General Culture: Click for monthly care information.
Sow seeds in full sun about 1" apart in warm (70 degrees F) fertile, well-drained soil, covering lightly with fine soil or thin sprinkling of grass mulch to hold the small seeds in place. Thin to 6" apart in rows 12" apart. Best results are obtained if plants are provided ample water and fertilizer, especially nitrogen, to promote leaf growth. Pinch off terminal buds to encourage branching, harvest individual leaves and cut back to 6" to encourage lateral growth for successive harvests. Cut young tender leaves once or twice a week until plants start to set seeds.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Originating in South Central Mexico, amaranth now has worldwide distribution. It produces generous quantities of large tender and nutritious oval leaves (medium-green overlaid with a burgundy cast and resembling coleus).
Those strains identified as vegetable amaranth are selected for their culinary attributes. Others, identified usually as Joseph’s-coat cultivars, have been selected for their colorful foliage.
Problems: Click for detailed list of pests and problems.
Chewing insects such as cucumber beetles and Japanese beetles may damage leaves. Floating row covers can be affective deterrents.
Uses:
Amaranthus are excellent raw in salads, used as a steamed vegetable, and included in soups and stews. Other strains of Amaranthus tricolor bear large leaves in brilliant shades of red, yellow, bronze and green on handsome plants reaching up to 6 feet high. They make a strong statement in large borders, in large beds, and even in pots.
© Missouri Botanical
Garden, 2001-2010
(0 ratings) --- 