Planting amaranth in open ground. Amaranth growing from seeds when to plant. Types and varieties of amaranth

Wherever this plant grows, it will certainly attract attention with its unusual appearance: a tall fleshy stem, large leaves and bright inflorescences consisting of small panicles. This is amaranth (schiritsa) - an annual plant of the Amaranthaceae family, which has spread throughout the world from South America. Initially, it was used as a grain plant, then as an ornamental plant; now the cultivation of amaranth has acquired an industrial scale due to its medicinal properties, use in the food industry, and livestock farming as a fodder crop. Many people plant it on their plots, pursuing more than one goal: using it as a medicinal plant, eating it and as a decorative decoration for the site.

Description of the plant

A tall, up to 150-200cm, annual plant has a straight or branched thick trunk and powerful roots. The color of large leaves, like flowers, depends on the variety. Yellow, green, purple, tricolor colors are characteristic of the leaves, and golden, light green, red, and purple colors are characteristic of the flowers. Small panicles are collected in straight or drooping long inflorescences, which remain attractive for a long time when dried. It blooms for a long time - all summer and autumn until frost. The seeds are very small - up to 500 thousand in a panicle. The amaranth fruit is a round-shaped capsule.

According to their purpose, amaranth varieties are divided into types: floral and decorative, vegetable, grain, food.

Information! Young shoots of amaranth up to 20 cm in height are used for preparing tea infusions, for salads, dressings, snacks and for drying for storage.

How to grow amaranth

In regions where spring is warm and early, amaranth can be grown by sowing seeds in open ground. If warmth sets in late and spring frosts are possible, then it is better to grow it in seedlings.

Amaranth has no special soil preferences - it grows on both sandy and rocky soils. But on acidic soils, the root system develops slowly, and the plant grows less powerful and tall. If you plan to grow amaranth in small areas (flower bed, flowerpot), then you can prepare the soil in small volumes by mixing humus, peat, and turf soil in a ratio of 2:1:1.

Reference! It takes 60-70 days for greens to ripen, and 100-120 days for seeds.

How to sow seeds in open ground

The method of growing seeds in open ground is suitable for vegetable amaranth, which is planted for greenery - the juicy young above-ground part is used as a vitamin supplement to food. To do this, the leaves, stems, and tops are torn off, and the roots are left in the ground - they will serve as an organic fertilizer for the soil.

Vegetable amaranth replenishes the lack of vitamins and proteins in the body. Dried and fresh leaves, stems (young) are used to prepare hot dishes, seed flour is used to prepare baked goods and dietary dishes.

The soil at the sowing site is prepared in advance: in the fall, dig up the ridge with a spade, add humus or compost (1 bucket per 1 m²), superphosphate, fertilizers with potassium (according to the instructions).

In the spring, after the top layer of soil (4-5cm) has warmed up to 6°C and above, you can start sowing, having first carefully removed the weeds and applied complex fertilizers or mineral mixtures (30g per 1m²). Removing weeds during sowing should not be ignored - they can choke tender seedlings.

Important! Complex fertilizers should be selected with a minimum nitrogen content - in large quantities it contributes to the accumulation of nitrates in leaves and stems.

Amaranth seeds are very small, so make shallow grooves on the ridge (1-2cm), the width of the rows depends on what it is grown for. If you want to grow tall and powerful plants with large panicles, the row spacing is made wide -70cm, and the seeds are planted every 30cm. If planting is done for greenery, then plant according to the 15x15cm pattern.

Water the furrows well and, when the water is absorbed, spread the seeds at the required distance, sprinkle with earth, and compact. To protect against possible frosts, the ridge can be covered with film or covering material. When planting over large areas, it is convenient to mix the seeds in a ratio of 1:20 with sand, peat, and ash.

Germination begins after 1-2 weeks. Thickened seedlings need to be thinned out and the soil slightly loosened to improve access of water and air to the roots.

Seedling method of growing amaranth

Most often, decorative varieties of amaranth are grown in seedlings. Seeds for seedlings are planted in the third ten days of March or in the first ten days of April.

Planting stages:

• seeds purchased or stored more than 1 year ago, to improve germination, soak for 24 hours in a weak soda solution;
• purchase ready-made soil or prepare it yourself - garden soil, river sand, humus or well-rotted compost (3:2:1);
• disinfect the soil mixture in the oven (100°-120°) or pour it with a pink solution of manganese;
• fill boxes with 10cm sides and drainage holes with earth;
• Place the seeds in moistened grooves 1-2cm deep, cover with soil and compact it;
• cover the boxes with film or glass and place them in a warm, dark place;
• remove the cover when seedlings appear - at t=22° the sprouts will appear in 4 days, at t=16° - after 10 days, place the boxes in the light.

Advice! There is no need to water the plantings before germination; condensation on the film must be removed.

When the seedlings grow a little, they need to be thinned out, leaving only strong and healthy shoots for growth. Pick when there are 1-2 leaves in individual containers with a diameter of at least 12 cm. The soil can be used the same as for sowing. Caring for seedlings consists of regular watering without waterlogging the soil.

A week before transplanting, hardening is carried out by lowering the temperature - the seedlings are taken out to the veranda, balcony, first for several hours, then left overnight.

Transplanting seedlings into open ground

It is recommended to transplant seedlings into open ground when the air temperature is above 4°C, around mid-May. To grow amaranth, you need to choose sunny, dry areas without stagnant moisture. Prepare the soil in the fall by adding organic matter (1 bucket per square meter) and fertilizers with potassium and phosphorus (according to instructions) when digging; in the spring you can fertilize the soil with nitroammophos (20g per 1 square meter).

Plant the seedlings in moistened holes at a distance of 40 cm between them. Deepen the bush to the first leaf. Finish the procedure by watering and mulching the soil. It is better to transplant in the evening in cloudy weather.

This is interesting! Amaranth grows very quickly - in good lighting it can gain 7 cm in height per day.

Amaranth seedlings are sensitive to the amount of moisture - if there is an excess of it, the leaves begin to fall off, so watering should be done when the soil dries out and, preferably, in the morning or evening. Do not touch the transplanted plants for two weeks - they need to be given the opportunity to take root and settle down in a new place.

Caring for amaranth plantings

Planting and growing amaranth is not difficult, but its further growth should not be left to chance. Caring for plantings consists of carrying out simple and uncomplicated activities:

1. Pinch the tops after the seedlings have rooted and before the inflorescences form to form a lush bush. Pinching should be done on fast growing plants.
2. Fertilize with organic matter and mineral fertilizers.
3. Water regularly, avoiding drying out and waterlogging of the soil.
4. Use special preparations, for example, Fitoverm, to prevent the appearance of aphids.
5. Hill up and weed the plantings several times a season.
6. If necessary, tie the plants to a trellis or stakes.

You need to feed amaranth several times:

• after transplantation (two weeks);
• bud formation;
• end of flowering.

What fertilizers to apply:

In September, when the flower no longer looks as beautiful as in summer, the plant should be uprooted and used for livestock feed or compost.

Features of growing tricolor amaranth

Tricolor amaranth is rightfully considered the most beautiful among ornamental varieties due to the multi-colored leaves: red, yellow, green, and the top of the plant looks like a burning flame. You need to grow tricolor amaranth in the same way as other varieties of the plant. It can be planted with seeds and seedlings, based on the climatic conditions of the growing region. In areas with warm springs, it is more convenient to plant seeds in open ground.

How to harvest seeds

During the period of active growth, you need to choose a strong plant and, when the lower leaves begin to dry out and a whitish coating appears on the stem, cut off the inflorescences. They need to be dried in a ventilated room for several months.

Then simply rub the panicles between your palms and collect the spilled seeds. They are stored in paper or cardboard boxes for 5 years.

Original bright amaranth bushes will decorate any garden plot, shading ornamental shrubs and lawns. Tall varieties look great in the background of flower plantings, and low-growing varieties look great in borders and ridges. In addition to being decorative, young leaves and stems of amaranth are used in vitamin-rich salads and for making soups.

Scientists consider amaranth to be the real crop of the future; growing it from seeds is very simple and easy in our home conditions.

Amaranth is the closest relative of the well-known weed - amaranth, they look very similar. But unlike the annoying weeds, amaranth does not contain alkaloids and its panicles are several times larger, and the plant itself sometimes grows higher than 180 cm.

“Amaranth” is translated from Greek as “unfading flower.” It is truly capable of withstanding severe drought, temperature changes, and sudden cold snaps. The plant was undeservedly forgotten, all its qualities were not fully appreciated, but amaranth is an almost universal crop. This plant is used as livestock feed, its seeds are processed into flour for baking, a unique amaranth oil is made from it, which is used for medicinal purposes, having the ability to quickly increase a large volume of green mass, it can be used as green manure.

Nowadays, many ornamental varieties of amaranth have been bred, and amateur gardeners are happy to grow it on their plots. Today we will talk about growing this amazing plant that will decorate your garden and surprise you with the wonderful taste of herbal tea from the leaves.

Growing amaranth from seeds

Some large farms are already successfully growing amaranth for grain and as a fodder crop. The whole secret of the plant lies in the high content of vegetable protein, and complete protein. In leaves its content is up to 25%, in seeds up to 23%.

Seven varieties of crops are successfully grown in our country. Before you start growing it, I strongly recommend that you decide what exactly you want to get,

1. expanding your diet and replacing animal protein with vegetable protein,
2. a medicinal plant that can prolong life and youth,
3. beautiful and elegant garden decoration.

Varieties of amaranth

If you are going to grow a vegetable crop with valuable nutritional qualities, then pay attention to the Krepysh, Pamyati Kovas or Valentina varieties.

Amaranth tricolor, with unusual leaf colors and valuable medicinal properties, will be a chic decoration for one of the corners of the garden.

You most likely have had the opportunity to meet the caudate amaranth variety often. Tall beautiful panicles of different shades decorate private and city gardens and parks.

How to grow amaranth from seeds

With all its undoubted advantages, amaranth has a long germination time and in order to obtain seeds, for example for making oil, it must be planted early so that the plant has enough light and heat.

In our climate with a short summer, the plant simply needs to be planted in the first ten days of February. Of course, with such early sowing, the crop will need to be additionally illuminated and monitor the temperature; young shoots develop faster at an average temperature of +22-25 degrees.

The soil for amaranth is suitable for universal purposes; it must be prepared in the fall. The soil mixture should be moderately loose, retain moisture well and contain the microelements necessary for the plant.

For seedlings, a soil consisting of turf soil, peat and the addition of humus in equal parts is suitable. Mineral fertilizers, potassium, superphosphate or wood ash are added to the soil in advance; nitrogen fertilizers must be added in limited proportions if you are growing crops for table use.

As with other plants, the soil for amaranth seedlings needs to be disinfected; it is enough to spill the soil with boiling water or a solution of potassium permanganate to kill the pathogenic microflora.

Sowing amaranth seeds

Seeds for sowing at home can be soaked in advance so that they hatch a little, but do not germinate, this will speed up the emergence of seedlings.

Seeds are planted in moist soil, no deeper than 0.5 cm. The container is covered with polyethylene or glass on top and put away in a warm place. The lower the temperature, the longer it will take for the seeds to germinate.

With the first loops of sprouts, the container with seedlings should be placed in the brightest and warmest place. At the end of winter, there will not be enough light, so it is worth getting a fluorescent lamp in advance to illuminate the plants.

Small amaranths will need moderate watering, without stagnant water. Seedlings planted densely must be thinned out. It is necessary to plant seedlings 2-3 times so that the plant develops a powerful root system. When picking, the sprout must be buried down to the first leaves so that the plant turns out strong.

During the period of seedling growth, it is necessary to feed the plants with a complete complex fertilizer, such as Kemira, the first time when real leaves appear and the second time after a couple of weeks.

Transplanting amaranth seedlings into open ground

To grow a plant, you need to provide it with favorable living conditions, then you will be amazed at the speed of amaranth growth. It loves sun and fertile soil, although it tolerates any soil.

In the fall, the place for planting amaranth is fertilized with humus with the addition of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. Please note that this is done not in the spring, but in the fall. The soil needs to be dug deep,

Seedlings are planted in rows with a distance of 50 cm and a distance between seedlings of 30-35 cm. Planting dates are usually mid or late May, when sufficiently warm soil allows and there are no night frosts.

Amaranth care

Amaranth does not need special care; it will be enough to keep the soil moist; you need to water the plant not often, but generously, so that the soil is moist to a depth of three meters.

Especially at first, you need to remove weeds in a timely manner so that they do not choke the young plants.

Of all the fertilizers, amaranth prefers organic matter. It is enough to feed it once a week with mullein infusion, 1 to 10, or wood ash diluted in water, 2 cups per 10 liters, combining feeding with watering.

Amaranth as a green manure crop

It is good for making compost, for enriching the soil with organic matter. It is often used as. Then amaranth is sown immediately after the snow melts, in moist soil.

It does not require special manipulations with care; however, in severe drought it must be watered whenever possible.

Plants are mowed until panicles with seeds appear and embedded shallowly in the soil.

Many people perceive the very tall stems of amaranth as weeds, although this flower is cultivated and is even used in cooking.

Let's figure out what's special about this plant and how to grow amaranth in your own flowerbed.

Amaranth: plant description

By appearance amaranth is a very tall plant with a rather thick stem, which is covered with many leaves and crowned with a paniculate, straight inflorescence (in some varieties of amaranth the inflorescence may bend down).

The average height is 120 cm, although decorative varieties rarely reach even a meter in height. The stems may be branched, and the leaves may be oval, diamond-shaped or elongated.

When amaranth was brought to European countries, it began to be used as a feed crop for animals and as an ornamental flower, capable of delighting with a huge variety of colors:

• golden;
• red;
• purple;
• green;
• violet;
• a mixture of all the above shades.

After flowering, amaranth produces fruits that have the shape of boxes containing seeds. Once fully ripened, the seeds are collected and used either for sowing the following year or in food. In warm climates, self-sowing of amaranth is possible.

Did you know? Amaranth is an excellent raw material for teas and salads, but adult plants in the beds are not suitable for this purpose. For food purposes, it is necessary to create separate dense crops, which, upon reaching a height of 20 cm, are completely cut off and sent for drying or cooking.

Climatic conditions for successful growth of amaranth

Amaranth is an undemanding plant to plant, but not all climatic conditions are suitable for its cultivation. In particular, most varieties in hot Asian countries located at the equator are able to grow as a perennial plant that does not require annual sowing.

But in the climatic conditions of our region, this plant is grown only as an annual plant, since neither it itself nor its seeds are able to withstand wintering in open ground. Nevertheless, already in the spring in the southern regions of our country it is quite acceptable to sow amaranth seeds directly into open ground.

Amaranth sowing technology

Amaranth can be grown using different technologies, the choice of which depends on climatic conditions. If you live in a region where warmth begins in mid-spring, you can sow amaranth seeds directly into the soil without any problems.

But if real warmth begins to please only from the first summer month, it is better to sow the seeds in boxes or peat pots for seedlings. For northern regions, we recommend growing amaranth through seedlings.

Propagation of amaranth by direct sowing

Planting amaranth with seeds involves preliminary soil preparation. First of all, you should wait until the end of April, when the earth will warm up to 10˚C or higher by at least 4-5 centimeters in the middle of the day.

The soil also needs to be fertilized so that the flower grows quickly. To do this, it is recommended to use mineral fertilizers (you can choose a complex one), adding 30 g of the substance per square meter of flower bed area.

Important! When fertilizing the soil for sowing amaranth seeds, you should not add a lot of nitrogen, since during growth this plant is capable of converting nitrogen into nitrates that are dangerous to humans. After the amaranth stems stretch up to 20 cm in height, they need to be fed with nitrogen fertilizer, but for the reasons mentioned above, you should use only half of the norm indicated on the package.

When sowing amaranths, it is necessary to make furrows at a depth of 1.5 cm and lower the seeds into them one by one. The soil should be loose and moist during sowing. It is good if there is a space of 7 to 10 cm between plants in one furrow (if the variety is tall, more is possible) and about 45 cm in one row.

Shoots are usually visible on 7-10 days. If they are thick, you can break through the plants immediately and loosen the soil at the same time to encourage further growth.

The peculiarity of amaranths is that if they are sown at the end of April and grow quickly, then the weeds lose the opportunity to “take over” the flower bed around the flowers. But if you miscalculate the timing, the weeds may grow first and the flowerbed will have to be weeded very often. After such sowing, complete seed ripening occurs only after 3.5 months.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

How to grow amaranth using seedlings? For this purpose, seeds are sown in the second half of March, for which plastic boxes, ordinary flower pots or special peat pots are used.

After sowing, the pots are placed on warm windowsills with good lighting. It is very important that the room temperature does not fall below 22˚C. Watering should be done using a spray bottle.

Within a week, the first shoots appear, which need to be given another 3-4 days and thinned out, removing all weak shoots. After three leaves appear on the seedlings, they can be transplanted into individual pots. If you use peat pots (diameter 12 cm) for this, they can be dug into the ground along with the plant.

How to plant amaranth correctly?

In this section we will mainly talk about planting seedlings, since after sowing the seeds, caring for amaranths will consist of removing weeds and watering. But with seedlings you will have to be a little more sophisticated.

When to plant amaranth

Planting amaranth seedlings should begin when the threat of spring frosts has completely passed and the soil temperature throughout the day will remain within 10˚C and above. Often this procedure should be planned for the middle or end of May.

The plant is planted in light and nutritious soil with low acidity (it is better if it is mixed with limestone). You can also prepare drainage under the soil.

Nitroammofoska is used as a fertilizer for amaranth seedlings (no more than 20 g per square meter). As for choosing a place for a flower bed with amaranths, it should be well lit by the sun.

Important! Amaranth can hardly be called a fastidious plant, but it can be destroyed by low temperatures and waterlogged soil - damage appears on the roots and stems and begins to rot.

Landing technology

When planting in the ground, the amaranth seedlings themselves do not need to be prepared. It is planted in rows, between which it is necessary to leave a space of at least 45 cm, and for tall large varieties - 70 cm. There should be a space of 30 cm between individual plants.

For planting, small holes are prepared, into which there is no need to add fertilizer after applying nitroammophoska. The seedlings should not be lowered too low into the hole so that they do not rot later.

Until it begins to grow, the soil in the flowerbed must be watered regularly. If cold weather suddenly sets in, the flower bed with amaranths can be covered with foil overnight (but be sure to remove the cover in the morning so that the seedlings do not suffocate).

Plant care rules

Amaranth requires the most care only after transplanting seedlings into open ground. You have to water it regularly and weed around it. But as soon as the seedlings begin to grow, the weeds in the flower bed with amaranths will practically disappear, since it is difficult for them to get along with a large, strong flower.

Amaranth is an annual flowering almost all summer with beautiful red-violet leaves and interesting inflorescences, which can vary greatly depending on the variety. In most cases, this plant is planted as seedlings, but it is possible to grow amaranth from seeds photo. The second method can be planted in regions with early, warm spring.

Planting amaranth seeds

Growing amaranth from seeds photo can begin in the fall, sowing them before the soil freezes, or in early spring, since this plant takes a long time to germinate (which is why it is most often planted as seedlings). Pre-winter sowing allows you to get early shoots, but with spring sowing the main thing is to choose the right time - the soil should warm up to 6°C and be saturated with moisture.

Then you need to plant kohia. Amaranth is very similar to castor beans. Amaranth is an unpretentious plant that does not make any special demands on the composition of the soil, although it responds well to the addition of additional nutrients.

For example, It is worth fertilizing the planting area with humus or compost, or nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus fertilizers, or nitroammophos according to the instructions. Sow annual seeds in lightly rolled soil in rows at a distance of 45 cm, spacing 7-10 cm between seeds.

Since the seeds are small, for convenience, it is recommended to mix them with sand before sowing. Planted to a depth of 1-1.5 cm, then rolling the soil. After germination, the seedlings are thinned out, leaving the strongest ones at the recommended distance.

Due to denser planting, amaranths will grow low and not as branched.

Amaranth care

In the process of growing amaranth from seeds, photo, the first shoots appear after 8-10 days. Since this branching plant grows poorly during the first month, during this period special attention should be paid to weed control, thinning of plants and regular loosening of rows with moisture as needed.

Growing amaranth seedlings

For seedlings, amaranth seeds are sown in suitable containers in March. Typically, amaranth is grown from seeds, photo seedlings, in boxes or pots 10 cm high. Sprouted seedlings with three full leaves are planted in separate containers.

They are planted in open ground in May, when the frosts have passed and warm weather has set in. It is recommended to grow amaranth from seedlings if the goal is to obtain seeds. When sowing directly into open ground, the seeds may not have time to ripen.

This is especially true in the northern regions in early autumn.

Check out similar articles in the section: Flowers

If you sometimes like to stroll through the squares and parks of your city, then you’ve probably noticed plant with lush foliage and red garlands. This plant is called amaranth. For quite a long time, amaranth in agriculture was considered a weed and was used to feed animals; only recently it was discovered decorative and medicinal properties.

Amaranth plant

Amaranth is an annual plant that is most often planted as seedlings due to the fact that it takes a long time to rise. Although in regions with warm climates, amaranth is grown in open ground. In total, there are almost 900 species of amaranth and 65 genera. In Russia, 17 species of this plant are grown, of which the most common are tricolor amaranth, caudate amaranth, scarlet amaranth, paniculate amaranth, upturned amaranth, and common amaranth.

Growing amaranth from seeds

If you are wondering whether it is worth growing amaranth, then do not hesitate - it is worth it! This plant really has beneficial properties.

• Any soil is suitable for growing amaranth. Seeds should be sown in it when the temperature of the ground at a depth of half a meter is approximately 6 C°; it is at this temperature that the soil is able to absorb the necessary amount of water for the normal development of seeds.
  If this condition is met, then there will be no need to weed the beds, because the greens will grow much faster than weeds. If you want to grow early shoots of amaranth, then the seeds should be sown before the ground freezes. When this plant sprouts late, you should constantly weed and monitor watering. Also, do not forget about pests - various insects from which amaranth must be constantly protected. Amaranth should be sown with row spacing of 45 cm., the distance between the seeds should be 10 cm. If this condition is not met, the plant will grow small and the harvest will be small.
• Seeds should be planted in moist soil at a shallow depth.- approximately 1-1.5 cm. Since amaranth seeds are very small(1000 amaranth grains weigh only 0.6-0.9 g), then before planting they should be mixed with river sand or ordinary sawdust in a ratio of 1:20, the resulting mixture should be uniform. Also, before sowing, do not forget to level the soil and fertilize the soil. The first shoots will appear within 8-10 days after sowing. The upper part of the amaranth develops rather slowly at first, so once every 10 days it is necessary to thin out the plant, as well as loosen and weed the soil. When the amaranth reaches a height of 20 cm, fertilizer must be added to the soil; this must be done before precipitation or before watering.Next amaranth will increase its growth by 6-7 cm every day.
  This plant fully matures 100-110 days after planting. If you live in the northern region of the country, then it is better to plant amaranth with seedlings, otherwise it will not have time to develop properly before the onset of cold weather. At the moment when the so-called “panicle” forms on the plant, it needs to be removed. This phenomenon seems to give a sign that the plant has collected the maximum amount of useful substances. Panicles need to be collected at the moment when the seeds have just begun to ripen. After harvesting, they require some time to ripen. To do this, the seeds need to be spread out in a room with good ventilation for 7-10 days. To prevent small rodents, such as mice, from destroying your crop, place elderberry branches around the seeds. peel amaranth seeds, pass them through a very fine mesh sieve and then dry. After these steps, amaranth seeds can be planted for about 5 more years. eating amaranth in winter, it can be frozen, dried or pickled.

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How to dry amaranth?

Exists several ways to dry amaranth. You can chop the plant into small pieces and place it in a well-ventilated area, stirring occasionally to prevent the plant from compacting. You can also collect the leaves of the plant in a small bunch and hang it.

All that remains is to periodically check the amaranth for readiness - rub a leaf of the plant between your fingers - if it crumbles, it means the amaranth has dried out.

1. If you want to preserve as many useful substances as possible in amaranth, then dry it in the refrigerator. To do this, chop the plant into small pieces, place it on a cutting board and place it in the refrigerator, but not on the top shelf. With this method of drying, the plant remains not only as useful as possible, but green and beautiful. Amaranth is usually stored in a dark, ventilated, non-humid place in a suspended state. The plant is frozen in bunches, previously washed and dried, by placing the bunches in the freezer. For pickling amaranth you can fill it with brine made from water, sugar and salt, or simply put it in a container and cover it with salt.

Useful properties of amaranth

Amaranth contains many substances beneficial to our body. Many experts claim that Amaranth protein is even higher quality than milk protein.

Amaranth protein is recognized as dietary; it is often used to prepare baby food. Amaranth also contains more lysine than other plants. Amaranth also contains elements such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and potassium.

This plant is very rich in dietary fiber, which is very beneficial for our health. Amaranth contains 18% sugar, 14% fiber and 18% protein.

Amaranth oil for health

Oil is extracted from amaranth, which has a lot of beneficial properties and is easily absorbed by our body.. The oil is obtained by cold pressing the seeds of the plant; much less often, stems and vegetation are used for this.

Amaranth seeds contain squalene, with its help it is very good to treat tumors, and it also helps to increase immunity. Amaranth oil tastes like a nut, which is why it is also used in cooking.

And with all its many advantages in growing, amaranth is unpretentious and undemanding. One of the main advantages of this vegetable crop is that almost all parts of the plant are suitable for food: leaves, stems, and (especially valuable) seeds. It turns out that it would be a sin not to allocate a piece of land on your summer cottage to such a profitable amaranth. And we will tell you everything you need to know and take into account to obtain an excellent harvest of valuable amaranth.

Technology for growing vegetable amaranth

Amaranth is a light-loving, heat-loving plant and responsive to watering. It grows in almost all types of soils, including sandy, rocky and saline soils. The ripening period for greens is 60-70 days, for seeds - 100-120 days. Amaranth is an excellent green manure and green manure.

Therefore, you should tear off the leaves, stems and tops for food, leaving the roots in the ground. The summer resident receives a vitamin salad, and soil microorganisms receive the necessary organic matter. And everyone is happy! There are two ways to grow amaranth: seedlings and non-seedlings.

As a rule, grain varieties of amaranth are planted for seedlings to speed up the growth and ripening time of seeds, or decorative varieties for faster flowering. Growing amaranth for its leaves is quite possible by directly sowing the seed into the ground.

Growing amaranth through seedlings

Amaranth seeds are planted for seedlings in late March - early April. First, the seeds are sown in a common box and sprinkled with moist soil. Then cover with film and send to a dark, warm place.

After 7-12 days, shoots appear, then the box is moved to the windowsill. With the appearance of the first true leaf, amaranth seedlings are planted in pots. It tolerates transplantation well, so there should be no problems. After the threat of frost has passed (late May or early June), the seedlings are planted in a permanent place.

Growing amaranth by direct sowing

Seeds are planted one at a time in moist soil. They can be sown in late April-early May, when the soil has warmed up to +6°C. Any distance between bushes and rows is allowed and depends on the immediate purpose of cultivation.

If you need powerful plants, with a large number of panicles and seeds, use a 70x30 cm pattern. If preference is given to delicate greens, you can thicken the plantings and use a 15x15 cm pattern. For those who decide to plant a large area with amaranth, it will be more convenient to mix the seeds with sand and ash or sawdust in a ratio of 1:20, sow in rows and then thin out. You shouldn’t bury the seeds too deep; just sprinkle them with a 1-2 centimeter layer of soil and roll them a little for better contact with the ground. Under favorable conditions, seedlings appear in 7-10 days.

Amaranth care and harvesting

Amaranth requires care only in the first month of growth. At this time, its ground part grows so slowly that it is difficult to believe that these blades of grass will soon turn into powerful tall bushes.

Therefore, you need to periodically weed the bed, mulch with cut grass to prevent it from drying out, and if desired, you can feed it with an infusion of mullein and ash (or liquid fertilizer from grass). Starting from the second month, amaranth begins to grow rapidly and adds 5-7 centimeters per day. Now he himself is able to choke out any weed, and all he needs from the gardener is regular watering. Amaranth is cut for greenery when it reaches a height of 20-25 centimeters.

After cutting the top, new shoots begin to grow from the lateral axils. In early September, the seeds ripen. At this time, the panicles begin to turn brown, and the lower leaves dry out and fall off.

Amaranth seeds ripen unevenly and fall off very quickly, so it is preferable to cut off the panicles in advance and dry them in a dark place. The seeds ripen well.

Amaranth varieties

There are a great many varieties and varieties of amaranth. Vegetable, grain, fodder, ornamental... As gardeners, we are primarily interested in universal varieties (which are grown for both greens and grain), leaf and grain varieties. Valentina.

An excellent early vegetable variety with a large number of shoots along the entire length of the stem. The leaves and stems are purple, the flowers are erect and purple. The seeds are translucent, light brown, with a red border.

It grows in height up to 1.7 meters. The ripening period for leaves is 45-60 days, seeds - 110-120 days. Giant. A forage variety that can be grown for grain. The leaves are dark green, the flowers are red or yellow, and the seeds are white, disc-shaped. It grows 1.6-1.9 meters in height.

The period from germination to seed ripening is 115-127 days. Sturdy. An early ripening vegetable variety, grown for fresh greens. The leaves are green, juicy and tender, the flowers are brown with red spots. The seeds are light yellow. It reaches a height of 1.3-1.4 meters.

The growing season is 70-80 days. White sheet (White Leaf). A dwarf vegetable variety, grown for greens. It is cut off when it reaches a height of 18-20 centimeters.

The leaves and stems are light green, very tender and tasty. This variety can be grown on a windowsill in winter. Kharkovsky-1. A universal variety, one of the best for growing for grain. The leaves are green, the inflorescences are erect yellow, the seeds are light.

It reaches a height of 1.7-1.9 meters. The growing season is 90-110 days. In memory of Covas. A universal mid-season variety. The leaves are dark green, very juicy and tender.

The inflorescences are erect, red with a brown tint. The plant is 0.9-1.1 meters high. Voronezh. Early ripening grain variety. The leaves are green, the panicle is long, erect, yellow-green, the seeds are light.

The average plant height is 0.8-1.2 meters. Grain ripening time is 90-100 days. Helios. Early ripening grain variety.

The leaves are light yellow with orange veins, erect orange panicles, and white grain. Can grow up to 1.5-1.7 meters tall. The seed ripening period is 105 days. Kizlyarets. It is considered a forage variety that can be grown for grain.

The leaf is large, light green. The inflorescence is a straight panicle of yellow-green color, turning red when ripe. The seeds are round, light yellow.

Plants reach 1.2-1.6 meters in height. The ripening time for grain is 80-120 days. Remember that in vegetable and grain varieties of amaranth, the color of the seeds should be light. If the seeds are dark, it is an ornamental amaranth, which is grown for its beautiful bright panicles.

It is not recommended to eat the grain of such plants, but the leaves can be added to summer salads in any case. We wish you success and large harvests!

The unfading flower is called caudate amaranth ( Amaranthus caudatus). The ancient Greeks saw it as a symbol of immortality.

And not in vain: amaranth inflorescences look spectacular both in the garden and in winter bouquets; when dried, they retain their beauty for a long time. Amaranth came to Europe from the East Indies in 1596. The colorful waterfalls of its luxurious inflorescences made such a strong impression that in Sweden, Queen Christina founded the Order of the Knights of Amaranth in 1653.

To this day, despite their rather demanding nature, these flowers are loved by gardeners. It is not nearly as exotic as its “close relative”, the Australian endemic Ptilothus, but its cultivation does not raise any puzzling questions or bitter disappointments.

External data

Amaranth caudate is an annual plant. In favorable conditions it reaches a height of one and a half meters. Amaranth grows slowly at first, so it is grown exclusively by seedlings; the optimal time for sowing seeds for the Non-Black Earth zone is mid-March. The uniqueness of this plant lies in its unusual paniculate inflorescences, consisting of many small burgundy-red or yellow-green flowers.

Amaranth blooms approximately two and a half months after the shoots appear. Appearing at the top of the plant, the inflorescences gradually grow, drooping and hanging down; The length of the inflorescences can reach up to 80 cm.

Growing amaranth seedlings and choosing a place in the garden

Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out to a depth of one and a half centimeters. The optimal temperature for seedlings is from +20 to +24* C; in such conditions, the first shoots appear already on the 4th – 5th day.

It is important to protect the seedlings from the cold; When placing containers on the window, take care to protect the roots from hypothermia. The recommended air temperature for seedlings is from +19 to +21* C. Seedlings require good lighting.

To prevent the plants from shading each other, the seedlings are thinned out, removing weak plants, and when 1 - 2 true leaves appear, they are planted in pots measuring 6 x 6 cm. In the garden for amaranth, you should also choose a light area. To protect against the black leg, the seedlings are watered with pale potassium permanganate solution.

Treatment with bioregulators (for example, immunocytophyte or epin) is useful to increase the resistance of plants to unfavorable conditions. It is advisable to limit fertilizing, given the slow growth of seedlings. Soils for growing amaranth are preferably loamy or sandy loam, well-drained.

It is advisable to prepare the site in the fall; Digging up the soil, add humus (at the rate of 5 kg per square meter), potash and phosphorus fertilizers. Planting plants in open ground is possible after the threat of late frosts has passed. The optimal planting pattern is 40 x 70 cm. It is preferable to place amaranth in the background of the flower garden or plant it in separate groups - this will not only emphasize its features, but will also allow you to hide the stakes, to to which adult plants are tied.

Features of care

During the summer, amaranth requires regular feeding. Organic fertilizer is applied to the soil 1 – 2 times per season; Flowers are fed with full mineral up to three times a summer.

It is necessary to monitor soil moisture: an adult plant can withstand drought, but at the same time almost completely stops growing. Care should be taken to protect against pests in a timely manner. Amaranth inflorescences are often affected by aphids.

To get rid of it, it is recommended to treat it with biological preparations Akarin or Fitoverm. Grown amaranths must be tied up. In June, you should pinch the tops so that the plants do not stretch; Amaranth planted in the ground grows quite quickly. At the end of August, the inflorescences for winter bouquets are cut and quickly dried with hot air to preserve their shape and color.

Description of the plant

Amaranth is a very beautiful plant that can become a real decoration for a summer cottage or lawn. This annual crop reaches 2-3 m in height, has a fleshy stem and leaves of red, purple and green colors.

Amaranth is a weed crop, so it is not afraid of long droughts, is little susceptible to diseases and pests, but at the same time loves light and warmth. Amaranth is absolutely picky, grows on any soil, except swampy, and in any weather conditions, with the exception of the desert and the far north.

It feels best at an air temperature of 25 to 30 °C, and can easily tolerate light frosts and heat of 45-50 °C. In addition to its decorative properties, amaranth is used in livestock and poultry farming. This plant serves as the most effective and environmentally friendly feed compared to other feed crops.

It contains 18 out of 20 all existing amino acids. Amaranth is not just a fortified and nutritious food, but also replaces some medications. In addition, the plant is actively used in human nutrition.

Grain and flour made from it are used in baked goods, in canning and as an additive to vegetable salads. Bread made with amaranth flour does not go stale for a long time.

Leaves and inflorescences are used to prepare medicinal tea, which can remove harmful salts and radionuclides from the body. The leaves can also be added to fresh salads instead of spinach. And amaranth oil is considered more useful than even sea buckthorn oil.

It is very widely used in the food industry and cosmetology.

Amaranth varieties

There are many varieties of this beautiful and useful plant. Get to know the most popular types:

1. Decorative variety “Red-leaved” - its height can reach up to 1.5 m in height. Inflorescences of dark purple color in the form of “tails” hang almost to the ground. The leaves have a rich red color. The decorative variety "Gulliver" is a low-growing crop, reaching a height of 50 to 70 cm. This variety is unusual because of its appearance - flowers form from the very ground to the top of the plant, forming a beautiful ear of small dark purple flowers or almost black. “Gulliver” is very similar to an exotic cactus. The decorative variety “Elbrus” is a low-growing plant about 70 cm in height. The unusual 15 cm pyramidal inflorescences are white with a greenish tint. The “Argentine” variety is a classic bush variety of amaranth, reaching a height of 1.5 m. It has a large number of “tails” of violet-lilac color. It is from this type of amaranth that decorative bouquets are made. The “White-seeded” variety is a very valuable type of amaranth, which is used to feed domestic animals. The plant reaches 2 m in height and has large grayish leaves. Pyramidal inflorescences in the form of panicles are bright red or green. The “Tailed” variety is a classic type of amaranth, which is used to decorate bouquets. It has inflorescences of various colors. The “Emerald” variety got its name for its beautiful green color. Amaranth grows up to 70 cm in height. The Helios variety is a grain type of amaranth. Its leaves are light green, its “tails” are orange. The largest percentage of amaranth oil is extracted from this variety. The Aztec variety is a fodder type of amaranth. In addition to livestock feed, it is used for the production of amaranth oil, and the grain is used for baking bakery products. The height of the crop reaches 1.5 m. It has red-green leaves and a red panicle. The “Sem” variety is a forage type of amaranth. Used to make amaranth oil. Has a high protein content. The stem, panicle and leaves are red. The variety “Kharkovsky 1” is a universal variety of amaranth (food, fodder, grain and medicinal). It has green leaves and a panicle of the same color. The “Lera” variety is a predominantly grain variety of amaranth and is also used for making oil. It has a green stem and green leaves with red veins. The panicle is always red.

Obtaining amaranth seeds

In order to grow amaranth, you can buy seeds at any specialized store. Still, many people prefer to grow crops from their plants. It’s easy to get amaranth seeds:

1. Cut the amaranth at the very base and place the panicles on a table or any other surface to dry completely for another 2 months. The room in which the amaranth will dry must be dry and well-ventilated. After 2 months, sift the panicles using a sieve with very small cells. Place the extracted seeds on the surface in the same well-ventilated room and leave for another 7-10 days. Stir the seeds periodically. Make sure that rodents do not get to the seeds. To do this, place elderberry sprigs around the seeds. Place the dried seeds in paper envelopes or boxes. They can be stored for 4-5 years.

Germinating amaranth from seeds

Germinating amaranth from seeds for seedlings does not require much effort, but some recommendations are still worth considering:

1. You can start germinating seeds for seedlings as early as March. Prepare special soil - mix humus and sterile sand in a 3/1 ratio. Do not forget to warm the soil to destroy pests and various fungi. The container in which you plan to grow the seeds must be at least 10 cm high. These can be pots or wooden boxes. The pots must have holes to drain excess moisture and water. If there are no such holes, make them yourself. This is a mandatory condition, otherwise the seedlings may rot. Place the seeds in moistened soil to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. After this, cover the boxes and pots with film. Pots and boxes with seeds should be in a warm and bright place. It is best to moisten the soil with seeds from a spray bottle. If you do decide to water the soil, do not overdo it, otherwise the seeds will rot. Provided that the room temperature is 22 °C, the seeds will germinate in 3-4 days. If the air temperature is 16 °C or lower, then you will have to wait for sprouts no earlier than 10 days. It is advisable to thin out the seedlings so that they do not grow too densely. Leave only stronger and healthier sprouts.
2. When 3-4 leaves appear on the sprout, each seedling must be transplanted into a separate pot. The diameter of the pot should be at least 12 cm. Fill each pot with soil. It is correct to use the same soil in which you germinated the seeds. Moisten the soil in which your seedlings grow in advance, and only then carefully remove each sprout. Make holes in the soil and plant the seedlings in it. Water the plant. After transplanting each seedling into a separate pot, pinch the top of the sprout. This will help the roots of the plant grow stronger. Seedlings can be planted in open ground in early May, when the average air temperature reaches 4 °C. By this time the soil will have warmed up enough, and there is no danger of frost.

Transplanting amaranth into open ground

Choosing a place in the garden

Before transplanting seedlings into open ground, you need to choose a place where the plant will be comfortable. Amaranth is absolutely not picky and takes root anywhere. And, nevertheless, there are some points that need to be taken into account when choosing a place to transplant seedlings:

1. Amaranth loves a lot of sunlight and warmth. In such conditions, it will grow much more actively, and its inflorescences will have a brighter color. Amaranth does not like too wet and swampy soils, but prefers loamy, sandy loam with good drainage. The soil for planting seedlings must be prepared in the fall: dig up, add humus and minerals fertilizers (potassium and phosphorus). Amaranth feels good and looks great next to any other plants. It is advisable to plant amaranth in the background of a common flower bed in the garden. This will highlight its unusual beauty well.

Preparing seedlings for transplantation

In May, when the average air temperature reaches above 4 °C, you can begin planting seedlings in open ground. Since the seedlings have been in greenhouse conditions all this time, before transplanting they need to be prepared - hardened and accustomed to outdoor conditions:

1. 7-8 days before the planned transplant, reduce watering of the seedlings. Start taking the pots with seedlings outside. This can be a balcony, loggia or garden. During the first days, leave the seedlings outside for 2-3 hours. And after 3-4 days it will be possible to let the seedlings spend the night in new conditions.

Planting seedlings

If you have already hardened the seedlings sufficiently, the soil is completely ready to accept seedlings, and there is no threat of frost, it’s time to start planting plants in open ground:

1. Moisten the soil with the seedlings in advance so that you can easily remove the flowers. Make holes in the soil. If you want to plant amaranth in rows, then the distance between them should be at least 80 cm, and the distance between the bushes 40-50 cm. Remove the seedlings from the pots and transplant them into recesses. Amaranth must be planted slightly at an angle and deepened to the first leaf. The best time to transplant amaranth is cloudy weather. If you nevertheless decide to transplant the seedlings in sunny weather, wait until the evening, when the sun is not so bright. After transplanting, water the plants well.

How beautiful amaranth grows from seeds can be seen in the photo:

Features of caring for amaranth

Amaranth is completely unpretentious in care; it does not require a lot of moisture or any special conditions. But in order for the plant not to die and produce a good harvest, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

1. Throughout the summer, amaranth needs to be fertilized with organic and mineral fertilizers. Although amaranth is drought-resistant, in very hot summers it must be watered regularly, otherwise it will simply stop growing. Amaranth can be affected by aphids. To avoid this, for prevention it is necessary to treat the plants with biological preparations - acarin and fitoverm. Weed and hill up the plants as necessary. Be sure to tie up the amaranth so that its branches do not break under the weight of the flowers. In June, pinch the tops of the plants, then the bushes will be more lush, the stems are stable, and the number of ovaries on the branches will be greater. In the fall, you will be able to collect a new crop of seeds and grow seedlings from them for the next planting.

Amaranth diseases

Some pests and diseases can be dangerous for amaranth:

1. The biggest danger to the plant is aphids. It can completely destroy the harvest of young amaranth. Most often, aphids become active in very rainy and damp weather. To combat this pest, it is necessary to use special pesticides. Another dangerous pest is the weevil. Its larvae settle in the stems and reproduce there, thereby delaying the development and growth of amaranth. Special pesticides are also used to control weevils.

So, you have already learned everything about amaranth, growing it from seeds and about the features of caring for this crop. As you can see, growing amaranth from seeds is absolutely easy. It is completely unpretentious and can easily tolerate dry weather.

The main thing when growing is to adhere to the following recommendations - create special conditions in the room where the seeds will germinate, moisten them in time, choose the right place and prepare the soil for replanting. After the seedlings are planted in the ground, it is necessary to periodically weed and hill up the amaranth bushes. If you do not forget all these rules, amaranth will give a good harvest and will delight you with its beauty all season long.

Growing amaranth. Video

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Description: varieties and varieties of tricolor amaranth

The large Amaranth family includes more than 100 species. Among them there are weeds and varieties that are valued for their beautiful flowers. Among this variety of “relatives”, tricolor amaranth stands apart. In East Asian countries, it is cultivated as a vegetable and cultivated for ornamental purposes for its foliage, which is a unique combination of red, yellow and green. At the top, this splendor forms the effect of a blazing fire. The spectacle is mesmerizing even in the photo, let alone contemplating the annual in your own garden!

Externally, the plant resembles a pyramid. The leaves have an elongated shape, often with wavy edges. It grows up to 0.4-1.5 m. The flowers look like small panicles and decorate the bush from the beginning of summer until late autumn, until the first frost occurs. In open ground, tricolor amaranth bears fruit abundantly.

The culture has several varieties, as well as decorative varieties. The most popular of them are:

• Illumination - As they mature, the red-yellow leaves turn orange and then bronze. Plant height is about 70 cm;
• Aurora - the leaves at the top have a beautiful golden-yellow tint;
• Early Splender - the crown leaves of the variety are colored crimson, and the lower ones are almost black.

Planting a plant in the garden: preparatory stage

Growing amaranth in open ground and caring for it is not difficult. However, it is worth remembering that frosts in early spring can destroy a young crop. Therefore, seeds are planted only after the risk of returning low temperatures has passed. With a combination of favorable conditions and proper care, the seed will germinate at temperatures of +4...+25°C. Some gardeners advise waiting for a stable mark of +10°C. The place for seeds should be illuminated and sunny.

Attention! To get early shoots, plant the seeds before winter, before the soil freezes.

If you are propagating an annual plant as a vegetable crop, make sure that the soil is fertile. Although sandy, acidic and even rocky soil is quite suitable. The only exception for growing amaranth is in wetlands and stagnant water. You need to prepare the area for planting in the fall. First, dig the soil to a depth of 0.2 m. After this, add fertilizer: compost, rotted manure or ash, superphosphate.

Methods of propagation and cultivation of plants

Since tricolor amaranth is an annual, of all propagation options, only the seed method is possible. Having prepared the beds for winter, dig up the soil again in the spring. Remove weeds and debris. Add fertilizer again, this time a mineral complex. Bury the seeds 1-2 cm and do not forget about watering. After 2 weeks, you need to thin out the sprouts so that the strongest seedlings have room to develop.

Residents of the southern regions can afford to plant the material directly in open ground. Those who cultivate land in a cooler climate should take care of propagating tricolor amaranth with seedlings. It's easy to get:

1. In April, prepare boxes or pots.
2. Fill them with nutritious soil.
3. Mix the seeds with sand and deepen them 1 cm.
4. After this, cover the containers with film or glass.
5. Place in a warm, bright place.
6. After waiting for the first leaves to appear on the sprouts, pick up the seedlings.
7. In May, plant them in a permanent place in open ground. Interval - 10-15 cm.

Caring for amaranth: watering, fertilizing and fertilizing, other procedures

At first, even with proper care and favorable conditions, the plant develops slowly. It only requires watering on dry days, although amaranth already adapts well to drought. As a rule, young specimens need sufficient water. As they mature, you can simply moisten the soil a little in the late afternoon.

Attention! Amaranth loves warmth, so with proper care it will withstand the summer heat. But it will react poorly to stagnant moisture in the ground.

The plant will only need 3 feedings throughout the season. As a fertilizer, you can use a ready-made mineral complex or mix ash with cow manure. The amaranth plantation should be regularly rid of weeds. Weeding is important during the active development phase of the bush. The ground around the stem can be mulched.

Diseases and pests of amaranth. Combination with other plants on the site

Errors in care can provoke the appearance and rapid reproduction of aphids on the plant. Experienced gardeners usually make an accurate diagnosis when examining the leaves. New gardeners may need a photo to compare signs of the disease. High humidity is a predisposition to aphids, so first of all adjust the watering regime.

Rainy summers often cause rot to appear. Otherwise, the annual exhibits good immunity.

Due to its bright external characteristics, it is difficult for tricolor amaranth to choose “neighbors”. Nevertheless, its combination with alyssum, jasmine, and iberis is considered successful. This variegated plant looks good against the backdrop of lush lawn grass and evergreen bushes. Tall varieties should be planted in the background of a flower garden or along fences, while low-growing varieties can be used as borders.

Tricolor amaranth may well become a bright spot and the center of any garden composition. It will decorate even an inconspicuous corner of the garden, but only if the sun constantly shines in there.

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How to sow amaranth seeds in the ground and for seedlings

1. Sowing amaranth in open ground

It is quite simple to sow the plant: the seeds are very small, just scatter them over the surface of the bed and embed them in the ground with a rake. If in mid-April the soil at a depth of 5 cm has a temperature of 10 ºC, you can place the seed directly into it. The soil is first fertilized with mineral mixtures (30 g per square meter) or complex mixtures, according to the instructions.

When selecting fertilizers, take precautions, since amaranth converts nitrogenous components into toxic nitrates. Therefore, you should not use mixtures containing a lot of nitrogen. For successful seed germination, it is very important to complete all stages of work on time. So, if sowing is done on time, the weeds will not have time to grow and choke out the plants.

So, at the end of April, the soil is moistened and grooves 2-3 cm deep are made in it.. Seeds are carefully sown in them and mixed with sand in a ratio of 1:20 for convenience. The interval between the grooves is 45 cm wide, and between plants inside the grooves is 10 cm. Since the seeds are very small, thinning is indispensable.

Amaranth sprouts after 8-10 days, after which it is thinned out and the soil is loosened. When planting seedlings in May, do not forget to get rid of weeds. When amaranth reaches a height of 20 cm, it is fed with nitrogenous fertilizers in half the dose required according to the instructions. The ripening of a plant, be it a vegetable or decorative amaranth, occurs in 3-3.5 months.

2. Amaranth seedlings at home

Growing amaranth using this method is also easy.

• Seeds are sown in advance in a container in March. This can be a plastic container or low pots.
• Planting is carried out as follows: the soil is moistened and small shifts are carefully scattered over the surface of the substrate, only then covering them lightly with soil (simply sprinkling it on top).
• The container is placed in a bright and warm place. As soon as the humidity in the ground decreases, water is applied to the surface with a sprayer.
• If the room is cool, the container is heated to a temperature of 22 ºC. If all these conditions are taken into account, amaranth will germinate in a week.
• As soon as the seedlings have appeared, they are thinned out, leaving only strong shoots. After three true leaves appear, young amaranths are planted in individual small pots with a diameter of 12 cm. Remember that this should be done very carefully so that the seedlings take root. It is better to use a toothpick or fork to replant the plant with a lump of earth.
• Amaranth grows quite quickly, and in three weeks you get full-fledged seedlings 15-20 cm tall.

How to sow amaranth, look at the video:

3. Planting amaranth

Amaranth seedlings are planted in late spring, when it is already very warm and frosts do not pose a threat. As a rule, this time is the end of May. Choose a well-lit area with light soil and reliable drainage. Even if the soil is not very prepared, this is not critical. This plant is unpretentious and grows in different conditions. It is only important to provide it with an optimal temperature and prevent the accumulation of excess moisture in the soil.

How to plant amaranth. Seedlings ready for planting are placed in the soil in a flowerbed at a distance of 10-30 cm in a row and 45-70 cm between rows. Then it is watered regularly, since the seedlings take root for a long time and sit without growing. If cold weather sets in at this time, the seedlings are covered, as they cannot tolerate low temperatures.

Amaranth care

This plant does not require special care. All care activities are carried out before the growth period, that is, in the first month of cultivation. At this time, they need to be watered, weeds removed, and the soil cultivated. During the growth phase, amaranth develops very quickly, so it does not require special care. There are days when amaranth increases in size by 7 cm per day. Water the flower only for the first month, until the roots deepen. Then water is added only during severe drought.

Fertilizing is carried out 3-4 times a year with ash in a ratio of 200 g per 10 liters of water or mullein in a ratio of 1:5. Fertilize the plants in the morning, immediately after watering.

Educational video about growing and caring for amaranth:

Amaranth after flowering

After flowering, amaranth may be of interest to those who want to collect seeds from it. To do this, select the largest plants and save their leaves after flowering. When the lower greens turn red and dry out, the stem turns whitish - it's time to harvest. Seed collection is carried out in dry times, cutting off large inflorescences. Then they are dried indoors until the seeds freely fall out of the boxes in panicles. They are collected in a box or paper bag and stored for next year. Their shelf life is more than 5 years.

Wintering amaranth

Description of amaranth

The flower has both simple and branched stems, on which whole leaves of lanceolate, diamond-shaped or ovoid shape are alternately located. The base of the plate smoothly passes into the petiole, and its apex is pointed and notched. The flowers sit in the axils, are red, golden, green or purple, arranged in bunches or spike-shaped panicles at the tops. The fruit of the plant is a capsule containing many small seeds. The entire plant as a whole is violet, green or purple in color. In some cases, all colors are present in one plant. Amaranth can grow from 30 cm to 3 m, depending on the species. It is cultivated in flower beds as an annual plant.

Pests and diseases

If there is excess moisture in the soil, fungal diseases can also appear. To get rid of them, fungicides are applied to amaranth by spraying. The most successful remedies are colloidal sulfur, copper oxychloride, and copper sulfate.

Types of amaranth and its varieties

Paniculate amaranth (Amaranthus paniculatus)

The most popular type of this plant, which is grown in a flower bed, for cutting for bouquets and for other purposes. Grows up to 150 cm in height. It has elongated, ovate leaves of a red-brown color with characteristic pointed tips.

It blooms with small red flowers forming erect inflorescences. Flowering time is from June until frost. Cultivated since 1798, it has several varieties, grouped into three groups. Thus, the nana group are low-growing plants up to 50 cm in height, cruentus are amaranths with drooping red inflorescences, and sanguineus are erect inflorescences.

As a rule, gardeners use small amaranths, in particular the following varieties:

• Rother Dam, Rother Paris - amaranths 50-60 cm high, distinguished by pleasant dark burgundy flowers and foliage of the same color;
• Tswergfakel, Grunefakel - the height of these varieties is only 35 cm, and the color of the inflorescences is purple and dark green;
• Hot Biscuit is the tallest amaranth, growing up to a meter in height, with green leaves and orange-red flowers.

Dark amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus)

A medium-sized, low-branched bush with pointed oblong-lanceolate leaves of a characteristic purple-green color. It blooms dark red, the inflorescences are vertical spike-shaped panicles. Cultivated in 1548. A bright red form of amaranth, sanguineus, has also been developed, with drooping inflorescences.

The most popular varieties are:

• Pygmy Torch is 60 cm tall, with dark purple flowers that turn chestnut in autumn, as well as multi-colored leaves;
• Green Thumb is 40 cm high with emerald-colored flowers and leaves, which makes it popular among florists.

Tricolor amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor)

Another decorative medium-sized species, which is distinguished by special branching, as a result of which the bush has a pyramidal shape. Its leaves are ovoid, elongated, often with a wavy edge, and have yellow, red and green colors, which is extremely attractive to gardeners. Flowering time - from June until cold weather.

There are such varieties of it:

• willow (salicifolius) - has narrow wavy bronze-green 20-centimeter leaves;
• red-green (rubriviridis) - the leaves have a ruby-violet color, covered with green spots;
• red (ruber) - blood-red leaves;
• bright (splendens) - dark green leaves with brown spots.

There are also several decorative varieties, namely:

• amaranth Illumination is a large plant, reaching 70 cm, with large leaves of different colors. So, the youngest leaves have a red-yellow tint, then it darkens to a red-orange color, finally turning into bronze;
• Aurora - distinguished by golden-yellow wavy apical leaves;
• Earlie Splender - the uppermost leaves are crimson in color, and the lower ones are purple-green, almost black.

Amaranthus caudatus

The species is native to Africa, South America and Asia. It has a large, erect one and a half meter stem, on which there are large leaves of an elongated ovate type. Their color is purple-green. During flowering, it forms long hanging panicles, in which small crimson or dark red flowers are collected in spherical balls. Flowering time is June-October. Cultivated in 1568.

There are the following forms of this amaranth:

• white-flowered - has green-white petals;
• green - flowers popular with florists are pale green;
• bead-shaped - its inflorescence is in the shape of a whorl, which in itself resembles beads.

There are also two varieties of amaranth caudate:

• Rotschwanz - distinguished by red inflorescences
• Grunschwanz - has light green flowers.

Any of these varieties is a large bush 75 cm high, occupying a lot of space in the flowerbed.

The benefits and harms of amaranth

Many modern technologists note that amaranth is a plant that can solve the problem of hunger on Earth. Of course, these are exaggerated statements, but partly true. Firstly, amaranth is completely edible. Any part of it is useful for the body and has many nutrients, especially the seeds. Thus, they contain many fatty acids necessary for normal metabolism, namely oleic, linoleic, stearic, palmitic. It is not surprising that various dietary products and supplements are made from amaranth. This plant also contains squalene, rutin, steroids, carotene, vitamins B, D, P, C and E, pantothenic and bile acid, as well as other substances.

Amaranth leaves have no less beneficial properties than spinach, but they contain much more protein, which contains lysine. And this is an essential amino acid, which is absorbed from amaranth much better than from other products (soybeans, corn, wheat). According to the Japanese, the green leaves of amaranth are somewhat similar to squid meat, since they have a rejuvenating effect and also restore the body well after a tired working day.

All types of amaranth are healthy and rich in biologically active substances, even decorative. But this does not mean that decorative amaranth should be eaten, since its intended cultivation is completely different. This can also be seen from the external appearance of the seeds - decorative varieties are darker.

Vegetable oil is made from amaranth seeds, which is several times more beneficial than sea buckthorn. Therefore, it is used for cosmetic purposes (for skin rejuvenation, creating masks and creams, antibacterial protection of the skin).

And if amaranth is sprouted, its sprouts will have no less benefits than mother’s milk, which is why they are actively used in cooking and medicine. Thus, amaranth is used to treat obesity, neurosis, atherosclerosis, dysbacteriosis and other diseases. Amaranth seeds are used to treat kidneys and liver, prostate adenoma, cardiovascular problems, and diseases of the urinary system. Moreover, there is confirmed data on the successful treatment of malignant neoplasms with amaranth.

One way to use the benefits of amaranth is to add its leaves to salads.. Flour obtained from grains can be mixed with wheat flour, thereby changing the taste of prepared dishes and improving their properties. Amaranth seeds can often be found on bread and buns. To keep canned cucumbers crisp all winter, add an amaranth leaf to the jar. Let's look at several recipes using this plant.

Dessert with nuts and amaranth. Heat honey and butter, add amaranth seeds and nuts, pour everything into a mold and cool in the refrigerator. Then take it out and cut it into pieces.

Amaranto salad m. 200 g of green amaranth are mixed with 50 g of young garlic and 200 g of pre-scalded nettle leaves. All this is crushed, chopped, salted and seasoned with sunflower oil.

Sauce. Boil 300 g of cream, then mix it with 100 g of soft cheese and 200 g of chopped amaranth leaves. Heat the mixture over the fire until all the cheese has melted.

Cypriot soup. It is prepared with chickpeas, a glass of which is pre-soaked overnight and boiled. Then the carrots and onions are sauteed and crushed in chickpea broth in a blender. Amaranth seeds in the amount of 0.5 cups are boiled separately for 25 minutes, then mixed with the previously obtained puree. Add sweet canned corn to the mixture, lemon juice to taste and bring to a boil.

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Sowing amaranth: tricks and subtleties of gardening

Growing a flower like amaranth, having certain knowledge, is not at all difficult. In those places where the soil warms up to 10 degrees Celsius by April, at a depth of 5 centimeters, amaranth can be planted. Experienced gardeners advise cultivating the soil before planting, fertilizing the soil with mineral fertilizer or a complex mixture, according to the instructions.

If you sow the seeds of this flower on time, it will germinate quickly. The best time to do this is at the end of April. Also, planting a plant during this period will save you from the problem of weed control. The grains must be planted in a hole 1.5 cm deep. A distance of 35-40 centimeters must be maintained between the rows. If you mix the seeds with sand, planting will become more convenient. In a week or a little more the plant will begin to grow and needs to be thinned out.

How to plant amaranth in open ground correctly

Growing this flower in seedlings is not a troublesome task. Gardeners recommend sowing amaranth seeds for seedlings at the end of March. You can use plastic buckets or ordinary pots up to ten centimeters high as containers for planting plants.

Seeds should be sprinkled into moist soil two centimeters deep, then place the pots in a bright place. Crops should be watered with a sprayer. If you fulfill all the above requirements, amaranth seeds will sprout within a week. When the young growth grows, they should be thinned out by picking off weak stems. After you see more than three leaves on each sprout, you can plant the plants in small pots, the diameter of which is about 12 cm.

When is the best time to plant amaranth?

If you decide to grow amaranth, growing from seed and when to plant depends on many factors. It is best to plant flowers when the soil in the area is warm enough. You should check the weather forecast so that frosts are not predicted, then you can transfer the amaranth to open ground. This period usually occurs in the middle and end of May. Choose a place prepared for the plant that is well lit, the soil must be nutritious, with the required amount of lime.

Simply put, amaranth itself is unpretentious, but it absolutely does not tolerate cold weather and abundant moisture in the ground. The flower is planted at a distance of 10-30 centimeters between plants, and a gap of 45-65 cm is required between the rows. Until the seedlings take root, they need regular watering. If it is cold outside, you need to protect the plants from low temperatures.

Amaranth care

You need to care for this flower until the plant begins to grow. In the first month, amaranth seedlings grow rather slowly, for this reason they need watering and weeding. Then it accelerates in growth to such a scale that sometimes in a day the plant can grow up to 7 centimeters in height. Additional feeding of amaranth should be carried out 3-4 times per season. It is better to fertilize the flower with mullein solution in the morning after the main watering. Amaranth rarely suffers from pests and diseases. But sometimes the flower can be affected by aphids or weevils. Weevils are located in the stems of the plant and slow down its growth. Aphids attack amaranth only at the beginning of its life and in rainy summers, in “adult” age, the aphid flower is not afraid of aphids. You can destroy pests with Actellik or Fufanon. These methods give good results and permanently save plants from parasite attacks.

The amazing amaranth plant came to us from the wild lands of China, America and India. In Eastern countries, it has long been cultivated, both as a grain crop, and as a vegetable crop, and as an ornamental plant. No wonder, because amaranth is incredible in that it is completely edible and looks gorgeous in any flower bed. You will learn more about growing it from seeds and when you can plant it in our article.

Description and properties of the Amaranth plant

Amaranth is also called amaranth and belongs to the Amaranth family. In Mexico and South America, this particular plant became the main one used in the diet of indigenous peoples in ancient times. Now some varieties of amaranth are already considered weeds. This culture came to Europe from the Spaniards, who brought amaranth as an element for decorating flower beds. Later the plant began to be used as feed and grain.

Amaranth plant

Amaranth can grow on branched or porous stems. The leaves are always entire and alternate, and can be diamond-shaped, ovate or lanceolate. They are elongated at the base, the top of the leaf has a small pointed point and a slight notch. Axillary flowers are found in various colors: golden, green, purple, red. Flowers are always collected in bunches, and at the very top they are represented by spike-shaped panicles.

After flowering, it forms a fruit in the shape of a box, where rather small seeds are found. The whole plant also has various shades of purple, green or violet, and some varieties combine all these tones. The variety also affects the height of the amaranth, and can vary from 30 centimeters to 3 meters. It is most often grown as an annual plant. Because of its decorative and unpretentiousness, the flower is often used for arranging flower beds and flower beds. For more details regarding the formation of a flower garden at the dacha, see

In our open spaces, amaranth has many alternative names: cat's tail, amaranth, cockscomb, velvet, axamite. However, the name amaranth has Greek roots and is translated as an unfading flower.

Types and variety

Since the culture quickly found application in all industries, a lot of varieties were bred. Basically, varieties are divided into 4 types: food, grain, fodder and decorative. And the qualities of each type were derived accordingly: in food - on the taste of the whole plant, in grain - on the number of seeds and their taste, in fodder - on the nutritional value and size of the plant, in decorative - on the bright and unusual appearance.

Food grade

Edible amaranth is distinguished by its high content of various beneficial nutrients and a fairly high protein content in the stems and leaves. Reproduction occurs, as in all Amaranthaceae, by seeds. Despite the emphasis on nutritional qualities, the plant is most often used for decorative purposes. These varieties are also characterized by the fact that absolutely all parts of the plant are edible: stems, leaves, seeds.

The most famous edible varieties:

• Valentina;
• Sturdy;
• In memory of Covas;
• Ororeo or Opopeo;
• White amaranth (White Leaf).

Amaranth seeds are incredibly healthy and can be used to make oil, for food and to feed pets. Cereal species are characterized by a large amount of seed harvest, while the leaves and stems are considered inedible. The most famous grain varieties:

• Helios;
• Kharkovsky-1;
• Voronezh;
• Ultra;
• Orange giant.

Orange giant

Most farmers appreciate the benefits of growing fodder varieties of amaranth. These varieties are most often very tall, have succulent leaves and stems, grow quickly and produce large yields. Suitable for feeding almost all animals: cows, pigs, chickens, rabbits. All parts of amaranth can be eaten, including the root system.

The following varieties are suitable for sowing forage amaranths:

• Giant;
• Aztec;
• Lera;
• Kizlyarets;
• Royal;
• Emperor.

Decorative varieties vary in leaf color and flowering beauty. Flowers can not only be bright, but have radically different shapes. Decorative amaranth will delight you with its appearance both during the dry period and until frost. A lot of time was devoted to the cultivation of ornamental varieties. Only the most famous varieties:

Dark amaranth

• Dark Amaranth;
• Tailed Amaranth;
• Red or paniculate Amaranth;
• Tricolor Amaranth;
• Green Amaranth;
• Rother Dam;
• Yellow Amaranth;
• Hot Biscuit;
• Rotschwanz;
• Pygmy Torch.

All decorative amaranths are incredibly beautiful, so they are often used not only to decorate a flower bed or garden plot, but also in making bouquets, flower arrangements, and wreaths. They remain fresh for a very long time after cutting, and when grown in the ground, they are very resistant to weather conditions.

Features of growing from seeds

Amaranth can be grown in a pot to produce seedlings, or directly into open ground. For growing in pots, the best time is March. You can take regular flower pots or peat ones from the container, and the suitable height is 10 centimeters. The seeds do not sink very deeply, 1.5-2 centimeters is enough and this makes watering much easier: the ground can simply be sprayed with a sprayer.

The speed of germination depends on temperature and light conditions. At a temperature of 22ºC degrees, the first shoots will appear on the 4th-5th day, and at 16ºC – on the 10th day. To stimulate the growth of green mass, seedlings can be treated.

Since the germination rate of Amaranth seeds is very high, the sprouts will need to be thinned out as soon as they have three full leaves, and then planted in separate slightly deeper pots.

Sowing in open ground

Amaranth germinates very well even when sown directly into the ground. Here it is important to wait for the time when, at a depth of 4-5 centimeters, the soil warms up by about 10ºC under the sun. Before this time, it is advisable to fertilize the soil on the site. Mineral mixtures and complex fertilizers are suitable. Mineral fertilizers will need 30 grams per square meter for digging, and complex fertilizers will be mixed as indicated in the instructions. For more information on the types and use of mineral fertilizers, see. When choosing a fertilizer, try to find compounds with the lowest nitrogen content, since amaranth “knows how” to convert nitrogen fertilizers into nitrates.

Soil preparation

Sowing in the ground exactly at this temperature, usually at the end of April, allows amaranth to grow quickly without the risk of being “suppressed” by weeds. Sowing in May will also give good seedlings, but you will have to constantly weed the amaranth from weeds. Sowing is done in furrows with moist soil. You can place each seed 1.5-2 centimeters into the soil, or you can mix the seeds with sawdust or sand in a ratio of 1:20. The grooves should be 45 centimeters apart, and 7-10 between seeds. The first shoots will appear in a little more than a week, and all frequent shoots should be thinned out. Be sure to loosen the soil until the amaranth “comes into force.”

When the plant reaches 20 centimeters, you can “feed” the amaranth a little more. Now it will do, but reduce the concentration by half as recommended by the manufacturer.

Planting seedlings

Planting of seedlings occurs when the night frosts have definitely ended. Most often this is mid to late May. The best soil is nutritious and light, with limestone admixtures, and the site is lighted and drained.

Planting seedlings

Amaranth is not known for its capriciousness, but it does not like the cold and large amounts of moisture in the ground. Before planting amaranth seedlings, dig up an area with 20 grams of nitroammophoska per square meter. Read more about the properties and application rates of nitroammofosk fertilizer.

The location between seedlings is determined by the amaranth variety and can range from 10 centimeters to 30, and the rows can be spaced from 45 centimeters to 70 centimeters apart. Until the seedlings are definitely established and begin to actively grow, they will have to be watered regularly, but without fanaticism, since the plant still does not like moisture. If cold weather suddenly sets in, the amaranth will have to be covered so that it does not get sick or die.

Collecting seeds after flowering

It is very easy to collect seeds for future planting. Amaranth seeds will retain their germination capacity for another 5 years. Storing them is also easy - a paper bag or box will do.

Seed collection

1. Choose one or more of the “strongest” amaranths and do not pick their leaves.
2. Wait until the lower leaves turn red, dry out on their own, and the amaranth drops them. By this time, the stem of the plant will become almost white.
3. Now we need calm and dry weather to cut off all the inflorescences on the amaranth. It's better to start from the bottom.
4. After collecting the inflorescences, they should be dried. Drying is best done in a room with good ventilation and without moisture. The “panicles” will take several weeks to dry.
5. As soon as the inflorescences dry well, you can start collecting seeds. This will have to be done manually, rubbing each “broom” with your fingers. Small seeds will spill out of the “boxes” very easily.
6. At the end, be sure to sift the amaranth seeds through a sieve.

If you planted several varieties, dry them in different places so that the seeds do not mix. The remaining parts of amaranth can also be used. The remaining stem can be placed in a compost bin, which will provide amazing fertilizer for the future.

Fertilizers and care

Amaranth is completely undemanding in terms of care. The most difficult period for this plant is until the moment of active growth. Usually amaranth needs almost a month to become well established and during this time it grows very slowly. In the first month you will have to weed the beds, regularly water the amaranth and loosen the soil near the seedlings.

Feeding is not often necessary. Enough 3-4 times throughout the season. The best feeding is a solution of mullein and. The solution is diluted in proportions 1:5, and ash will need 200 grams per 10 liters of water. The best time of day to fertilize is early in the morning after watering the entire area.

You will notice a period of active growth immediately. Some varieties can grow 5-7 centimeters in just one day. After this, there is no need to water the amaranth frequently - its roots go very deep. However, if there is a very dry period, watering will still be needed. Just make sure that the soil is not too dry or constantly wet.

Diseases and pests

Amaranth is also distinguished by its excellent “health”. It is practically not attacked by pests and almost never gets sick. Only weevils and aphids can harm the plant. The latter pests pose a strong threat only in the first month of amaranth growth, but weevils develop in the amaranth stem and can greatly delay its development.

An aphid attack can be expected if the summer is too wet, but everything can be solved by treating with special means. Both aphids and weevils die after treating the plant with karbofos (fufanon) or actellik. Strong moisture can also provoke fungal diseases. But they are also very easy to treat with spraying. Copper oxychloride, colloidal sulfur, copper sulfate and other fungicides are suitable.

Video

For more useful details about growing amaranth from seeds, watch the video

Conclusion

The only drawback of amaranth is its inability to survive the winter. In hotter countries, this plant is considered a perennial, but in our latitudes, sowing is necessary every year. An incredibly useful and beautiful plant will find a place in every area, especially since it requires practically no care. It looks great as part of flower arrangements. For more details on creating a beautiful flower bed at your dacha, see. Amaranth is a natural source of such beneficial carotene and contains a lot of vitamin C. There are now many recipes with amaranth circulating on the Internet.