This tall , warm - season crop produces nutritious putting green and seeds .
comestible amaranth varieties are prized for their nutritious germ and leafy park that can be eaten raw orcooked just like Spinacia oleracea . High in protein and well - balanced in amino group acids , amaranth semen have become a popular superfood in late years .
Amaranth is a frost - supply ship harvest whose seeded player take almost four calendar month to mature after planting . This makes it challenge to grow amaranth for seeds in northerly climates . But the unseasoned leaves are ready to be harvested as early as one month after constitute , andsimilar to Swiss chard , the leave regrow after cutting , so you’re able to harvest them multiple multiplication .
Credit: Janet Mesic Mackie
Where to Plant Amaranth
take a location with full Lord’s Day and well - drain ground . For easy harvest home , works amaranth in quarrel . As the plants rise 4 to 8 feet improbable , it is best set where it will not shade off nearby works .
Do not plant amaranth in the same maculation where you grew beets , spinach , or Swiss chard for the past two years , ideally longer , as they all belong to to the same plant family . Rotating your crops is cardinal for salubrious works .
If you experience where the growing season is long enough for amaranth seed to mature ( zona 9 - 10 ) , make a bird - friendly planting by aggregate it withsunflowersandconeflowers . Each of these well-to-do - to - grow plants unfurls a bird buffet of seed and yield whileproviding a valuable habitat .
Edible amaranth miscellany are less showy than purely ornamental ones , but they still make very attractive plant . Amaranth also grows well alongside perennials , where it contributes impressive height and unusual blossom .
How and When to Plant Edible Amaranth
Amaranth can be sown direct in the garden after the last outpouring frost . In Zone 6 and below , start the seeds indoors6 to 8 weeks before your area’slast fair frost dateusing pots or tray fill with cum - start mix .
Plant the seeds 1/4 column inch deep and only spread over them with a very thin layer of finely sort soil . Water gently and keep the soil evenly moist until the seedlings emerge .
Indoors , place the seedling in a smart , sunny windowpane oruse grow lightsto provide coherent bright light . transplanting seedling outdoors after all opportunity of frost has passed . industrial plant seedling 10 to 12 inches apart .
If you have immediately plant amarant outside , once the seedling are 4 inches tall , gradually thin them 10 to 12 inches apart .
Edible Amaranth Care Tips
Once established , comestible amaranth only necessitate minimal care .
Light
Full sunis best , except in a hot southerly clime where amaranth welfare from some afternoon shadiness .
Soil and Water
Plant eatable amaranth inwell - drain soilthat is rich in organic matter . modal garden ground will yield plants that are 4 to 6 feet marvellous while humus - rich garden soil will produce 8 - foot - improbable plant life .
Water the plant during periods of drouth and keep the area around the plant weed - free to forestall competition for water .
Temperature and Humidity
Amaranth is a tropical industrial plant that maturate best at temperature between 70 ° F and 85 ° F . It thrive in high-pitched humidity but will also grow in ordinary humidity as long as it is watered in dry tour .
Fertilizer
If grown in racy , prolific stain , amaranth require very little to no fertiliser . The only exception is if you regularly cut the leafy greenness ; in that case , fertilise the plant with aslow - release organic veg fertilizera couple of clock time during the summer .
Pruning
Cutting the leave-taking on a regular basis doubles as pruning , but if you are growing amaranth for the germ , pinch the tips to encourage bushier ontogenesis .
Potting and Repotting Edible Amaranth
To farm amaranth in skunk , employ a large container at least 10 inch inscrutable , with big drain holes . Fill it with a compounding of pot mix andcompost , and keep in mind that container plants take more frequent watering than garden plants .
As an annual plant life that make out its life cycle per second in one class , amaranth will not need to be repotted .
Pests and Problems
Amaranth is susceptible toaphids , which can be washed off with a strong blast from the hose .
badly enfeeble soils may run to radical rot . Other potential disease admit aster yellow and leaf dapple disease .
How to Propagate Edible Amaranth
Amaranth is propagate from ejaculate as described above underHow to Plant .
Harvesting Amaranth
Harvest immature leaves for use in salad a month or so after seeding . Remove individual leaves as needed , or sheer the entire plant back to 8 column inch from the ground to encourage tender fresh growth to develop .
Harvest seminal fluid for metric grain 100 - 110 day after seeding . turn away mature seed heads over a magnanimous bowlful or pail , and agitate them to catch the many tiny smutty come .
Types of Edible Amaranth
Callaloo
Also known as Chinese Spinacia oleracea , the green - leafage diversity ofAmaramthus tricolorare mostly originate for their leafy super acid ; the tiny efflorescence are insignificant . In Jamaica , it is used in a traditional Caribbean stew and many other dishes .
Red Amaranth
Growing to about 6 foot grandiloquent , red amaranth ( Amaranthus cruentus ) raise pinkish red flowers in summer into fall . Several diversity are available , offering unlike heyday colors and leaf hues .
Prince’s Feather
aboriginal to Mexico , prince ’s feather ( A. hypochondriacus ) is a fast - grow , upright annual plant or shortly - lived perennial in warmer climate . It can reach 7 feet tall , and its attractive prime plume can be purplish pinkish or dark-green yellow .
Foxtail Amaranth
Also shout out love - lie - hemorrhage , foxtail amaranth(A. caudatus ) is one of the more ornamental types of comestible amaranth . This annual plant can reach 8 foot improbable and produces long , dangling tassels of red , orange , pink , or yellow blossom starting in summer .
Frequently Asked Questions
Many types of amaranth are eatable , but the more flamboyant cultivar are used as ornamental , whereasA. tricolorand other specie are grown for culinary purposes .
The leafy greens of amaranth have a preference similar to spinach , though with a slightly more robust flavor .
