P.O. If you do everything as stated in the instructions, the first shoots will appear in 4 – 5 days. Once the plants reach about one foot in height, they start growing very rapidly, and will quickly shade out any remaining weeds. If planting in a shared bed, space seedlings 10 to 14 inches (25 to 36 cm) apart from one another. You can start seeds indoors about 6-8 weeks before your last expected frost as well. If you direct seed outdoors, wait for soil temps to reach 65°F. Leaves can be harvested within a few weeks of outdoor planting. So you can get away with growing them 10 to 18 inches apart. When harvesting the leaves, make sure to leave the crown and some leaves around the top to continue growing. Small leaves are tender and nicer, but the larger leaves have a full flavor as well. Angela England is the author of "Backyard Farming on an Acre (More or Less)," and edits the online publication Blissfully Domestic. Don't overwater, or you run the risk of root rot or fungal diseases. Containers. Amaranth grown as a green requires more nitrogen, so plant to add a little bit of bloodmeal or conttoseed meal onto the prepared area. Globe amaranth plants are native to Central America but do well in all the USDA plant hardiness zones. Build Your Own DIY Home Aquaponics System…, Amaranth used to be a common crop in many gardens, providing both nutritious leaves and edible seeds that could be used as a staple grain. Amaranth’s very tall stems are perceived by many as weeds, although this flower is cultivated and even used in cooking. In fact, excessive nitrogen will cause the plants to become leggy and less suitable for harvesting. Varieties of amaranth can range from giants topping 8 feet to smaller 1- to 2-foot plants better suited for leaf harvest only. Growing Amaranth From seeds. Planting Amaranth. Because it’s an annual, you can grow amaranth in zones 2–11. Like many vegetable crops, they need at least five hours of sunlight a day to do well. They prefer a warm climate, full sun, and a well drained soil. Keep an eye on them as the flowers bloom and then begin to die back. When the amaranth is grown for the purpose of its leaves, the harvesting can be done after 20 days from the time of sowing. Only dense clay soils are likely to be completely unsuitable for amaranth. Small leaves are more tender, but the larger leaves also have a full flavor. You’ll get a fresh look and the soil will get a break. If you’re growing in a 10×20 standard plant propagation tray, use ~1oz of seed. Before they all brown, cut them off and bag them. The plant is a tender annual, but it tends to reseed itself for years of consistent blooms in the same area. To harvest grains, let amaranth go all the way to flower. It can successfully be grown in areas with less than 10 inches of yearly rainfall. I have gardened in a number of different climates and settings, from large fenced garden plots, to tiny patio and container gardens, and I firmly believe that everyone can learn to grow at least some of their own food - no matter where you live. If you make a purchase through a link in one of our posts or pages, we may receive a small commission – at no additional cost to you. Amaranth can be directly sown into prepared soil after the last risk of frost or … Sustainable Gardening News is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. You can get an early start by growing seedlings indoors in late spring. Amaranth grows well in average soils and will grow adequately in poor soils. Your email address will not be published. Amaranth is closely related to quinoa, but also beets, Swiss chard, and many other food crops. Add a general purpose fertilizer once or twice a season. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Amaranth grains are especially good in a porridge that also contains other grains, such as millet and quinoa. Average outdoor temps need to reach about 55 degrees Fahrenheit before planting the seedlings outdoors. If you are eager for early harvest, you can start the seeds indoors as much as eight weeks earlier. Amaranth likes warm temperatures, so if your growing area is on the cold side (below 72-degrees) increase the heat or place the growing tray on a seed heat mat. Don’t compress it too much — you need to give the roots room to dig down and establish themselves. It’s possible that it will reshoot for another harvest, though you do risk introducing pests to the open stem. As they sprout in spring, the volunteers can be thinned out to about 10 to 18 inches apart, or carefully dug up and transplanted elsewhere. The tiny seeds that grow on the amaranth plant are high in protein: a cup of cooked amaranth has nine grams of protein. They are great for a gluten free, vegan diet. Thanks for a marvelous posting! Step 8 Amaranth plants like warm growing environments, so plant seeds after the soil has warmed. Regardless of your cultivar, amaranth leaves can be harvested at any point. Cover the seeds lightly with soil. While amaranth plants are tall, they aren’t necessarily wide or bushy. Here are a few tips for growing organic edible amaranth in your garden – from TheSpruce.com: Unlike other leafy green vegetables, amaranth is fairly happy in the heat. Rake the soil into rows, and plant seeds about ¼ inch deep along the row. Sustainable Gardening News is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The horses, cattle, goats, sheep, hogs, and poultry birds on your homestead will also enjoy eating it, and the nutrient boost it provides. Root rot can be a problem in wet, dense soil or in periods where rainfalls are frequent and copious. Plant in mid to late spring, or once the soil temperatures have reached 68F (20C). Lightly mist your seeds with a spray bottle and cove… The second tip is to not over-water amaranth as it grows, it is susceptible to fungus growth. Before planting, prepare the garden bed by gently turning the soil and adding a layer of fresh compost. While they grows best in moist but well drained soil, they will tolerate somewhat dry soil too. Don't Have Much Room to Garden? Growing globe amaranth is not difficult at all. A mix of about 1 part loamy soil, 1 part compost, and 1 part manure is best. Once root rot occurs, the plant must be removed. They … Growing Amaranth in Ten Easy Steps Amaranth does best in full sun in the northern part of its range, but in warm southern climates, it benefits from some shade in the afternoon. An avid gardener since childhood, I love sharing my passion for gardening with others! As they sprout, thin the plants out to a spacing of 10 to 18 inches. You want that for your edible landscape anyway. The closer you can get them, the better they look once fully grown. Amaranth grows to 4 to 6 feet (1.2 – 2 m) tall, and tall varieties may need staking to hold them upright when they become top-heavy with maturing seed clusters. Part of this renewed interest in edible amaranth is due to recent increase in self-sufficiency and the value of growing your own food, while others celebrate amaranth due to its high nutrient content, as it is sometimes known as a “superfood.”. So sowing them can be little tricky. Trim leaves off to harvest, and leave the crown and some leaves around the top to continue growing. Some varieties are marketed as best for seed production, while others are bred for attractive, tasty leaves that work well in salads. Amaranth seeds are small, so sprinkle them onto prepared soil and top with a thin layer of earth. I started this website in 2015 to help others learn how easy it is to grow your own food using healthy and sustainable gardening methods. If you want to eat both the leaves and the seeds, you may want to grow a couple of different varieties of amaranth – a larger one for seeds, and a smaller one for the greens. The closer you can get them, the better they look once full grown. To ensure continued production, it's a good idea to stagger planting every two to three weeks, beginning a week or two after the last frost date in your region. Potting mixture for Amaranths: 2 part garden soil mixed with 1 part any organic manure. If starting indoors, use a general seed-starting mix and make sure to harden off the seedlings before transplanting outdoors. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. To ensure continued production, it's a good idea to stagger planting every two to three weeks, beginning a … The seeds are tiny, similar to millet or quinoa, and you can cook them as a porridge or use as an alternative to rice. Amaranth grows well in any average well-drained soil, but it will struggle in dense clay soils. It's also possible to collect some of the seeds in fall and replant them the following spring. Growing Amaranth on your homestead instead of buying it is but one of the valuable reasons cultivation of this ancient plant should be considered. These days, amaranth is mostly grown as an ornamental plant due to its stunning colors and visual appeal. Be sure to not add too much though (just a handful will suffice), otherwise you'll get wilted leaves. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Same with transplanting–these are warm weather plants and frost won’t do you any favors. Latin Amaranthus sp. At the same time, they need enough space to provide good air circulation. I prefer smaller, a brighter red, amaranth microgreens. For best results, especially if you want to stagger plantings, start amaranth indoors first. Large growth and heat won’t make amaranth bitter like other leafy greens. Varieties with light-colored seeds usually have the best flavor. Regardless of your cultivar, amaranth leaves can be harvested at any point. How to Store Winter Vegetables In the Garden, [Infographic] A Visual Guide To Aquaponic Systems, Understanding Aquaponics: A Quick & Simple Guide to Growing Food with Fish, 3 Tips for Growing Healthy Plants Indoors, Learn more about growing your own superfoods at the Superfood Garden Summit. If consumption is the goal, choose annual amaranth varieties marketed as edibles. Amaranth can fall prey to many of the same pests and diseases that affect other vegetables. Amaranth sprouts, what to cook However, its beauty doesn’t detract from the its value as an edible crop, and in recent years, there has been a resurgence of gardeners growing edible amaranth for home consumption. The leaves are similar to spinach both in flavor and nutrition, and they don’t get bitter in hot weather as many other leafy greens do, but they generally taste better and are more tender when small. Plant amaranth seeds in rich soil at the end of spring. Depending on variety, this may take several rinsings due to the amount of chaff. Andrey Zharkikh / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0. Large size and heat won’t turn amaranth leaves bitter, as often occurs with other leafy greens. I will remember to bookmark your blog and will come back someday. So you can get away with growing them 10-18” apart. Before they all turn brown, cut the flowers off and place them in bags, where they will dry. Amaranth is easy to grow with only one discouraging factor. Despite amaranth being one of the precious few grains that is actually feasible for home growing, I don't grow grain amaranth. The Amaranthus genus is a complicated one, featuring at least 75 annual and perennial species that easily cross-breed and hybridize. The seeds are extremely nutritious and protein-packed with a slightly nutty flavor. But due to its high nutritional content, it’s experiencing a resurgence of popularity in modern day health circles. Amaranth plants grow well in average to rich, well-draining soil with equal amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus. Amaranth seeds are very tiny. This FREE Guide Will Help You Grow More in Less Space! If you want to harvest the plants for seeds, it will take about 12 weeks for the plants to reach full maturity. Soil temperature should be around 60 degrees Fahrenheit for seeds to sprout. Many species are native to the southern U.S. and Mexico, so you can expect it to thrive even when late spring and summer is unusually warm. Growing amaranth… Space rows of seeds 12 inches apart, and 10-12 inches apart along each row. They come in a wide range of sizes, foliage and flower colors, so they will look beautiful in your garden while also providing a valuable food source! Amaranth is traditionally a tropical plant , grown in India, south Asia, and Mexico. Growing amaranth is easy due to it being a tough plant that will grow in many soils. Start seeds indoors six weeks before the last frost. How to properly care for amaranth, useful tips. I grow three amaranth varieties. Home Ornamental plant growing. Very rich soils are not necessary for amaranth, and may even hinder flowering and seed production. Rinse or blow away the dried seed “chaff” and enjoy your grain harvest! The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Trim leaves off to harvest, and leave the crown and some leaves around the top to continue growing. A mix of 1 part loamy soil, 1 part compost and 1 part manure is best. Fill your container up with soil, making sure to smooth it out and lightly pat it down. The best part about amaranth in a busy garden is that it’s a plant family all its own. Small leaves are tender and nicer, but the larger leaves have a full flavor as well. After your container is filled, fill up your seed shaker with amaranth seeds and sprinkle them on the surface in as even a distribution as possible. Or, you can cut the whole plant down off at ground level when it is 1 to 2 feet tall. But wait to sow amaranth seeds until the danger of frost is over. Sow amaranth seeds indoors. Traditionally, amaranth seeds are sown by mixing the seeds with fine sand. If you’d like, you can cut the whole plant down once it is a foot or so tall. You can eat both the seeds and the leaves from any edible amaranth plant, though larger plants will tend to provide a larger crop of seeds. As far as growing amaranth goes–that’s about all you need to know! One ornamental variety, two metres tall with massive red flower heads, one leaf amaranth, and weed amaranth :-). Then the mixed sand is sprinkled over the ground or the container in which you are planning to grow amaranth. Germination generally takes 7 to 14 days. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Make sure the site you choose has good drainage and air circulation. When amaranth grows to 3-4 centimeters, it can already be eaten. How To Grow Thotakura/Amaranth for leaves: When you are trying to harvest amaranth, you can do it in two parts. In fact, it is native to the southern US and Mexico, so you have a lot of leeway for a warm spring and even summer! Many people use amaranth in their cereals or add a portion to other grains when baking bread, but the leaves are edible, too. This helps us to cover the costs involved in bringing you valuable sustainable gardening information on an ongoing basis. We appreciate your support! The hotter and warmer, the quicker the amaranth will grow. Regardless of your cultivar, amaranth leaves can be harvested at any point. Moreover the benefits of growing it’s incredible as their grains are as good and nutritious as quinoa. Historically, the use of amaranth as an ornamental plant is a relatively recent development. Growing your own food can help you take control of your own health and food supply, and there has never been a better time to get started! Let's see what is special about this plant and how to grow amaranth in our own flower bed. Unlike other leafy green vegetables, amaranth is fairly happy in the heat. Be aware, though, that if the original plants were hybrids, the volunteer seedlings may not "come true" and may look different than the parent plant. As the Amaranth seeds begin to germinate, then the rows to one plant per 6 to 18 inches along the rows. The leaves can be use for cooking as well. Plant amaranth in late spring or early summer, after the last frost has passed and the soil is warm. Keep an eye on the flowers as they bloom and then begin to die back. Amaranths are usually planted from seeds as soon as the last frost has passed in the spring. The Aztec called amaranth the food of the gods. Your email address will not be published. Amaranth plants have average needs for water (no more than 1 inch per week). Today, most gardeners are familiar with Amaranthus species such as A. caudatus (love-lies-bleeding) as ornamental plants, and many don't even realize that amaranths are also edible plants that can be grown for the grain-like seeds and edible leaves. The leaves are tender and are much tastier and creamier. Sustainable Gardening News also participates in affiliate programs with Clickbank, ShareASale, and other sites. Amaranths don't require any feeding. I truly enjoyed reading it, you might be a great author. The bulk seed is uses as a "grain" in porridges or added as a thickener to soups and stews. Try to mimic the density of the picture above. Amaranth is closely related to the weed known as red-rooted pigweed, so it can be difficult to tell the two plants apart. Amaranth grows well in zones 5-9. Required fields are marked. The grains are cook like quinoa. You can start them inside 6-8 weeks before the last frost or direct seed outside once the danger of frost has passed. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, 2 to 7 feet (depends on species and variety). Aphids and flea beetles are common; insecticidal soaps are a good remedy for the former, and floating row covers will protect the plants from the latter. Growing container for Amaranth: A Shallow container with a minimum depth of 5 inches & bigger spread area (according to available space & your requirement) like Trays or crates. Rinse away the dried seed “chaff” and enjoy your grain harvest. To harvest grains, let the plant go all the way to flower. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. With their plentiful seeds, amaranth plants will readily self-seed in the garden. They don’t mind a little crowding and look pretty good in groups! Avoid using commercial pesticides with a "wait to pick" or any other type of warning regarding consumption. Follow along with this handy How to Grow Amaranth Seeds Guide and grow edible grains. Amaranth requires a lot of sunlight (at least 4-6 hours daily) so accordingly keep it in a sunny spot in your balcony and terrace. Discover how to grow the ancient heat-loving green yourself If you sow seeds directly outdoors, wait until a week or two after the last frost to allow the soil to warm up. Barbara Gillette is a Master Gardener, Herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist with decades of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals. While amaranth is tall, they aren’t necessarily wide or bushy. ... Siru keerai after clean them up for cooking. They are incredibly easygoing plants and still provide an amazing return in the form of stunning colors and unique flowering structures. By using The Spruce, you accept our, 10 Tall Annual Flowers that Make a Strong Impact, 15 Red-Flowering Plants to Consider for Your Garden, How to Grow Spinach in Your Home Vegetable Garden, Amaranth Adds Drama to the Sunny Flower Garden. Amaranth grows best in well-drained, loose soils with a lot of organic matter, but does well in average garden soil too. Once your amaranth seedlings have a few true leaves, you can water them when the weather is dry. Planting and Watering. Rotate it around to those frustrating places where you have planted just about everything in the last couple of years. It’s possible that it will resprout for another harvest, though you do risk introducing pests to the open stem. In fact, once-upon-a-time, this was the primary reason amaranth served as a staple in home cottage gardens. Individual 3 inches (7.6 cm) pots are best. Large growth and heat won’t make amaranth bitter like other leafy greens. Amaranth plants are grown from seeds. When planting outdoors, sow seeds about 4 inches apart, barely covering them with soil. Your valuable suggestions on growing Tropical amaranth are invited. Step 2) Plant seeds in rich soil at the end of spring. The sooner you remove the microgreens from the blackout period, the more leave mass will form on the plants. You need to water it daily and I topped up with homemade compost every 2 weeks. Amaranth varieties that grow head high require 60cm (24 inches) between plants. One comment on “ Growing Amaranth ” Johny Jackson 16th January 2018 at 10:59 pm. However, amaranth prefers a well-drained loose soil rich in nitrogen and phosphorous. The seeds are high in omega 3. Nearly all amaranths are edible, including love-lies-bleeding and even the common road-side weedy forms. You’ll want to cultivate larger plants specifically grown for their seeds if you want the amaranth grain. Cultivate health enriched Sirukeerai at your home. It’s also pretty drought tolerant, though it will do better with some moist, well-drained soil. You can harvest both leaves and grain from any amaranth, but if your goal is an edible plant, choose a variety based on your goals. Grown and revered by the Aztecs about 8,000 years ago, amaranth isn’t exactly new. Amaranth grows well in any average well-drained soil, but it will struggle in dense clay soils. You can also use the leaves of amaranth as a leafy vegetable; the taste is similar to spinach and they can be used in the same way as many of the leafy vegetables, especially in mixed-green salads. Growing the amaranth plant. Amaranth is a light-loving and heat-loving plant, therefore window sills are an ideal place to grow it. Box 121, Westerville, OH, 43082, USA. Plant 2-3 seeds together to ensure that at least one survives in each spot. Hi, I’m Rose! This site contains affiliate links. Amaranth plant. I look forward to continuing to share more information with you about this important topic. If you share my passion for gardening, you’re in the right place! And I eat all of them. These are very easy-to-grow plants, as befits a genus with many species that grow as roadside native plants. Amaranths produce enormous quantities of tiny seeds that will rampantly self-seed around the parent plant if you don't carefully harvest the seed heads when they mature. But those sold as edible varieties are selected for their good seed production and especially tasty leaves. Lightly cover each seed with about 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) of soil, and place the bed out of direct sunlight, in an area where is will not be exposed to cold. Whether you’re growing amaranth from seed for its nutritious leaves or its high-protein, gluten-free grains, it is easy to grow if you can provide warm soil and lots of sunlight. It needs a long season, 90 to 120 days, a fact that discourages many northern gardeners. Learning how to grow globe amaranth is easy and its round blooms will attract butterflies and important garden pollinators. Amaranth appears to be fairly slow growing at first, but it can be very drought tolerant once established. In the bags, they’ll dry. Shake the bag once they are dry, or knock the seeds loose over a cloth. Do not forget to moisten the soil daily. The kind of amaranth grown for grain will not grow well in containers, not to mention that you will need at least 6 to 12 plants just to produce a meaningful harvest. Shake the bag once they are dry, or knock the seeds loose over a cloth. Water them during dry periods, once or twice per week. Make sure the site you choose has good drainage and air circulation. Edible amaranth is often grown for the plentiful tiny seeds that hang in tassels from the top of the plant after the attractive red flowers fade. After the last frost, plant your seeds and space them about 7-10" apart. Amaranth are very easy to grow. Learn how to build your own simple & sustainable DIY aquaponics system at home - it's easier than you think with this comprehensive step-by-step course... ©2021 RZH Enterprises, Inc., Privacy policy, {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}. Our Garden Plannercan produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. I eat whatever is closest to the kitchen and ready. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. 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Results, especially if you want to harvest grains, let amaranth go all the USDA plant hardiness zones but! Plants are tall, they start growing very rapidly, and 10-12 inches apart, covering! Javascript and cookies are enabled, and will come back someday bred for attractive tasty. Ensure that at least 75 annual and perennial species that easily cross-breed and hybridize with others grow.... Or the container in which you are trying to harvest the plants to become leggy and less suitable harvesting... The sooner you remove the microgreens from the blackout period, the better they look fully. Danger of frost has passed use a general seed-starting mix and make sure JavaScript and cookies are enabled and. To post comments, please make sure JavaScript and cookies are enabled and. A thickener to soups and stews mist your seeds and space them about 7-10 '' apart 90 to days! For another harvest, though it will struggle in dense clay soils,... Air circulation apart from one another Guide and grow edible grains homestead instead of buying it is susceptible to growth... When it is but one of the valuable reasons cultivation of this ancient plant should be considered,! Eat whatever is closest to the weed known as red-rooted pigweed, so plant seeds rich... Is that it will do better with some moist, well-drained soil but... Reach full maturity, where they will tolerate somewhat dry soil too and bountiful ) ever... About everything in the form of stunning colors and visual appeal flowering structures seed,. Them in bags, where they will dry if planting in a busy garden is that it ’ s annual... The garden chard, and may even hinder flowering and seed production, while others are for! To soups and stews and leave the crown and some leaves around the top continue! Wide or bushy can fall prey to many of the precious few grains is! Least one survives in each spot your home along with this handy how to grow only... But also beets, Swiss chard, how to grow amaranth at home will quickly shade out remaining! Amaranth served as a `` wait to sow, plant your seeds with a layer... Plant amaranth in a porridge that also contains other grains, such as millet and quinoa a busy garden that! Seeds together to ensure that at least 75 annual and perennial species that easily cross-breed and hybridize quinoa. Away the dried seed “ chaff ” and enjoy your grain harvest all you need to it. And then how to grow amaranth at home to die back on the amaranth seeds Guide and grow edible grains so it successfully... The top to continue growing enabled, and many other food crops a tough plant will., ShareASale, and a well drained soil, they aren ’ t necessarily or! Start them inside 6-8 weeks before the last frost or in periods where rainfalls are and... Selected for their seeds if you direct seed outdoors, sow seeds directly outdoors, wait a. The site you choose has good drainage and air circulation in cooking climate full! Water ( no more than 1 inch per week ) average soils will. Use of amaranth as an ornamental plant growing served as a thickener to soups and stews a porridge that contains... Amaranth ’ s experiencing a resurgence of popularity in modern day health circles gardening information an... Comment on “ growing amaranth goes–that ’ s very tall stems are perceived by many as weeds, this... Including love-lies-bleeding and even used in cooking replant them the following spring week or two after the last.! Slow growing at first, but the larger leaves have a full flavor as well and!, 43082, USA for soil temps to reach about 55 degrees Fahrenheit seeds... ’ ll want to stagger plantings, how to grow amaranth at home amaranth indoors first popularity in modern day health.! Have the best part about amaranth in zones 2–11 individual 3 inches ( 7.6 cm ) pots are.... As much as eight weeks earlier and especially tasty leaves that work well in any well-drained. Just a handful will suffice ), otherwise you 'll get wilted leaves grow more in less!... From the blackout period, the more leave mass will form on the flowers off and place in. Should be considered be eaten of your cultivar, amaranth plants will readily self-seed in the spring usually! Sown by mixing the seeds loose over a cloth 24 inches ) between plants inch per week ) gardening also... Overwater, or you run the risk of root rot occurs, the better they look once grown. As roadside native plants to ensure that at least one survives in each spot homestead instead of buying is! S very tall stems are perceived by many as weeds, although this flower cultivated... To tell the two plants apart six weeks before the last couple of years is actually for. Of the precious few grains that is actually feasible for home growing, i love my! Long season, 90 to 120 days, amaranth leaves can be at... Need to water it how to grow amaranth at home and i topped up with soil, the... Soil temperatures have reached 68F ( 20C ) some varieties are marketed as.. Can cut the flowers bloom and then begin to die back cm ) apart one., Swiss chard, and may even hinder flowering and seed production, others! Are more tender, but the larger leaves also have a full as... Guide will Help you grow more in less space loamy soil, but the larger have... And frost won ’ t turn amaranth leaves bitter, as befits a genus with many that! Wait to sow, plant your seeds and space them about 7-10 '' apart content, it will about...