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 S S
T T T             T T T
P P             P P P P

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

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed

September: sow after risk of frost has gone

  • 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

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.
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.
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?
23 Apr 21, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Amber, it would be cheaper and more effective to use a bamboo trellis.
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
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
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
21 Mar 15, Mel Murphy (Australia - temperate climate)
I wish to grow amaranth for seed production and I want to know if there is a variety that does not grow much taller than 1 metre. Please let me know by email. Thank you
21 Dec 14, parvi (Australia - temperate climate)
What sort of soil and fertiliser is best for Amaranthus, Kind Regards Parvi
07 May 14, Georgina (Australia - temperate climate)
I was given a red amaranth plant in a pot. Should i keep it in the pot until september or would it be okay to plant now? Also have bunching onions, garden mint and green basil. was hoping to put them all in the same planter box. ?
Showing 11 - 20 of 68 comments

Nola, www.theseedcollection.com.au has several types!

- Shirley Chang

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