Growing guide

Best time to plant amaranth in Australia

Amaranthus species

Depending on the species, amaranth is grown as a leafy green, a grain or an ornamental. The listed Amaranthus tricolor is a leaf type with green, red or multicoloured foliage, cooked like spinach since the leaves hold oxalates. Taller grain types carry dense flower plumes and can reach about 2.5 metres.

On a shared plot: suits a plot

Finishes in a season and stays within its space, so it suits most plots.

When to sow

ZoneJFMAMJJASOND
CoolNot yet checked against a local guideNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoSowSowSowNo
TemperateNot yet checked against a local guideSowSowSowNoNoNoNoSowSowSowSowSow
SubtropicalBroadly matches local guides, with some differencesSowSowSowSowNoNoNoSowSowSowSowSow
TropicalNot yet checked against a local guideNoNoSowSowSowSowSowSowNoNoNoNo
AridNot yet checked against a local guideNoNoSowSowSowSowSowSowNoNoNoNo

Good months to sow

Your local conditions can shift any months shown here, so treat them as a guide.

Growing details

How to start
Sow directly in the bed
Sowing depth
6mm
Plant spacing
90cm
Row spacing
20cm
Height
300cm
Germination
7-10 days at 20-25°C
Frost
Semi-hardy, protect from hard frost
Sun
Full sun
Life cycle
annual

These are typical figures, and varieties differ. Your seed packet takes priority.

Further reading on this plant