Growing Amaranth, also Love-lies-bleeding

Amaranthus caudatus : Amaranthaceae / the amaranth family

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

(Best months for growing Amaranth in USA - Zone 7b regions)

  • 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

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07 Feb 17, Derek Wright (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Anywhere in SA that I can buy Amaranthus seeds, red and green
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08 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
I would check the internet. there are a lot of seed companies that have alternative, heritage and less common seeds. You may also get them from a community garden or permaculture group. One seed supplier in SA is www.organicseeds.co.za but there a a number of other suppliers listing them on the internet. Trust this helps.
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05 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Where did amaranths orginate from
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06 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Amaranth originated in Central America and was used by the Aztecs for thousands of years. It is often called an 'ancient grain' but is not actually a cereal. Trust this helps.
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16 Oct 19, Darko (Australia - temperate climate)
Amaranth growing wild for centuries all over Balkans and am not sure if this is the same variety but we had it before Columbus and eat at emergency situation, wars, famine... Before converting to Christianity.
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06 Jun 16, Amber (USA - Zone 10b climate)
I was intending to use amaranth as a companion plant to work as a trellis for beans. It just recently reached a foot, and today I just noticed a flower stalk coming up. If I cut off the flower stalk is there a chance on it continuing to grow taller? Will the flower stalk be tall and strong enough to work as a trellis? Or should I just figure on putting posts in the ground to grow the beans?
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23 Apr 21, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Amber, it would be cheaper and more effective to use a bamboo trellis.
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18 May 16, caryl (Australia - temperate climate)
please tell me what type of soil is best do i add worm castings and manure asvwell as compost
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06 Mar 16, jibsoz (Australia - temperate climate)
I heard Amaranth is good to grow as a sacrificial plant. Plant amongst veggies so the bugs eat them not your veggies
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20 Mar 16, Sue (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have a beautiful red and green large leaf variety in my veg garden but it does self seed readily so be careful
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Showing 31 - 40 of 94 comments
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almost if not all amaranth such as palmer amaranth, prostrate pigweed, Powell amaranth and many more are all able to self seed and germinate, as such they are classified as weeds more than as a horticultural crop. The winter actually helps them with that, it puts them into a dormant stage which is required prior to them germinating the next year. of course if there is a quick warm time and then it gets cold again the seed could start germinating too early and ultimately die off prior to the right temperatures staying. But in most cases the first reason above is why they autoreplenish at a incredible rate.

- CoffeeLover76

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