Growing Amaranth, also Love-lies-bleeding

Amaranthus caudatus : Amaranthaceae / the amaranth family

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

(Best months for growing Amaranth in Australia - tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 18°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 50 cm apart
  • Harvest in 7-8 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Onions, corn, peppers, egg plant, tomatoes

Your comments and tips

02 May 22, Jane (Australia - tropical climate)
You can also use the seeds in salads, soups etc. Careful, they can pop a bit.
03 Mar 11, JP (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Amaranth is known in South Africa as 'Marogo' and considered somewhat of a delicacy by the indigenous people, to the extent that it has become scarce in most areas. It readily sows itself, especially when eaten by cattle it grows very strongly from the manure. I recommend growing it in compost, and harvesting while young and tender.
07 May 13, PF (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Marogo is a generic term given to all leafy plants that can be cooked like spinach.
16 Feb 11, Adrian (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
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.
30 Jan 11, Bronwyn ( Australia0 (Australia - temperate climate)
I have these coming up each year about December and they flower right thru to first or second frost..they grow up to 3 metres high in my area and are absolutely stunning and they self seed each year in December...but beware they self seed every year ....grow in pots or any sort of soil and just keep on coming.
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,
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.
Showing 41 - 50 of 68 comments

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