Very few people know amaranth as a plant. At first I too thought more of the food, of the small grains. The cereal-like amaranth grains are very healthy. They are a staple food in many Latin American countries. The plants have been cultivated for 9,000 years. It is also called “Inca wheat”. With us, amaranth is mainly known to those who have to eat gluten-free. In addition, the grain is good for all people with iron deficiency and for pregnant women. The biological value of the proteins is particularly valuable. It surpasses that of milk, which is why amaranth is very popular as an additive in baby food.
Table of Contents
appearance and varieties
Foxtail, that’s a term many people have, you immediately have a picture in your mind. Long hanging bright buds and a very showy plant. There are numerous Amaranthus species, around 60 to 70. They are found all over the world except Antarctica. Garden amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus), also known as kiwicha, is usually used in home gardens. The grain crop is mainly grown in Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and the Himalayas. Garden amaranth is often found in cottage gardens in Central Europe. It is used as a cut and dried flower. Its long inflorescences, usually dark purple, are striking from June to September.
It is also interesting that the azo dye amaranth is also used as a food coloring as a food additive E 123.
Interesting species and varieties
A. caudatus – 60 to 100 cm high, probably from Africa or Asia
- ‘Fat Spike’ – upright, very voluminous, red inflorescences, foliage dark green to brownish
- ‘Redstart’ – pendulous magenta inflorescences, rich green leaves
- ‘Marvel Bronce’ – upright red inflorescences, dark bronze leaves
- ‘Greentail’ – pendulous, light green inflorescences, very long and rich green leaves
- ‘Pony Tails’ – red and green inflorescences, very long, often reaching the ground, grows to 120 cm tall
- ‘Kupferberg’ – orange to copper colored upright inflorescences, green foliage, grows to 130 cm tall
- ‘Oeschberg’ – dark red, upright inflorescences, dark green to olive foliage
A. tricolor – also called vegetable amaranth, from Southeast Asia, impressive leaves in two or three colors, about 20 cm long, flowers on the other hand are unspectacular, plant up to 130 cm high
- ‘Perfecta’ – striking orange-red bracts, up to 85 cm high
- ‘Early Splendor’ – dark foliage, conspicuous red-yellow, curled bracts, 80 to 100 cm high
- ‘Splendens Perfecta’ – green-red leaves with some yellow, about 85cm tall
- ‘Joseph’s Coat’ – yellow-red-green leaves, only 50 to 60 cm high
The care of the Amaranthus or foxtail
Amaranth is cultivated as an annual summer flower. Usually it is the garden amaranth that is grown. The plants are quite easy to care for, but need a lot of warmth. In cold, rainy years they develop slowly and remain small. The first frosts kill the plants. Flowering amaranth plants are well suited for the vase. Seed pods do well in dried bouquets.
Amaranth can be used as a container plant, but may only be placed outside from mid-May. Some varieties also make good traffic light plants. The flowers hang great over the edge of the vessels.
The disadvantage is that when the seeds reach maturity, amaranth can spread massively. If you don’t want that, you have to remove the seeds or the faded inflorescences. The seeds often do not survive harsh winters, but mild ones do. Since you don’t know how the winter will turn out, you should play it safe.
location
Above all, the location must be sunny and warm. In cool summers, the plants develop much worse than in warm ones. Otherwise, these plants are not very demanding when it comes to their location. A wind-protected place is good, as the quite tall plants break off or buckle quickly.
- All species love warmth and sun
- They also need warmth to germinate, which is why they are among the late-growing plants
- A wind-protected place is good, as the wind can whirl around the long inflorescences, which can get tangled and damaged.
- In a sunny location, it is beneficial to mulch the soil.
plant substrate
Again, heat is important. The foxtail copes better with dry soils than with wet ones. Nutritious soil is important. Barren soil impedes growth. The plants do not develop well. Standard soil is sufficient for potted plants. More needs to be done here.
- All species love warm, nutrient-rich soil
- Loamy, humic soil that is regularly enriched with compost is ideal.
- In no case should the substrate be too moist. The soil must therefore be well drained.
- Good nutrient supply is important, so the soil must be nutrient-rich
- Rock flour also improves the soil.
- Uniform soil is sufficient for potted plants
plant
There is not much to consider when planting. Amaranth should not be planted out too early and should not be too dense. A support is recommended to prevent the stems from buckling or breaking. The inflorescences are large and heavy, and the plants have to carry a lot of them. A support prevents breakage, but also prevents the stems from leaning to one side.
- Planting distance 40 to 50 cm
- For larger varieties, it is better to leave a little more space
- Large plants good as solitaires
- Group planting is better for small ones
- Support plants so they don’t break off
- When growing as a vegetable crop (vegetable amaranth) – as an alternative to spinach
- Row spacing 40 cm, sowing depth 1 to 2 cm, outdoors from the beginning of May
- Separate at a planting distance of 30 cm
- To increase stability, it is advisable to pile up some soil around the trunk
- Vegetable amaranth needs significantly more water than ornamental plants
watering and fertilizing
Amaranth is frugal when it comes to watering. Nutrients are more important. It only has to be watered sparingly, but fertilized regularly, especially with potted plants.
- Freshly planted amaranth plants must be watered sufficiently until they grow.
- Once grown, they cope well with drought, much better than with moisture.
- Water occasionally if it is dry for a long time.
- Potted plants need significantly more water.
- Enrich with rotted manure or compost
- From early summer, weekly fertilizer application with liquid fertilizer
- When planting potted plants, add long-term fertilizer at the same time
- In addition, fertilize every two weeks with liquid fertilizer
To cut
Annual plants do not need pruning. Only withered parts are cut off. At the end of the season, the plants are uprooted and composted. Pinch young plants a little to ensure vigorous and bushy growth.
hibernate
The foxtail is not hardy. There are perennial varieties, but they are rather rare. Overwintering is not worthwhile or is not possible for most species. The first frosts kill the plants
multiply
Amaranth is propagated by seed. However, the plants often multiply themselves and become a nuisance. With just 100g of seeds you can grow an entire hectare of plants. A plant produces between 30,000 and 60,000 seeds. Woe betide if they all spread.
- Sow indoors or in a greenhouse from late March or early April
- Germination temperature between 15 and 18° C
- Germination after 7 to 14 days
- Transplant into nutrient-rich substrate
- The young plants can be planted outdoors from mid-May
- Direct sowing possible, but only from mid-May
diseases and pests
The foxtail is actually a robust plant and not very susceptible to diseases and pests. However, it is recommended to spray the plants with a decoction of field horsetail in early spring to strengthen them.
- Aphids – quite common. If you discover the infestation in time, it is good to wash off the pests with a sharp jet of water. This saves you the chemical treatment. If necessary, repeat the process.
- Leaf bugs – appear on the first warm days, beetles and larvae feed on the plant sap, release toxins into the plant when pricked, puncture sites turn brownish. There are twists, cripples, stunted shoot tips, buds do not open, half flowers. Fight with wormwood and tansy tea, early in the morning shake off and collect the animals that are rigid in the cold, soft soap solution, encourage beneficial insects, eg amphibians and birds
Conclusion
Amaranth is more than just a visual highlight. There are varieties whose leaves are used like spinach and of course those in which the grains are used as food. Amaranth is healthy and a staple for many people. It is not for nothing that the plant is also called Inca wheat. I found the research fascinating. I knew the plant with the decorative flowers from cottage gardens in my region and also the small grains that I occasionally add to my breakfast porridge. However, the fact that the two things belong together was new to me, because I only knew the German name, foxtail.
