Amaranth

Family. Amaranthaceae.

Where does grow? Comes from Central and South America.

What does look like?  The genus Amaranth contains approximately 70 species of annual or  perennial plants, including several species of invasive weeds native to the United States. There are a number of different species of amaranth and a huge number of varieties within these species. They are broad-leaved plants with ovate or diamond-shaped leaves that can be smooth or covered with tiny hairs, five to fifteen cm long or more.  The leaves have noticeable veins, can be of a wide variety of colors - from green or red to yellow, depending on the species, have long petioles, and are located alternately on the stem. The plants produce large inflorescences - pendulous racemes, usually red or purple.  The flowers contain a huge number of tiny seeds. (More than 100,000!). The seeds also come in a variety of colors - white, yellow, pink or black. 

Height. Grows to a height of 3.5 m.

Growing amaranths

Planting and care at home 

The agricultural technology of home amaranth is simple; it is easily grown indoors and does not require special care, although it is considered an open ground plant.

Sowing amaranth

The flower reproduces by seeds. Amaranth seeds should not be sown outdoors until the danger of frost has passed. The planting depth is 1 - 2 cm. Seedlings are thinned out so that the row spacing is at least 20 cm. Lowering the temperature during the night helps seed germination. The plant blooms approximately three months after sowing.

Containment temperature

At temperatures below 6 °C, domestic amaranth may die.

Lighting

Direct sun or light shade on a hot summer afternoon is preferred.

Soil for growing amaranth

Grown in soils with a neutral pH, some species are adapted to grow in acidic soil. The soil is sandy, medium loamy, well drained with plenty of nitrogen and phosphorus. 

Fertilizer

Plants will benefit from supplemental irrigation during dry periods and fertilization once or twice during the growing season, but when growing amaranth as a food crop, inorganic fertilizers should not be applied - they will accumulate in the leaves and the crop will become unfit for consumption.

When it blooms 

From July until frost.

Watering 

Medium intensity watering. Amaranth plants are resistant to drought and temperature changes.

Spraying 

No special requirements.

Transplanting amaranth

When growing at home, replanting is not required; the plants are annuals.

Diseases and pests 

No serious problems.  Root rot can occur due to high humidity and poor drainage. Sensitive to fungal diseases and leaf spot. 

Purpose

In addition to the fact that amaranth itself is a valuable ornamental plant, it has many useful properties. The plant looks great in hanging baskets, where the drooping inflorescences are best visible. Can be used in flower beds and along garden paths. 

Amaranth oil has medicinal properties and is used in the cosmetic industry to treat eczema. Various parts of amaranth are edible and used in cooking. The seeds, for example, are used in foods, amaranth flour is added to bread and pasta, while the leaves and stems are suitable for salads. Paniculate inflorescences look advantageous as dried flowers. Cereals from amaranth seeds - quinoa - are used in the preparation of porridges. 

Amaranth sprouts contain a large amount of vitamins and microelements and are eaten as microgreens, and also used to decorate ready-made dishes. 

Note

Amaranth can be used in a variety of ways. The leaves and stems can be eaten cooked, like spinach. Some plant species produce yellow and green dyes.
Since ancient times, amaranth has been used as a grain crop - flour was added to bread. Cold-pressed amaranth oil is used in cooking for preparing and seasoning all kinds of dishes, as it contains many microelements and vitamins.
When planting, carefully read the description of the amaranth variety - some plants can grow up to 2.5 m in height. Amaranth is a plant that often reproduces by self-seeding and behaves like an invasive weed. The green mass is often used as animal feed.
Recently, amaranth is often used for growing as microgreens.

Amaranth varieties:

Tricolor amaranth or illumination

A very bright decorative foliage plant. The lower leaves of this species are oblong-lanceolate and of normal green color. At the tops of the shoots there is a “cap” of colorful colored leaves, each of which is colored red, yellow and green at the same time. 

Amaranthus albus

 A low ornamental flowering plant, the main distinctive feature of which is long hanging “earrings” of many small white flowers. The leaves of this plant are green in color. 

Amaranthus Red

Red amaranth, even in a pot, reaches a height of 1.5 m and is distinguished by rich burgundy foliage and lighter, red apical inflorescences. 

Amaranthus retroflexus

The most “modest” species of the genus is not distinguished by either decorative leaves or lush flowering and its appearance rather resembles a weed. A large plant with a powerful, erect stem and spear-shaped green leaves covered with a whole network of veins.

Amaranthus paniculatus

Decorative flowering "long-tailed" plant with emerald green leaves and large apical inflorescences - panicles, consisting of numerous flowers of very bright colors - yellow, red, burgundy, purple. 

Amaranthus caudatus

Fast-growing, tall plants with strong, branched stems up to 1.5 - 2 m. The leaves are large, glossy, lanceolate, with small teeth along the edge. The leaf blades are green or burgundy, with an extensive network of veins. During the flowering period, plants form long, often drooping, branched inflorescences consisting of many small, brightly colored flowers. Most often, the inflorescences are painted in red, burgundy, purple, orange, brownish, yellow, and greenish shades.

Amaranthus retroflexus

A flowering plant that behaves like a nasty weed in its natural habitat. Strong vertical shoots of this variety reach a height of 3 m. The lower part of the shoots and roots are painted in a bright pink or red hue. The leaves are green, lanceolate, with a glossy surface, reaching a length of 15 cm. There are plants with silvery leaves. The apical inflorescences - panicles - appear in the summer months and bear numerous, small, green, male and female flowers.

Amaranthus blitoides

An annual herbaceous plant with lodging stems up to 60 cm long. The stems are strong, abundantly branched at the base, diverging from the center of the plant in different directions. Whether they are dark green, glossy, round or oval, they are arranged alternately. Leaf blades are entire. Small axillary inflorescences appear mainly in the upper part of the stems and consist of small, inconspicuous flowers.