When is the best time to plant amaranth?

Amaranth is known for its rich content of minerals such as calcium and iron, and has extremely high nutritional value. There is a saying that goes "Amaranth in June is as valuable as eggs , and in July it is as precious as gold", which emphasizes its preciousness in a specific season. Compared to other leafy vegetables, amaranth has a firmer and chewier texture. In terms of cultivation, cultivated amaranth is usually purple-red, while wild amaranth is different. When harvesting, cultivated amaranth can be harvested by pulling up the entire plant, or by picking only the top part for multiple harvests. Let’s learn together when is the best time to plant Amaranth?

When is the best time to plant amaranth?

Amaranth prefers warm climates, so it is mainly grown in spring and summer. Although it is less common to plant amaranth in the fall, it is still possible. It just requires careful selection of the planting time and the use of mulch when necessary to maintain soil temperature to ensure normal growth of amaranth.

Amaranth grows best in a temperature range of 23 to 27 degrees Celsius. Once the temperature exceeds 30 degrees Celsius, its growth will be inhibited and bolting will easily occur, while temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius will slow down the growth rate. Seeds also need a warm environment to germinate. The optimal germination temperature is 22 to 24 degrees Celsius. When the temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius, the germination speed will drop significantly or not germinate at all. In autumn, if the temperature conditions are suitable, Amaranth will germinate quickly from sowing, and seedlings can be seen in about 5 days.

Amaranth grows quickly, and the entire growth cycle is about thirty days. Although it can be sown multiple times in the frost-free season, amaranth can only grow better under suitable temperatures.

For northern regions, amaranth should be planted as early as possible in autumn, and it is best to sow it around the beginning of autumn, because the temperature will gradually drop after the beginning of autumn, and the maximum daily temperature will drop below 30 degrees Celsius. The average temperature from August to September is above 15 degrees Celsius, which provides ample time for Amaranth to grow. However, after October, the temperature dropped rapidly and was no longer suitable for the growth of Amaranth.

Therefore, the following recommendations are made: Amaranth sown around the beginning of autumn should be harvested before the end of September, and can be planted outdoors. If sowing in September, it is recommended to build a small arch shed to promote the growth of amaranth. After September in northern regions, you should consider growing amaranth in a solar greenhouse to maintain suitable temperature conditions.

Amaranth planting tips

Soil Preparation and Sowing: Amaranth can be planted by direct sowing or broadcasting. It is highly adaptable to soil, but ideally it should be grown in well-drained, fertile and loose soil. Before planting, it is usually necessary to water thoroughly and apply base fertilizer, and then till the soil to form a bed about one meter wide. Given that amaranth seeds are small, in order to increase the germination rate, it is recommended to soak the seeds before sowing to promote germination. When about half of the seeds have white spots, they can be sown. After sowing, a layer of finely sieved soil should be covered. In spring, due to the lower ground temperature, the soil covering can be slightly thicker; in summer and autumn, the soil covering should be thinner. Amaranth is drought-resistant but not cold-resistant. In spring, it is advisable to choose cold-resistant varieties such as red amaranth or red amaranth, while in summer and autumn, it is suitable to plant willow-leaf amaranth or red amaranth. Spring planting can start from late February, and summer and autumn planting is between June and August. The seedlings will emerge from the soil 7 to 10 days after sowing, and then weeding, thinning and water and fertilizer management will be required in time.

Water and fertilizer management: Amaranth is fertilized mainly with nitrogen fertilizer. The first topdressing is done when the seedlings grow two true leaves. After that, topdressing is done every 10 days depending on the growth situation. Topdressing should also be done in time after each harvest. Watering strategies vary in different seasons. In spring, the soil should be kept slightly moist and watering should be done in small amounts and multiple times. Due to the large evaporation in summer, the amount and frequency of watering need to be increased. The first watering should be done after the seedlings are all grown, and then the watering should be adjusted according to the soil moisture.

When to harvest: Amaranth is a continuous harvest crop and can usually be harvested when it has 6 leaves. Amaranth planted in summer and autumn can be harvested after about a month. Harvesting too late will cause the leaves to become fibrous and affect the taste. When harvesting for the second time, about 5 cm of stubble should be retained, and subsequent harvesting should be carried out according to the growth of side branches. Amaranth can generally be harvested three times, and twice in summer and autumn.

The above is an introduction to the key points of growing amaranth. The flavor of amaranth is actually very good. In many places, there is a delicious dish of amaranth cooked with preserved eggs . Are there any friends who like to eat amaranth?