Amaranth - The Manual of Seed Saving - page 4

A. caudatus ssp. caudatus love-lies-bleeding, pendant amaranth, tassel flower, vel-

vet flower, foxtail amaranth

ornamental

A. caudatus ssp. mantegazzianus Inca wheat grain

Grain amaranth flower heads in a range of colors

WHAT YOU'LL NEED
• 10 to 15 healthy plants
• non-woven cloth bags

POLLINATION NOTES Amaranths are wind-pollinated outcrossers, but according to specialist literat-
ure from India, bees will visit amaranths with colorful flower heads. Several varieties can be unam-
biguously identified as belonging to one or another species only by the most experienced taxonomists,
as there is minimal differentiation between them. If you are uncertain about the species of a given am-
aranth and you would like to propagate more than one variety, observe a spatial isolation distance of at
least 650 ft. (200 m). Alternatively you could cover two or three flower heads of each variety with a
cloth bag. Ask your neighbors if they are growing amaranth, perhaps as an ornamental; flower heads
of ornamental amaranths are very long and sometimes hang all the way down to the ground. For most
varieties, a hulled seed develops.

GROWING FOR SEED When starting indoors, time it such that seedlings can be planted out when they
have two or three leaves to avoid stunting growth. Otherwise, direct seed outdoors around last frost;
amaranth will then germinate when the ground is warm enough. To encourage tall, vigorous plants,
thin (or plant out) to 8 in. (20 cm) within the row. Grain amaranth is drought resistant and can be
grown in nutrient-poor soils. Vegetable amaranth, on the other hand, does better with plenty of water
and rich soil and also needs warm conditions; its leaves can be harvested 20 to 30 days after sowing.
Amaranth produces seeds prolifically; expect volunteer amaranth the following year, which can be har-
vested for its leaves.