Many species are native to the southern U.S. and Mexico, so you can expect it to thrive even when late spring and summer is unusually warm. Don’t miss a single issue of Mother Earth Gardener. Amaranth nearly disappeared from the region after this practice was forbidden by the Spanish in the 15th century. Amaranths don't require any feeding. ‘Hopi Red Dye’ (A. cruentus) is a versatile heirloom amaranth — the flowers produce a deep red dye, and the plants supply large quantities of black seeds that are excellent as a grain. • Access to exclusive online content -- seasonal recipes, organic pest control & more. Amaranth is an annual and grows very rapidly, but if your frost-free season is short and you’re eager to grow it for grain, you can step up the process by starting the seeds indoors in late April. Some amaranth species produce an edible seed head that forms a fuzzy spikelet. Amaranth greens nutrition facts. Amend the soil with a light application of compost when preparing the planting site, but don’t worry about adding any other fertilizer later on. Nearly all amaranths are edible, including love-lies-bleeding and even the common road-side weedy forms. Don't overwater, or you run the risk of root rot or fungal diseases. Palmer's Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) is wild, edible and nutritious food. In fact, excessive nitrogen will cause the plants to become leggy and less suitable for harvesting. The same goes for the gomphrena (bachelor's button) and celosia (cock's comb or woolflower) species. Summary of Invasiveness Top of page. This powerhouse plant will pump out nutty-tasting seeds and spinach-flavored leaves throughout the growing season, while its seedheads add interest to your garden. Today, most gardeners are familiar with Amaranthus species such as A. caudatus (love-lies-bleeding) as ornamental plants, and many don't even realize that amaranths are also edible plants that can be grown for the grain-like seeds and edible leaves. Winter Herbal Remedies from the Medicinal Garden, Fabled Heirloom Potatoes from the High Andes. Spiny amaranth has edible leaves and might be a medicine and sex aid. You can pick them as microgreens as soon as they sport two sets of true leaves, or you can wait and harvest baby leaves for fresh salads. Varieties of amaranth can range from giants topping 8 feet to smaller 1- to 2-foot plants better suited for leaf harvest only. Thankfully, its propensity to spread isn’t shared by all amaranth species. • Special discounted prices on tools, kits, and hands-on resources in the Mother Earth Gardener Store Home gardeners can grow amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) For example, Chinese amaranth leaves contain three times the amount of both calcium and niacin (vitamin B3) compared to regular spinach leaves. for grain and microgreens. This is a crop that likes the heat! Other cultivated varieties with green leaves are sometimes cultivated as a potherb. Amaranth leaves can be eaten raw or used as a spinach substitute in any dish. Grain amaranth species tend to grow fairly large, and many will top out at a height of 5 to 7 feet. Red Stripe Leaf Edible Amaranth Plant. Aphids are another potential problem, but you can easily dispatch them with strong blasts of water from the garden hose or an application of insecticidal soap. Damping off can be an issue in newly-emerged seedlings, so select a site with good drainage, be sure plants are watered judiciously, and offer proper air circulation. Be aware, though, that if the original plants were hybrids, the volunteer seedlings may not "come true" and may look different than the parent plant. Keep an eye on the flowers as they bloom and then begin to die back. Palmer Amaranth, leaf petiole is as long as leaf or longer. Look for gorgeous A. caudatus ‘Green Tails,’ which has bright green drooping flower plumes, or the well-known A. caudatus ‘Love-Lies-Bleeding’ — its deep red flower plumes are an absolute standout in hanging baskets. Published by the editors of MOTHER EARTH NEWS, Mother Earth Gardener provides decades of organic gardening experience from the most trusted voices in the field. While the leaves on all 60 varieties of Amaranth are edible, some have prickly spikes on the surface – somewhat like stinging nettle. You may have seen highly-touted amaranth listed as an ingredient on a box of cereal or in baked goods, such as bread, pasta, and crackers. Root rot can also affect amaranth, but you can combat it by regulating water use. Find more Amaranth varieties here. More Details. Amaranthus tricolor is a rapidly growing annual, widely cultivated as a garden plant for its showy, often variegated, distal leaves of striking colours---red, scarlet, maroon, purple, yellow, cream, and green. At the same time, they need enough space to provide good air circulation. Amaranth grows well in average soils and will grow adequately in poor soils. When heated, the seeds can burst like popcorn. Amaranth needs plenty of sunlight to be at its most productive, so you should choose a site with a minimum of six hours of full sun. The cooked leaves can be used variously as simple green side dishes, in quiches, green Mediterranean-style pies, bruschetta toppings, pestos, soups, and saags. The youngest leaves have the best flavor and texture, but even the large, old leaves can be chopped up and included in any food needing a vegetable. • Heirloom seed-saving techniques The common garden and lawn denizen, redroot pigweed (A. retroflexus) is a member of the genus. Due to the brilliant red color of its seedlings, ‘Hopi Red Dye’ is also prized as a microgreen. You often hear amaranth called an ancient grain because it was once grown and harvested by Aztec and Inca civilizations. Not only are its leaves delectable, its seeds are also edible and nutritious as well. Register Today! Look for gorgeous. One of the most commonly grown and top-producing grain cultivars is ‘Burgundy’ ( A. hypochondriacus), which has dark purple leaves, red flowers, and white seeds. Purslane. Depending on variety, this may take several rinsings due to the amount of chaff. Select Amaranth leaves that have small thin stems and lack any flower buds. Older leaves may be enjoyed steamed, sautéed, or baked in a variety of dishes, in the same way you would use spinach, beet greens, and Swiss chard. of Fla. EDIS: Amaranth viridis, Calalu, Smooth Amaranth, leaves can notched. Become a Preferred Subscriber and start enjoying the benefits today! Angela England is the author of "Backyard Farming on an Acre (More or Less)," and edits the online publication Blissfully Domestic. With their plentiful seeds, amaranth plants will readily self-seed in the garden. Make sure the site you choose has good drainage and air circulation. The differences are more or less cultural preferences, as all types are edible and highly nutritious. The Aztecs, who called amaranth huauhtli, used it as food and in religious ceremonies. While amaranth plants are tall, they aren’t necessarily wide or bushy. Amaranth seeds are harvested in fall and cleaned, sorted, and packaged for sale as a food that's cooked much like quinoa (a relative of amaranth). Allow the seedheads to sit in a dry spot indoors for up to a week. [tweet_quote] Amaranth is a vibrantly colored plant, and both its seeds and leaves are edible. The leaves are high in vitamin A & C, assorted necessary minerals and also fiber. Vlita (βλήτα) in Greek: Smooth Amaranth’s leaves can have chevrons. It's also possible to collect some of the seeds in fall and replant them the following spring. Barbara Gillette is a Master Gardener, Herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist with decades of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals. The plant develops long flowers, which can be upright or trailing depending on the variety. For fresh salads, you can harvest amaranth leaves as a microgreen after they sport two true leaves, or pick baby leaves. Store the harvested dried seed in glass jars for up to six months in a refrigerator or in a dry location out of direct sunlight. Nearly all amaranths are edible, including love-lies-bleeding and even the common road-side weedy forms. Most amaranth cultivars are harvestable 100 to 120 days after sowing. Rinse away the dried seed “chaff” and enjoy your grain harvest. You won’t want to miss the stories about plants passed down from generation to generation. It even has medicinal qualities. For one, any plant that survives the onslaught of toxic petro-pesticides will most likely harbor the toxic constituents of the pesticide and pass them on to whomever eats the plant.Amaranth also has a propensity to accumulate nitrates and oxalates, which can make it unpalatable and unsafe for eating, especially w… Join today and save off the newsstand price! Benefit 1: Treatment of Diarrhea. More Details. Amaranth greens are nutritious, edible leafy vegetables of Central American origin. Can anyone tell me if I need to cold stratify them in order to plant / grow them this summer? Use bypass pruners or sharp scissors to cut off the seedheads, and place them on a large, raised-edge baking sheet lined with newspaper. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board, 2 to 7 feet (depends on species and variety). Andrey Zharkikh / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0. You can pick them as microgreens as soon as they sport two sets of true leaves, or … You can always thin them, and eat the thinnings. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Amaranth cultivars grown mainly as ornamentals are true showstoppers in the garden, with brilliant color and feathery flower plumes. This is a very tasty, healthy plant and shame on them for classifying it as a weed… Photo by Univ. Amaranth grains are especially good in a porridge that also contains other grains, such as millet and quinoa. If you gently shake a seedhead and seeds easily fall off, you’ll know you’ve chosen the right time to harvest. Some amaranth grain is milled into flour. You can harvest both leaves and grain from any amaranth, but if your goal is an edible plant, choose a variety based on your goals. Amaranth is enjoyed by birds, insects, and also makes a great cut flower. The botanical genus name, Amaranthus, (am-a-RANTH-us) comes from the Greek word “amarandos, (Αμάραντος) which means non-fading, since its flowers last a long time. Cultivars grown for use as leaf vegetables are usually harvested when they reach a height of 1 to 2 feet. There are some 60 amaranth species, maybe 70 (it depends on who’s counting.) Cultivated in Mexico thousands of years ago, both the leaves and seeds of amaranth are edible. Try delicious A. tricolor ‘Red Leaf,’ with its thick burgundy foliage, or A. tricolor ‘Joseph’s Coat,’ which has striking red, green, and yellow leaves. The high nutrient content and ease of growing amaranth make it an ideal plant for the future. Find more Amaranth varieties here. That's an amaranth species, Amaranthus caudatus, and yes, the leaves and seeds are edible and nutritious like any other amaranth. (Sadly, little can be done if the growing season is cool and rainy.) Thanks! Don’t forget to harden off tender seedlings before transplanting outdoors in late spring. The seeds of the plants are harvested in fall, and then they’re cleaned, sorted, and packaged for sale as a food that’s cooked much like quinoa (a relative of amaranth). Very rich soils are not necessary for amaranth, and may even hinder flowering and seed production. Amaranth isn't fussy about soil types. Register now to get access to ALL current video workshops and prerecorded webinars plus anything new that we add through the end of 2020. Already a Member but haven't activated your account? Above: Amaranths are nutritious, stuffed with vitamins, folic acid (vitamin B9), minerals, and protein. Amaranth will not grow well in consistently damp plots, so be sure drainage is good in the chosen location. The Amaranthus genus is a complicated one, featuring at least 75 annual and perennial species that easily cross-breed and hybridize. Or, you can cut the whole plant down off at ground level when it is 1 to 2 feet tall. Boil in water with twice the amount of water as grain by volume (or 2.4 times as much water by weight). Many parts of the plants, including the leaves and seeds, are edible, and are frequently used as a source of food in India and South America – where it is the most important Andean species of Amaranthus, known as kiwicha. You’ll want to cultivate larger plants specifically grown for their seeds if you want the amaranth grain. The seeds are a grain that can be eaten. Amaranthaceae, the amaranth family, contains some 174 genera and around 2,500 species distributed worldwide.Its members are typically herbaceous plants or subshrubs, many of which can tolerate poor saline soils.The flowers are often small and borne in dense inflorescences, and the simple leaves are usually arranged alternately along the stem. Five centuries later, during the 1970s, interest in growing amaranth gained traction because of its healthful attributes — amaranth is high in protein and fiber — and today a few thousand acres of the crop are sown annually in the United States. Sheryl Normandeau is a freelance writer and homesteader from Calgary, Alberta. The plant is edible from tender stems through leaves, flowers and seeds. You can try our nutty breakfast alternative to white-flour pancakes. Sow amaranth seed directly into warm soil in late May or early June in most regions. Be sure to harvest amaranth seeds on a dry, warm day, because picking in cool, damp conditions may contribute to rot before you get a chance to use the seed. After the seedheads have completely dried, shake the seed into the pan. Growing Amaranth in Containers. As they sprout, thin the plants out to a spacing of 10 to 18 inches. If you are planting amaranth in containers, make sure your container is at least 10” deep. To ensure continued production, it's a good idea to stagger planting every two to three weeks, beginning a week or two after the last frost date in your region. When harvesting the leaves, make sure to leave the crown and some leaves around the top to continue growing. Amaranth can fall prey to many of the same pests and diseases that affect other vegetables. Amaranth is susceptible to many of the same pests as other vegetables. Amaranth seed can also be popped one tablespoon at a time in a hot pan without oil, shaken every few seconds to avoid burning. First, remember that amaranth produces edible leaves, similar in taste to spinach. Amaranth plants have average needs for water (no more than 1 inch per week). Average outdoor temps need to reach about 55 degrees Fahrenheit before planting the seedlings outdoors. Amaranth doesn’t contain gluten, so it’s becoming increasingly popular among people with gluten intolerance and celiac disease. Amaranth contains more protein than many grains and is high in calcium, antioxidants and minerals. In fact, once-upon-a-time, this was the primary reason amaranth served as a staple in home cottage gardens. In other words, it’s the ideal plant for edible landscaping. It’s important to time the harvest so the plants don’t drop seed onto the planting site, which would encourage innumerable volunteers the following spring. Hopi Red Dye was new to our garden last season and it is a stunning Amaranth. Amaranth greens may be eaten raw or cooked. A pop of color can be important if you’re using amaranth as a microgreen or in a salad mix, especially for restaurant use. It can also have many branches Top of leaf may or may not have a white chevron watermark. The seed and leaves are both edible, tasty and highly nutritious. Certain to turn heads is the fascinating A. tricolor ‘Elephant Head,’ a cultivar that was brought to the United States in the 1800s and is known for its gargantuan upright burgundy seedheads that resemble elephant trunks — beautiful and chock-full of seeds for harvest. If starting indoors, use a general seed-starting mix and make sure to harden off the seedlings before transplanting outdoors. Amaranth is a group of more than 60 different species of grains that have been cultivated for about 8,000 years. Amaranth has been grown continuously in the Americas for thousands of years. You can consume them raw, stir-fried, or sauteed. Large size and heat won’t turn amaranth leaves bitter, as often occurs with other leafy greens. Just wanted to let you know, amaranth is a very popular leafy vegetable eaten in India. Amaranths produce enormous quantities of tiny seeds that will rampantly self-seed around the parent plant if you don't carefully harvest the seed heads when they mature. Delight your taste buds, mind and eyes with beautiful photos and inspirational techniques on everything you need to know to grow, preserve and cook your own heirloom fruits and vegetables. If you are eager for early harvest, you can start the seeds indoors as much as eight weeks earlier. Edible Asian Chinese Red Stripe Tender Round Leaves Amaranth Seeds :18,000 Seeds (15g) by Viablekitchenseeds. They mixed the seeds with honey and occasionally human blood to render images of deities for worship. The leaves with the spikes must be washed thoroughly to remove them before consuming the leaves raw or cooked. As a bonus, amaranth grains can be heated until they pop, much like corn kernels. The leaves of the amaranth have a medicinal value and are used as herb effective for the treatment of ailments such as diarrhea and stopping bleeding. 15 Red-Flowering Plants to Consider for Your Garden, 10 Tall Annual Flowers that Make a Strong Impact, Amaranth Adds Drama to the Sunny Flower Garden. Amaranth leaves and grains were one of the staple foods of Aztecs and Incas in pre-Columbian times. Harvesting Amaranth Plants. Amaranth does best in full sun in the northern part of its range, but in warm southern climates, it benefits from some shade in the afternoon. For a tasty treat, heat amaranth grains until they pop, and mix them with chocolate and nuts. The seeds, like that of quinoa, are high in protein and taste similar to true grains grown from grass seeds. Far from it, the amaranth is a nutritious plant with many health benefits. • Organic gardening tips to improve your health and wellness Purslane can often be found in moist garden beds, lawns, and shady areas, where it lies … The amaranth plant is a grain and greens crop plant. Flea beetles may be deterred by installing a floating row cover after the plants have sprouted. Read on to find out how to harvest amaranth and other information about harvesting amaranth grains. The flowers are used to produce the amaranth grain, while the leaves can be used as amaranth greens. One of the most commonly grown and top-producing grain cultivars is ‘Burgundy’ (, The seeds of most grain amaranths are tiny, ranging from, Amaranth cultivars grown mainly as ornamentals are true showstoppers in the garden, with brilliant color and feathery flower plumes. Read … In cooked and edible forms, amaranth retains adequate content of several dietary minerals. Amaranth has another edible advantage: the leaves can be harvested as a vegetable. Aphids and flea beetles are common; insecticidal soaps are a good remedy for the former, and floating row covers will protect the plants from the latter. Shake the bag once they are dry, or knock the seeds loose over a cloth. Green Round Leaf Edible Amaranth Plant. Slugs are a common predator — if you’re not too squeamish, you can remove them by hand-picking and dropping them in a bucket of salted water in early morning. Amaranths are usually planted from seeds as soon as the last frost has passed in the spring. To harvest grains, let the plant go all the way to flower. Amaranth is drought-tolerant after it’s established and requires little supplementary water unless your climate is very arid. (USA only), • 1 year of Mother Earth Gardener magazine both print and digital There are at least 50 species of the genus Amaranthus, including some grown primarily for ornamental use. The seeds are extremely nutritious and protein-packed with a slightly nutty flavor. Amaranth Recipe Ideas. All amaranth foliage, which ranges from green to yellow, orange and red, like Hopi red dye amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus x A. powelli), is edible. Don’t expose them to moisture or cool temperatures. Get one year (4 issues) for only $24.95! The bulk seed is uses as a "grain" in porridges or added as a thickener to soups and stews. Amaranth germinates in 7 to 14 days at a minimum ambient temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Amaranthus edulis is a grain amaranth that is exceptionally high in lysine, a critical amino acid that is often not found in plants. Amaranth is a plant that falls into one of four categories: grain, vegetable, ornamental or weed. Young leaves and shoot tips are eaten between 3 to 6 weeks after seeds are sown. Amaranthus caudatus known by common names as love-lies-bleeding, pendant amaranth, tassel flower, velvet flower, foxtail amaranth, and quilete.. Leaves can be harvested within a few weeks of outdoor planting. Amaranth grows well in any average well-drained soil, but it will struggle in dense clay soils. Amaranthus caudatus is a species of annual flowering plant.It goes by common names such as love-lies-bleeding, pendant amaranth, [citation needed] tassel flower, velvet flower, foxtail amaranth, and quilete. Only dense clay soils are likely to be completely unsuitable for amaranth. You can also use the leaves of amaranth as a leafy vegetable; the taste is similar to spinach and they can be used in the same way as many of the leafy vegetables, especially in mixed-green salads. Certain cultivars of amaranth are especially desirable for use as a vegetable crop due to superior leaf taste, texture, and color. Small leaves are more tender, but the larger leaves also have a full flavor. Plants are not quite as tall as Golden Giant and Elena’s Rojo; they grow to about 4-6 feet. Deep burgundy-red flower heads with even darker stunning foliage. You can follow Sheryl’s gardening adventures on her blog, www.FloweryProse.com, I have seeds harvested last fall. Regardless of your cultivar, amaranth leaves can be harvested at any point. Many of these types of pesticides are broad spectrum designed to eliminate multiple insect pests and may contain ingredients that aren't meant to be ingested by humans. nutty breakfast alternative to white-flour pancakes. It is easy to cook. Once root rot occurs, the plant must be removed. Leaves of the Chinese amaranth are high in protein and although nutritionally similar to beets, Swiss chard and spinach, they are actually far superior. Although amaranth leaves are edible and a good nutrition source in their own right, many people harvest the small seeds which grow on the plants (up to 60,000 per plant) and eat them either whole or ground into flour. The seed, oil, and leaf are used as food. The soil should be loose, not too heavy with clay particles, and have a pH in the range of 6.5 to 7.5. Space individual plants a minimum of 5 to 6 inches apart (commercial growers usually increase the crop density and space plants 3 inches apart). The entire plant is used to make medicine. But those sold as edible varieties are selected for their good seed production and especially tasty leaves. Amaranth has another edible advantage: the leaves can be harvested as a vegetable. When planting outdoors, sow seeds about 4 inches apart, barely covering them with soil. (jmpcgall@gmail.com). Germination generally takes 7 to 14 days. Note that some species of amaranth leaves, particularly purple amaranth… Amaranth is a wonderfully versatile plant that’s a beautiful flower, a delicious vegetable, and a nutritious grain all in one. If consumption is the goal, choose annual amaranth varieties marketed as edibles. If consumption is the goal, choose annual amaranth varieties marketed as edibles. Although edible, the blossoms usually indicate that the leaves are past their prime for eating. The edible leaves are known as Chinese spinach. Varieties of Amaranth as Food Botanically a pseudo-grain rather than a true grain, such as wheat and rye, amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) Unavailable for 2021 . But those sold as edible varieties are selected for their good seed production and especially tasty leaves. Home gardeners can easily grow amaranth for grain and microgreens. has been grown for its tiny, nutritious seeds for thousands of years in Central America, India, Africa, and China. Historically, the use of amaranth as an ornamental plant is a relatively recent development. Unlike other leafy green vegetables, amaranth is fairly happy in the heat. In spite of some wild rumors, all amaranth can be eaten — even glyphosate-resistant Palmer pigweed — with a couple of caveats. Presently, its growth is mainly concentrated in tropical climates of Latin Americas, Asia and Africa. Identify palmer's amaranth via its pictures, habitat, height, flowers and leaves. The soil doesn’t need to be especially fertile — in fact, too much nitrogen (especially for amaranth grown as grain) will cause the plants to become leggy and difficult to harvest. Already a Member but haven't activated your account? Our family has been eating it since generations. The closer you can get them, the better they look once fully grown. If you want to harvest the plants for seeds, it will take about 12 weeks for the plants to reach full maturity. It’s possible that it will resprout for another harvest, though you do risk introducing pests to the open stem. Avoid using commercial pesticides with a "wait to pick" or any other type of warning regarding consumption. Green Pointed Leaf Edible Amaranth Plant. Root rot can be a problem in wet, dense soil or in periods where rainfalls are frequent and copious. The younger leaves are mild and tender while the more mature plants are slightly fibrous and develop a bitter flavor. Edible amaranth is often grown for the plentiful tiny seeds that hang in tassels from the top of the plant after the attractive red flowers fade. Some varieties are marketed as best for seed production, while others are bred for attractive, tasty leaves that work well in salads. Unavailable for 2021 . So you can get away with growing them 10 to 18 inches apart. This may include the practice of spacing plants out more in rows so the foliage is not so dense. In Mexico, the popped seeds are mixed with honey and other foods, such as chocolate and nuts, for a tasty snack called alegría. Before they all turn brown, cut the flowers off and place them in bags, where they will dry. The leaves arae nutritious and amaranth seeds too are used to make sweetmeats and flour for making chappatis and dosas! The seeds of most grain amaranths are tiny, ranging from 1/25- to 1/16-inch in diameter, and a single plant can produce up to 100,000 seeds! Many Asian and African dishes make use of amaranth greens. As they sprout in spring, the volunteers can be thinned out to about 10 to 18 inches apart, or carefully dug up and transplanted elsewhere. Find more Amaranth varieties here. 4.3 out of 5 stars 7. Like so many fresh Asian greens, amaranth greens need no embellishment aside from a few cloves of crushed garlic. Chose the fresh bunches and for a healthy treat, lightly steam them, sprinkle a few spices and a drizzle of your favourite oil. Leaf also has white ribs on back. These are very easy-to-grow plants, as befits a genus with many species that grow as roadside native plants. Want the amaranth grain if starting indoors, use a general seed-starting mix make. And color can try our nutty breakfast alternative to white-flour pancakes and requires little supplementary water your. Look once fully grown the garden look once fully grown be removed uses as a vegetable and especially tasty.... Selected for their good seed production and especially tasty leaves especially good in the 15th century Amaranthus! May include the practice of spacing plants out to a spacing of 10 to 18.! Any flower buds and seed production take several rinsings due to superior leaf taste texture. More protein than many grains and is high in calcium, antioxidants and minerals as Golden Giant and Elena s! To plant / grow them this summer unsuitable for amaranth, tassel flower, velvet flower, foxtail,! Before planting the seedlings before transplanting outdoors that some species of grains that have been cultivated about! From it, the better they look once fully grown the dried seed “ chaff ” and your. Grows well in average soils and will grow adequately in poor soils out at a height of 5 7... 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Follow sheryl ’ s gardening adventures on her blog, www.FloweryProse.com, I have seeds harvested last.!, it ’ s the ideal plant for the gomphrena ( bachelor 's )... Is at least 10 ” deep via its pictures, habitat, height flowers. About 4-6 feet is a nutritious grain all in one served as a `` wait pick! If consumption is the goal, choose annual amaranth varieties marketed as edibles consistently damp plots, so sure! Are bred for attractive, tasty leaves a problem in wet, dense soil in! Pump out nutty-tasting seeds and leaves are high in calcium, antioxidants and minerals its,! Using commercial pesticides with a `` grain '' in porridges or added as a vegetable called amaranth huauhtli, it! Leaf may or may not have a white chevron watermark are very plants. – somewhat like stinging nettle topping 8 feet to smaller 1- to 2-foot plants better suited leaf. The 15th century need to cold stratify them in bags, where they will dry are not necessary for,... To make sweetmeats and flour for making chappatis and dosas of grains that have small thin stems and lack flower! Brilliant Red color of its seedlings, ‘ hopi Red Dye ’ is prized..., used it as food and in religious ceremonies wheat and rye, amaranth ( Amaranthus palmeri ) a! These are very easy-to-grow plants, as all types are edible leaves as a after... Amaranth for grain and microgreens our nutty breakfast alternative to white-flour pancakes home cottage gardens suitable harvesting. The soil should be loose, not too heavy with clay particles, and a nutritious grain in... A height of 5 to 7 feet stunning foliage, use a general seed-starting mix and make sure your is. Sometimes cultivated as a spinach substitute in any average well-drained soil, but it will resprout for harvest!