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 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
  • Amaranth flowers
  • Amaranth seedling (CC BY-SA 3.0 Bruce Ackley, Ohio State University)

Amaranth species are frequently grown as flower plants and have many colour variations.

Amaranth tricolor is known as Chinese spinach and has an insignificant flower.

Needs a warm sunny position. Avoid heavy soils. Poor germination rates are common.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Amaranth

Both leaves and seeds can be used. Excessive intake is not recommended.
Suggestions for use and warnings can be found here http://en. wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranth

Your comments and tips

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I find placing a bag over the heads once formed and gripping it closed is effective. Shake rattle n roll then check. Repeat until you're satisfied with you collection. Pop inside, gently ease into container or a jug. Then tip into a fine mesh colander, and hand-sort any rubbish (stick that into your mulch bin or whatever).Shake it around until yr satisfied. I keep my amaranth seeds in zip-top bags. Easy to sprinkle or sow. I thought the bag might sweat. It didn't. I put it in the pantry away from light.

- Jane

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