Amaranthus cruentus ‘Huatl grain amaranth’
This variety is processed in central Mexico by popping the dry seeds and making Alegria, a confection of seeds and honey. Leaves and inflorescences have a pink hue.
A tall summer growing annual that produces thousands of small blond coloured seeds (with a few black seeds) in summer.
The young seedlings are delicious raw or cooked and should be harvested when they reach around 15 cm.
Leave the strongest seedlings for grain and give 20-30cm space between plants for maximum harvest.
The seeds can be cooked, ground to flour or dry popped for use. If given room, grain amaranth can reach over 2m but if crowded, only half so.
Tall plants may need to be staked in windy areas. Best grown in full sun.
Seeds are shed once ripe so once the first seeds are expelled with a bit of finger manipulation of the seed head the whole plant should be cut and allowed to dry where the seeds can drop and be swept up.
Using clean empty plastic garbage cans works well for 3-4 plants placed upside down in each can. Shaking and a bit of beating releases most seeds, what remains makes good mulch.
100 seeds/packet
Approximate minimum seed count per pack
100 seeds/packet
Germination
Seeds can be planted direct or sown in pots for
transplanting at 3-4 weeks. If sowing direct, plant in November,
if in pots, sow in October. If growing for grain, thin surplus young
seedlings for veggie use early before they reach 15 cm height.Leave the strongest seedlings for grain and give 20-30cm space
between plants for maximum harvest. Seeds are shed once ripe
so once the first seeds are expelled with a bit of finger
manipulation of the seed head the whole plant should be cut
and allowed to dry where the seeds can drop and be swept up.
Using clean empty plastic garbage cans works well for 3-4
plants placed upside down in each can. Shaking and a bit of
beating releases most seeds, what remains makes good mulch.