Organic Edible Red Leaf Amaranth Seeds

Red Leaf Amaranth, also called Chinese Spinach, is a beautiful addition to your garden and is tasty too! The leaves are eaten just like spinach, raw or cooked. What is most impressive is that they keep their color when cooked. This means you can add color to bland dishes! Amaranth is a versatile plant for any garden. Enjoy the edible leaves, cook the grain (seeds), and use the flowers to create arrangements. The nutritious grain was a staple food of the Incans and Mayans and has a wide history of use in Mesoamerica. The wild relative was domesticated as early as 4000 BC and has uses as a dye, ornamental plant, and food source. We are happy to see amaranth making a comeback as it is one of our favorite plants to grow on the farm!

Planting by Zones

Zones 9-10

• Amaranth is a wonderful multi-use plant that can be grown in the warm months of Zones 9 and 10.

Zones 2-8

• Sow seeds 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Amaranth seeds are very small and should be barely covered with finely sifted soil for the best results.

Planting Amaranth Seeds

• Seeds are easy to start. The biggest mistake people make is planting seeds too deep. Amaranth seeds can be direct sown or planted in starter pots. Regardless of how you plant, seeds should be sown on the surface of finely worked soil or moist high-quality potting soil. Then, barely cover the seeds with finely sifted soil. Mist the seeds in place. Do not use a strong jet of water as this can displace seeds or wash them away.
• To plant, place the amaranth seeds on top of moist high-quality seed starting soil and cover with 1/4″ of finely sifted soil.
• Once the seedlings have germinated and have the first set of true leaves be sure to fertilize regularly with an organic liquid fertilizer.
• Thin amaranth plants to at least 12″ apart.

Growing Red Leaf Amaranth

• Amaranth is incredibly easy to grow. Plant your transplants out in the garden when they are 10-12″ tall. Plant them in a full sun spot. Make sure you space them at least 12″ apart. If you direct sow your seeds, thin accordingly.
• Amaranth is enjoyed by birds, insects, and also makes a great cut flower. The seeds are a grain that can be eaten. The edible leaves are known as Chinese spinach.

Growing Amaranth in Containers

• If you are planting Red Leaf amaranth in containers, make sure your container is at least 10″ deep. Keep in mind containers will dry out faster because they have more surface area and less soil to hold onto moisture. Mulch heavily to keep help with fluctuations in moisture and temperature in the container.

Harvesting Amaranth 

• Harvest amaranth leaves when they are young and tender. Flowers can be harvested at any stage although they are best when harvested before they drop copious amounts of seeds. Seeds can be collected for use in culinary applications, replanting purposes, and to feed the birds.

Southern California Pro-tips

• In areas of Zones 9 and 10, amaranth is a very easy crop that will reseed happily in the garden.
• Mulch heavily around your amaranth plants to ensure the soil does not dry out or heat up too much.
• During our hottest months of August, September, and October, plants can suffer from the heat. During this time use shade cloth to help protect the plants from extreme heat.

Companion Flowers/Crops

• Amaranth can get very tall. They look wonderful mixed with sunflowers and hollyhocks. Shop all our flowers here.

Additional Learning Resources

• New to starting crops from seeds? Please watch our Seed Starting Presentation to learn the basics!
• Learn about growing all our crops on our YouTube page!
• Having pest issues? Check out the in-depth information for pests that can be an issue for amaranth at the UC Integrated Pest Management site.