Amaranth Growing Guide0% read

Amaranth Growing Guide

Growing Amaranth is easier than you think. This guide walks you through everything you need — from planting your first seed to harvesting.

EasyGrainAnnual~50 days to maturityWarm Season

At a Glance

Difficulty

Easy

When To Start

First Chance to Plant

10 Days After Last Frost

Last Chance to Plant

60 Days Before First Frost

When should you plant Amaranth?

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Your Amaranth Planting Window

Start planting

May 15, 2026

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Last chance

Sep 10, 2026

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The Journey Ahead

Amaranth's Lifecycle

Seedling

Mature Plant

Seed Production

Step 1

Prepare Your Space

1 cm

Seeding Depth

30 cm

Plant Spacing

45 cm

Row Spacing

Plants / Sq Ft

Vertical Growing

Yes – Trellis.

Method: Trellis.

Succession Planting

Yes.

Good Companions

Cornbeanspeasonionsmarigoldnasturtiumbasiloregano

Bad Companions

None widely known

Step 2

Planting & Sprouting

Expect sprouts in 3–10 days

Growing Tips

1Amaranth thrives in full sunlight, so choose a spot in your garden that gets at least 6 hours of direct sun each day.
2Water the plants regularly, keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
3Use well-draining soil enriched with organic matter, and space the plants about 10 to 12 inches apart to allow for good air circulation.
4To manage pests, encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs and use row covers to protect young plants.

Seedling Phase

Step 3

Growth & Maturity

~50

Days to Maturity

150 cm

Mature Height

60 cm

Mature Width

Pests to Watch For

Aphidsflea beetlesleaf minerscaterpillarsweevils

Diseases to Watch For

Damping-offRoot rotLeaf spotPowdery mildewDowny mildew

Mature Plant

Step 4

Harvesting

Harvest Window

45 days

When to Pick

Grain heads when seeds firm

How to Harvest

1Harvest amaranth when the flower heads are fully mature and the seeds are firm, typically in late summer to early fall.
2Cut the flower heads with a sharp knife or scissors, leaving a few inches of stem attached, to avoid damaging the plant.
3Handle the plants gently to prevent seed loss and allow the remaining plant to continue growing if desired.

Step 5

Saving Seeds

How to Save Seeds

Saving seeds from your Amaranth plant is simple and rewarding, even for new growers! Once the flower heads have matured and turned brown, gently cut them off and place them in a paper bag to dry for about a week. After drying, shake or rub the flower heads to release the tiny seeds, then sift out any plant debris. Store your clean, dry seeds in a labeled envelope or glass jar in a cool, dry place—this will keep them viable for next season. With just a little effort, you’ll have plenty of seeds to grow even more beautiful Amaranth next year!

Seed Production