Since amaranth is extremely sensitive to frost, it has to be sown every year. But when is the right time? How deep should the amaranth grains be sown and which location is even suitable for this pseudo grain?

If amaranth is preferred, it will flower sooner

Sowing time: From March to June

You can sow the amaranth (also known as foxtail) as early as March, at home in a warm place. Preculture is recommended until the end of April. After that, no-till is better.

If you want to sow the amaranth directly outdoors, you should not do so before mid-May. The ice saints should be over by now. Otherwise there is a risk that the young plants will freeze to death due to night frost. You can sow the seeds directly by June at the latest.

Find a suitable location

But where does the amaranth feel good? When planting or sowing, a location with the following properties should be used:

  • full sun to half shade
  • sheltered from the wind (to avoid buckling of the stems)
  • deep ground
  • well drained, loose, nutritious soil

Getting started with sowing: sowing depth, germination temperature and germination time

Here we go: the tiny seeds are sown 1 to 2 cm deep. The reason: Amaranth is a dark germ. It should now be warm for germination. Temperatures between 15 and 19 °C are optimal to stimulate the germination process. If the soil was kept moderately moist, the seedlings will appear on the surface after 1 to 2 weeks.

Important information for further culture after sowing

After sowing, the following aspects are important:

  • water well for the first few weeks
  • Young plants are susceptible to snail damage
  • later, amaranth tolerates dry periods well
  • From a size of 10 cm, thin out to a distance of 20 to 30 cm
  • Excess amaranth plants (from thinning) can be harvested and eaten

Varieties suitable for direct sowing

Finally, a selection of amaranth varieties that are well suited for direct sowing, as they either bear fruit very early or grow low and therefore flower early:

  • 'Green Thumb'
  • 'Pigmy Torch'
  • 'Sangre de Castilla'
  • 'opopeo'

tips

100 g of seeds are enough for a whole hectare of land. You can spread them out and then gently rake them in.

Category:

Vegetable garden