Growing Amaranth, also Love-lies-bleeding

Amaranthus caudatus : Amaranthaceae / the amaranth family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec

Not recommended for growing in USA - Zone 5a regions

  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 64°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 20 inches apart
  • Harvest in 7-8 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Onions, corn, peppers, egg plant, tomatoes

Your comments and tips

18 Jan 11, star7 (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Amaranth stems, young, steamed for a few minutes are delicious, succulent and have an unusual flavour - they smell like sweet earth when cooked - definitely worth growing,
05 Jan 11, Liz (Australia - temperate climate)
This is a message for Mike who wants to change his zone - you didn't include yr email address - Scroll to the end of your reminder email and click on the change details tab - You can change zone there.
10 Nov 10, David (Australia - temperate climate)
I was having problems locating the seeds in Perth. Bunnings did not have them and my local Waldecks had never heard of Amaranth. I finally managed to buy them on ebay. The seller has a website - australianseed.com Does anyone have any tips on how to get seeds to germinate successfully?
13 Feb 12, karen (Australia - temperate climate)
just throw them into the ground and walk away, this is what i did then a year later i had ample supply and have done a second time around they do self seed once they get started. I threw seeds in august and had amaranth by February. Good luck as they do look wonderful and i will try eating them soon.
06 Sep 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
Chia seeds from Kakulus Bros in William Street will grow into Amarantus- I ended up with different types according to Black, white etc Chia seeds... found out by accident when the moths got into the seed in my cupboard and I threw it into my chicken coop! Some of them reached 3m tall, careful though they are difficult to harvest and come up everywhere!
02 May 22, Jane (Australia - tropical climate)
Chia does not grow into amaranth. Beets, chard, and amaranth belong to the same family (they are not grain). Qinoa also belongs to the Amaranthae family.
11 Nov 10, Sri (Australia - temperate climate)
With Amaranth you need to use a seed raising mix but dont raise them in a tray they do best direct sown. Keep the soil moist until they germinate (nice sunny spot),i recommend you thin them out to 30cm spaces between plants as they grow and be prepared for them to get as tall as 8-9 feet tall if your soil is high in nitrogen.
02 Nov 10, Annie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I bought amaranth seeds from the health store in Hobart. About $5 per kilo
04 Nov 10, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Were they unblanched viable seed? I've only found blanched (and therefore dead and ungrowable) in our local store.
11 Nov 10, Sri (Australia - temperate climate)
If your looking for Amaranth seeds try diggers.com there and aussie company and have large range of seeds and they have an online shop
Showing 71 - 80 of 94 comments

you don't NEED seed raising mix (if fact you don't NEED it for almost anything). Buying stuff like that is completely unnecessary. Just plant in reasonably fine, moist soil, even just scatter it over the top after raking and water. THe seeds are fine but should germinate really well.. we are currently weeding all of the excess amaranth.

- Adrian

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