How Do You Grow Amaranth?

Growing Amaranth: A Bold, Ancient Crop for Modern Gardens

Amaranth is a plant with swagger. It's gorgeously ornamental, edible from root to tip, and thrives in conditions that would make lesser plants tap out. If you've never grown it, you're missing out on one of the easiest-to-care-for, showstopping plants you can add to your garden.

Choosing the Right Variety

There are over 70 species of amaranth, but only a handful are cultivated for food or ornamental use. For greens, try Amaranthus tricolor—its young leaves are tender and packed with nutrients. If grain is your game, go for Amaranthus hypochondriacus or Amaranthus caudatus.

Looking for a head-turner? Love-lies-bleeding has cascading crimson blooms that practically ooze drama.

How to Plant Amaranth

The seeds are tiny, but don’t let that intimidate you. Scatter them like you’re salting a steak, then cover lightly with soil. Amaranth thrives in heat, so wait until after the last frost to sow.

If you’re in a cooler region, start them indoors 6-8 weeks earlier. Transplant gently; amaranth hates having its roots disturbed.

The Ideal Growing Conditions

This plant is a sun worshipper. Give it full sun, and it will reward you with vigorous growth. Amaranth also loves well-draining soil, but it’s shockingly tolerant of poor conditions if needed.

Amaranth is drought-tolerant once established, but even the toughest plants enjoy a long drink now and then. Water it deeply when the soil dries out.

Soil and Fertilizer

Amaranth isn't fussy. If your soil is loamy, sandy, or even heavy clay, it'll adapt. That said, mix compost into the soil before planting for a head start. Nitrogen-rich fertilizer works well if you’re growing for greens, but go light—too much nitrogen stunts seed production.

Caring for Amaranth

This plant practically grows itself. But to maximize its yield, consistency is key. Keep the soil moist during germination, and once seedlings are up, thin them to about a foot apart.

Amaranth can grow up to 6-8 feet tall, particularly the grain varieties, so staking might be necessary if it gets top-heavy. I’ve seen one topple in a fierce summer storm—it bounced back, but I wouldn’t count on that kind of resilience every time.

Pests and Diseases

Few pests bother amaranth, but don’t let your guard down. Aphids and flea beetles might take a liking to it, so check the undersides of leaves. Spraying with a diluted soap solution usually keeps them in check.

As for diseases, a well-spaced planting setup prevents fungal issues like powdery mildew. No crowding—it’s a plant, not a mosh pit.

Harvesting Amaranth

For Greens

The secret to tender greens is timing. Pick the young leaves early when they’re about 3-6 inches long. Older leaves are edible but can get a bit chewy, like kale’s grumpy cousin.

For Grain

1. Wait until the flower heads dry and turn brown—this signals the seeds are ready.
2. Cut the heads off and lay them on a flat surface to finish drying.
3. Rub the heads gently to release the seeds and winnow away the chaff.

One plant can yield thousands of seeds. You’ll feel like you hit the jackpot during harvest.

Why Grow Amaranth?

If you’re into self-sufficiency, amaranth is your MVP. The grain is packed with protein, the leaves rival spinach in nutrition, and even the stalks can be composted into rich organic matter.

Beyond that, it’s jaw-droppingly beautiful. I once had someone knock on my front door just to ask about the “giant red fountain flowers” in my garden. That was before they found out it was food too.

Growing amaranth isn’t just gardening—it’s an indulgent experiment in abundance. Once it’s established, all you need to do is step back and let the magic happen.

Amaranth is an excellent small-flowering grain that makes a beautiful addition to your food & floral scape rotation. It is an outstanding source of fiber, B vitamins, manganese, and potassium – all essential minerals for plant growth and health. Amaranth has been grown for hundreds of years in Asia and the Middle East as a famine food crop. The long, thin grain can be stored without spoiling and eaten later in the season as a complete grain rather than just a starch source. Amaranth also makes an excellent green manure crop. Growing Amaranth requires similar growing practices to other seed grains such as millet or oats, though it grows much smaller and the yield per acre will usually not be quite as high. You'll need regular pollination & careful management of soil ph & moisture to ensure healthy plant growth year round.