Red Leaf Grain Amaranth Vegetable Seeds - West Coast Seeds - MU519

PRODUCT DETAILS

Amaranthus tricolor. Also known as Chinese spinach. This heat lover is a very nutritious leaf vegetable. This variety has large, fleshy, pale-green or burgundy and green leaves that can be enjoyed raw in salads. They can also be cooked quickly, faster than spinach. Plant Red Leaf amaranth seeds in early summer in warm soil with good drainage. Enjoy as micro-greens, baby leaf salad greens, or full size cooked greens. The flavour pairs well with garlic and oyster sauce. The plants reach about waist high before flowering in late summer. Be sure to harvest before the flowering stage for the best flavour.

• Very nutritious and goes well in salads
• Large, fleshy, burgundy and green leaves
• Open-pollinated seeds
• Matures in 40-60 days

All About Red Leaf Amaranth

Latin

Amaranthus sp. (Many species are edible).Family: Amaranthaceae

Difficulty

Easy.

We Recommend:

Burgundy Grain Amaranth (MU551). This variety has very tasty, nutritious immature leaves, but can also be grown to produce grain – and it is very productive in this respect.

Season:

Warm season. Amaranth is very much a summer crop. Exposure: Full sun. Amaranth needs a nice hot summer for its entire growth period of 40-50 days.

Timing

Direct sow in late spring, once night time temperatures are steadily above 10°C (50°F). Optimal soil temperature for germination: 18-24°C (65-75°F).

Starting

Sow seeds 5mm (¼”) deep in well drained soil in full sun. Seeds should germinate in 4 to 10 days. Thin seedlings to 25-35cm (10-14″) apart in rows 50cm (20″) apart.

Days to Maturity

From direct sowing.

Growing

Ideal pH: 6.0-7.5. Keep moist until germinated, and then simply keep the area weeded.

Harvest

Pick baby or mature greens as needed. Simply cut them with scissors as one would with mescluns. The leaves have an appealing, nutty flavour. If growing for seed, choose A. hypochondriacus and provide ample spacing. Seed will ripen in late summer or early fall. Watch for birds visiting the plants. Rub the flower heads between your hands over a bucket or tray. Doing this into paper yard waste bags works well. If the seeds do not fall easily, leave the plants for one more week and try again.

Seed Info

In optimum conditions at least 70% of seeds will germinate. Usual seed life: 3 years. Per 100′ row: 1.5M seeds, per acre: 392M seeds.

Diseases & Pests

Watch for slug/snail damage to young plants. Amaranth is not prone to pest damage.

Companion Planting

Plant with corn to shade the soil and retain water. Amaranth attracts beneficial predatory ground beetles.