THE CHINESE GREENS - Growing Chinese Vegetables in Your Own Backyard - page 5

sphere can be traced back thousands of years. The Spanish conquistadors, disturbed by
its use in Aztec religious ceremonies, forbade the Indians to grow it, but its cultivation
continued surreptitiously.
For some reason, amaranth has been used in religious ceremonies wherever it has
been grown. The ancient Greeks considered it a symbol of immortality (hence its name,
which means “unfading”) and pronounced it sacred to Artemis. They believed it pos-
sessed exceptional healing qualities and frequently depicted it in decorations on tombs
and temples. India, China, Japan, and Guatemala also have many legends about amar-
anth and used it in their own sacred rituals. The Eastern Star Chapter of North Amer-
ican Masons — the largest Masonic woman's organi zation in the United States — has
an Order of the Amaranth. Sweden has an Amaranter Order of Knighthood, established
in 1653 by Queen Christina, who obviously chose the name because of the legendary
reputation of the amaranth plant.
Appearance
Amaranth varies greatly in the color of its foliage, leaf shape, and height. Sometimes
known as Joseph's Coat for its brilliant coloring, it ranges from a rosy crimson to a
bright red-and-green variegation. Leaves can vary so much in shape that you won't al-
ways recognize them as belonging to an amaranth.
The tiny flowers would be insignifi-cant except they occur in such large numbers
that the overall effect is outstanding. If growing amaranth for the leaves, you won't
want to encourage the flowers or let the plants go to seed, but amaranth has such a long
harvest season that you may reach a point where you welcome a few weeks without this
leafy vegetable on the table. Then you can let the plants flower and go to seed. If you
grow amaranth for its seeds, you'll naturally have a long season of beautiful flowers.
Most types grow 2 to 3 feet in height, although some reach considerably higher.
Some of the lower-growing varieties tend to be somewhat straggling; others are very
compact and bushy. All require good air circulation, so don't crowd them with other
vegetables (or tall flowers, if you put them in the flower bed). If the plants get too tall,
stake them with bamboo poles or tomato stakes. The seed varieties are usually erect and
need no support.
How to Grow
Getting started. Amaranth is sensitive to frost and germinates best in warm soil. Wait
to plant until after the last frost when the ground warms up, start indoors four weeks
before the last frost, or follow the planting times recommended on the seed packet or in
the seed catalog.