Strawberry ●●● ●●○ ●●●

Kohlrabi / German turnip / Turnip cabbage ●●● ●●○ ●●○

Garlic ●●● ●●○ ●○○

Pumpkin / Squash ●●● ●●● ●●●

Broccoli ●●● ●●● ●●●

Chard ●●○ ●●○ ●●○

Planting Calendar Amsterdam

Carrots: Sowing Mar - Jun, Harvest Jun - Nov (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
Lettuce (Lettuce): Start indoors Feb - Aug, Sowing Mar - Sep, Harvest Mar - Nov (Light: medium, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)
Cucumber / Gherkin: Start indoors Mar - May, Sowing May - Jun, Harvest Jun - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Courgette / Zucchini: Start indoors Mar - May, Sowing May - Jun, Harvest Jun - Nov (Light: high, Water: high, Nutrients: high)
Pepper / Paprika: Start indoors Feb, Sowing May - Jun, Harvest Jun - Nov (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Potato: Start indoors Feb - Mar, Sowing Mar - May, Harvest Jun - Nov (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Radishes: Sowing Feb - Sep, Harvest Apr - Nov (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
Tomato (Bush tomato): Start indoors Feb - Apr, Sowing May - Jun, Harvest Jun - Nov (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Tomato (Cocktail bush tomato): Start indoors Feb - Apr, Sowing May - Jun, Harvest Jun - Nov (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Onion: Start indoors Jan - Feb, Sowing Feb - Apr, Harvest Jun - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)
Bean (Dwarf bean): Start indoors Mar - Apr, Sowing May - Jun, Harvest Jun - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
Pea: Sowing Mar - Jun, Harvest May - Nov (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
Basil: Start indoors Mar - Jun, Sowing May - Jul, Harvest May - Nov (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Beetroot: Start indoors Mar, Sowing Apr - Jun, Harvest Jul - Nov (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)
Strawberry: Start indoors Jan - Apr, Sowing Mar - May, Harvest Apr - Oct (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: high)
Kohlrabi / German turnip / Turnip cabbage: Start indoors Feb - Apr, Sowing Mar - May, Harvest May - Nov (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)
Garlic: Sowing Sep - Nov, Harvest Jun - Aug (Light: high, Water: medium, Nutrients: low)
Pumpkin / Squash: Start indoors Mar - May, Sowing May - Jun, Harvest Aug - Nov (Light: high, Water: high, Nutrients: high)
Broccoli: Start indoors Feb - Apr, Sowing May - Jun, Harvest Jun - Nov (Light: high, Water: high, Nutrients: high)
Chard: Start indoors Jan - Apr, Sowing Mar - Jun, Harvest May - Nov (Light: medium, Water: medium, Nutrients: medium)

Based on Fryd planting data for Zone 8b, 2026.

Companion Planting for Amsterdam

Plants that thrive together in Northwestern Netherlands.

Lettuce (Lettuce) + Carrots

Chard + Carrots

Lettuce (Lettuce) + Radishes

Onion + Cucumber / Gherkin

Garlic + Cucumber / Gherkin

Plan companions visually

Drag and drop crops in the Fryd bed planner to see companion matches.

Try Fryd →

Growing Tips for Amsterdam

Start Indoors for a Head Start

Many crops like tomatoes, peppers, and pumpkins benefit from being started indoors to make the most of the relatively short growing season. Begin when outdoor temperatures are still too cool to give your plants a strong start.

Soil Care is Key

Aim for loose, humus-rich, and well-draining soil, especially with Amsterdam's often clayey soils. Regularly incorporating compost will improve soil structure and nutrient supply for plants like carrots and radishes.

Ensure Consistent Moisture

Many plants, such as radishes, broccoli, and pumpkins, need a consistent water supply to thrive and avoid stress. Radishes can become woody if they dry out, so regular watering is essential.

Make the Most of Light and Warmth

Heat-loving crops like onions, tomatoes, and basil prefer a full-sun, sheltered spot. Make sure they get enough light to ensure a bountiful harvest and promote ripening.

Common Pests & Diseases

•

Aphids

If you have an aphid infestation, you can rinse them off with a strong stream of water or spray the plants with a soapy solution (soft soap and water). Encourage beneficial insects like ladybirds by planting insect-friendly plants.

•

Slugs

Protect your young plants from slugs by installing slug fences or using iron phosphate-based slug pellets. Collect them in the evening or lure them with beer traps to remove them.

•

Powdery Mildew

If you spot powdery mildew, a white fungal coating, remove affected leaves immediately and dispose of them in household waste. A mixture of milk and water (1:8) can be sprayed on leaves as a preventative measure or for mild infestations to inhibit its spread.

•

Late Blight

To prevent late blight in tomatoes and potatoes, ensure adequate spacing between plants and avoid wetting the leaves when watering. Remove affected plant parts immediately to prevent further spread.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to plant tomatoes in Amsterdam?

In Amsterdam, it's best to start tomatoes indoors from February to April. From mid-May, once the cold spells have passed, you can transplant the young plants outdoors to harvest them from June to November.

What climate zone is Amsterdam in?

Amsterdam is in Climate Zone 8b, which means you can benefit from mild winters and a longer growing season. This allows for cultivating a wide variety of crops, even some that are a bit more sensitive.

Which vegetables grow particularly well in Amsterdam?

Many cold-tolerant vegetables thrive in Amsterdam, such as lettuce, Swiss chard, radishes, and carrots. Potatoes and various cabbage varieties like kohlrabi and broccoli also yield good harvests.

When is the last frost in Amsterdam?

The last frost in Amsterdam is typically expected in early March, allowing for an early start to the gardening season. However, to be safe, frost-sensitive plants should only be moved outdoors from mid-May.