Quick facts
- Easy to grow plant of many uses!
- Adds a lot of color to the garden landscape
- Nutritious
Amaranthus sp.
40 days to leaf, 90 to grain. Delightful plant of many uses! Amaranth is traditionally eaten when the leaves are young or as an iron-rich grain when fully mature, is used as a dye plant, or is harvested as a long-lasting cut flower. We love the deep red of 'Hopi Red Dye' and feel that it just adds so much to the garden landscape. This one is tall, between 4-5 ft. When used as a cut flower, amaranth heads keep their color for a long time. Seeds are easy to harvest.
How to grow it:
|
Germ Temp |
Indoor Start |
Germ Days |
Frost Tolerant |
Sun |
Seed Depth |
Plant/Row Spacing |
| 60-85F |
5 weeks |
7-14 d. |
No |
Full to part shade |
1/8” |
12”/12” |
|
We prefer to start amaranth in pots indoors in early April for planting out in May or June after danger of frost has passed. Alternatively, direct sow after last frost date, covering lightly. Thin to 12 inches between plants. Harvest amaranth heads in August once black seeds start to fall- be sure to cut them before too many fall! Harvest into a bag, beat or stomp on the bags to free the seeds from the head, and use screens or fans to separate seeds from chaff. Seed specs: Packet size- 1/2 g., ~500 seeds
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