Amaranth perfecta growing from seed. How to grow amaranth in a summer cottage: personal experience in planting, care and pest control. Preparation for planting amaranth in open ground

This plant got its name from the word "amanthos" - "unfading flower". Amaranths can be an ornamental crop, or they can be vegetables, cereals (or fodder), and even medicinal plants. They are used to make oils for disinfecting and healing the skin. Growing amaranth and using it as a tea can help fight obesity and strengthen the nerves. At the same time, planting and caring for amaranth in the conditions of a summer cottage does not cause much trouble. Decorating the site with its beautiful panicles-inflorescences and leaves of different colors, the plant can serve as food and medicine. It was its healing properties that contributed to the emergence of interest in him among amateur gardeners. There is something to be interested in, because there are a large number of amaranth:

fatty acids;
lysine;
vitamins;
and other useful substances.

More often, tailed amaranth is grown as a medicinal plant, using all its parts, even the root dug out after collecting the seeds. Wild-growing species are sometimes called amaranth, but cultivated varieties of amaranth can also be called.

Preparation for planting amaranth in open ground

More often, panicled amaranth grown from seeds is planted in our plots, it is also called crimson because of the color of the leaves. Depending on the variety, it can grow from half a meter to one and a half meters. Long flowering for more than two months and unusual colors make it popular among flower growers.

Landing dates

Depends on climatic conditions and the preferences of the gardener. In areas with a warm climate, the plant can be grown from seeds in open ground. Sowing is carried out in May in the soil, already warm enough. They are guided by a temperature that should not fall below 8 ° C. Some flower growers find it more convenient to sow small seeds mixed with sawdust or river sand, taking them 20 times less in volume than additional material. After germination, the plants are thinned out. The seeds of amaranth are very small, for sowing 1 hectare, 1 kg of seed material is enough. Growing amaranth seedlings is easy. You can do this already in February, but then you need to remember about the illumination of young shoots due to the lack of sufficient sunlight. Otherwise, we get weak and elongated seedlings. In the regions of the middle zone, it is recommended to sow seedlings in March, in its second half, so that there is no need to highlight the seedlings. The grown plants are planted in the ground at the end of May, with the onset of warm days and the cessation of frost. In cold climatic zones, seedlings for seedlings can be sown at the end of May in a greenhouse or greenhouse, shoots are transferred to the beds in June.

Sowing amaranth with seeds before winter is practiced, regardless of the temperature conditions of the area. For this you need:

wait for the soil to completely freeze;
sow seeds;
insulate the surface of the bed with sawdust or non-woven material;
in the spring, remove the shelter, but insulate the bed with the help of arcs with a film.

No matter how the cultivation of amaranth is carried out, regardless of the type and variety, it fully ripens within 4 months from the date of sowing.

Site selection

When growing a flower, gardeners emphasize its survival on any soil. Noting the lack of pickiness in the plant, experts still recommend giving preference when choosing a place for it in the country:

Sunny and bright places where amaranth will grow more actively, delighting with the bright colors of its inflorescences.
Loamy or sandy loamy dry soils with good drainage, which contain enough lime for the plant.
A bed prepared in the fall: dug up and with fertilizers and humus introduced into it.
The background of the flower garden, where, adjacent to any decorative culture, amaranth will look even more beautiful.

The main thing is that a swampy area is not chosen for planting the plant with seeds or seedlings. Long and strong roots can rot and the flower will die.

When choosing a place, pay attention to how the plant will get along with flower crops if it is in a flower garden, and with vegetables in the nearest beds if it is grown as a vegetable crop.

In this case, you need to take into account the features of amaranth:

An adult bush grows large (some varieties up to 1.5 m) and can interfere with other plants.
An adult amaranth repels harmful insects, but at a young age it can suffer from them, infecting neighboring plantings.
The plant with its unusual color may not be fully combined with the colors of other crops. For example, the tricolor "illumination" is so bright that it cannot be a background for elegant roses or chrysanthemums, it will outshine them with its variegation.

You can pick up an inconspicuous, abandoned place in the garden for planting amaranth. It will decorate your site, unless, of course, the sun's rays fall there.

Soil preparation

When growing amaranth at home, you can use ready-made universal soil purchased at a specialized store. For a plant at home, soil is also suitable, which you can prepare yourself. To do this, stock up on humus, garden soil and peat. The result is soil with a loose and breathable consistency, containing nutrients and having a neutral reaction.

Whatever soil the florist uses, it needs to be disinfected before using it. For this, it is processed:

colloidal gray;
copper sulfate;
systemic fungicides (“Alirin-B”, “Extrasol”, “Fitosporin”, “Gamair”).

When growing amaranth in open ground, the soil also needs to be prepared. It is dug up in the fall with the addition of 20 g of nitrophoska per 1 sq. m, compost, rotted manure or ash. They dig to a depth of 20 cm.

Planting material preparation

Purchasing seeds is not a problem these days. And yet, gardeners prefer to collect them on their own from plants grown by their own hands. To find out if the planting material is ripe, you need:

Shake the panicle-shaped inflorescence of the plant, from which only ripened seeds will fall.
Look at the color of the panicle, which turns orange in September.
Pay attention to the color of the stems - ripening, they become lighter.

To get seeds you need:

Dry the cut panicles for two months, laying them on a flat surface in a dry and well-ventilated area.
Sift the dried inflorescences through a sieve with the smallest holes.
Leave the resulting planting material for another 10 days to dry, stirring occasionally.
Ready seeds are stored up to 5 years in paper boxes or envelopes.

To prevent rodents from spoiling the seeds, you need to scatter elderberry branches around the planting material, laid out to dry.

The main technology for growing amaranth is planting seedlings, which can be planted in an apartment or greenhouse. Experts advise how to grow amaranth seedlings. For this you need:

Use a special soil consisting of 3 parts of humus and 1 part of sand, which must be disinfected.
As containers for growing seedlings, wooden boxes or ceramic pots are taken, the height of which is more than 10 cm.
The containers should have holes to drain excess moisture.
When sowing seeds, the depth of their placement in the ground is up to 2 cm.
The container with the planted seeds is covered with a film.
Plantings need regular soil moisture - it is better to do this with a spray bottle, and in a sufficient amount of light, perhaps even with the help of a fluorescent lamp.
It is necessary to observe the air temperature in the room at about 22 ° C, and then shoots will appear 4-7 days after planting. At lower temperatures, you will have to wait up to 10 days.
Do not allow seedlings to thicken, you can thin out, remove extra, weaker seedlings.

It is necessary to observe the following rules for picking seedlings:

The appearance of 4 leaves indicates the transplantation period.
We dive each seedling into a separate pot, the diameter of which is more than 12 cm, filled with soil, the same as for sowing seeds.
Before removing the seedling from the ground, it must be watered abundantly.
After placing the sprout in the ground, pinch its top so that the roots can better get stronger.

Planting material for growing amaranth are seeds or seedlings.

Landing

A week before planting seedlings in the ground, it is watered less. The stages of transplanting seedlings include:

Hardening of grown seedlings, leaving on the street for several days for 3 hours, and then all night. You can display containers with seedlings in the loggia, or on the balcony, or directly on the garden beds.
Preparation of planting pits at a distance between rows of about 50-80 cm and between shoots from 10 to 40 cm, depending on the amaranth variety. If it is planned to grow for greenery, that is, for food in an unripe state, a square planting scheme is used - 15x15 cm.
Before removing the plants from the containers, moisten the soil. This contributes to easy extraction of the root system.
When planting, the seedlings are deepened obliquely, placed in the ground at the level of the first leaf.
Planted amaranths need abundant watering.

It is better to transplant flowers into the soil in cloudy weather. If this is not possible, then it is necessary to do this in the evening, when the sun's rays are not very active. It is easier for plants in the shade to adapt, they will begin to grow faster.

Experienced flower growers prepare shelters for planted seedlings in advance in case the weather is cold. Immature plants feel especially hard at sub-zero temperatures, they can die.

According to experts, planting a flower with a shoot is not so easy. This method of planting amaranth is used only when necessary. Reproduction by processes is used to preserve the varietal characteristics of amaranth. First, the shoots are rooted, then planted, just like seedlings. Adult plants are used for harvesting planting material.

How to plant amaranth and care for it, we wrote, and to do everything accurately and correctly is your task.

Care for amaranth in the open field

There are no particular difficulties in caring for amaranth in the country. A picky plant needs attention only in the first month of life, when it is still growing slowly. A young bush needs to be watered regularly, constantly loosen the soil around it and weed weeds. Adult amaranth grows faster, becoming 7 cm higher per day. Having become stronger, it does not need to get rid of weeds. Weed immunity helps amaranth not be afraid of dry periods and pests, not be exposed to diseases, and easily endure slight frosts and high temperatures. To soils, as well as weather conditions, the plant is also picky. But only rooted, older than 30 days. Flower growers recommend tying bushes that can break from heavy inflorescences.

In order for the amaranth to be more magnificent, the tops of it are pinched, it is better to do this in June. The result of the procedure can be a strengthening of the stem and an increase in the number of flower ovaries.

Please note that young plants need regular and thorough care.

Watering rules

It is important to water the amaranth regularly during the growth period during the first month. Subsequently, the root of the flower penetrates very deep into the earth, where it finds water. An adult plant can do without watering. No matter how drought-resistant a plant is, it will not be worse from moisture. Amaranth without it will stop growing, especially on hot days.

Choice of fertilizers

If you want to get a good harvest, you need to fertilize amaranth during the entire growing season up to 4 times. The plant is fed:

Nitrogen fertilizers, which are used infrequently and in quantities smaller than indicated in the instructions, since flowering slows down with increased leaf growth. This type of fertilizer is applied after the flower reaches a height of 20 cm. Amaranth tends to turn excess nitrogen into nitrates, which are harmful to health. This is especially important for plants grown for nutritional and medicinal purposes.
A solution of mullein, the use of which brings the greatest benefit to amaranth. It is bred in the ratio: 5 parts of water and 1 part of mullein with the addition of 200 g of ash per bucket of water.

Top dressing is applied in the morning, the soil must be moistened before that.

Preparing for winter

Amaranth does not tolerate sub-zero temperatures, so it cannot be stored for the winter, it is cultivated as an annual. Before the onset of winter, it is necessary to clean the landing site in the garden, removing and utilizing plant residues. They can be used to feed pets, or they can simply be processed into an excellent fertilizer by placing them in a compost heap.

Diseases and pests

Despite the presence of excellent immunity to diseases, the plant can be affected at a young age:

Aphids that can become active in wet weather and during long-term rains. An insect can completely destroy plant crops. Get rid of it with the help of special insecticides. For preventive purposes, it is possible to use biological preparations - Akarina and Fitoverma.
Weevil, the larvae of which breed in amaranth stems, delay its development and can lead to the death of the plant.

In the fight against weevil, insecticides are also used.

Flower growers recommend treating amaranths infected with pests with a solution of "Karbofos" or "Aktellik".

Unfavorable conditions when growing a flower, especially high air humidity for a long time, lead to the appearance and reproduction of fungal diseases. Plants can be treated with a solution of colloidal sulfur, copper oxychloride or copper sulphate. Country amaranths can benefit surrounding plants by protecting them from pests. For example, a carrot fly cannot stand the neighborhood with amaranth planted near a carrot bed. There are many varieties of this amazing plant in appearance and properties. Undersized amaranths are grown even at home, especially designers prefer to use them in the design of office space. According to the description, varieties can be undersized and giant, of various shades and colors. Huge opportunity for landscape designers.

Amaranths are valued as medicinal plants, having a large amount of substances necessary for a person. Especially a lot of useful is in the grains. It is not for nothing that in the homeland of amaranth, people have been making flour for cakes from its seeds since ancient times. Nowadays, it is used for bakery baking - it does not stale bread for a long time, as an additive to salads as a replacement for spinach, and even as edible oil. As a fodder crop, the flower was appreciated many years ago. Livestock breeders and poultry farmers consider amaranth an environmentally friendly and efficient feed. The mere fact that 18 of the 20 amino acids in the composition of the plant speaks of its benefits. With great merits, planting and caring for amaranth is simple and accessible to anyone.

Quite often in the flower beds there are tall bushes with plump long burgundy panicles. Many simply pull it out like weeds and make a mistake. This is far from a weed, but an annual cultivated one. It serves not only for decorative purposes, but is also widely used as green manure, for animal feed, in cooking and even in folk medicine. Therefore, many grow amaranth on purpose, and often on a large scale.

If there is no need to get seeds or flowers as soon as possible, amaranth is sown directly in open ground. To accelerate the growth and ripening of seeds, it is better to use the seedling method of growing amaranth, because in this case it will have time to bloom before the onset of frost. Simple rules and small tips for growing amaranth seedlings to your attention.

Sowing amaranth seeds for seedlings

It is better to sow seeds for seedlings at the very beginning of spring. It is good to use peat pots for these purposes, as the plant loves loose soil. It is enough to lightly cover the seeds with earth, it is not necessary to tamp it. To create a greenhouse effect, cover with foil on top. If the planting was not piecemeal, after the emergence of seedlings, the seedlings should be thinned out and left in a pot one plant at a time.

Care of seedlings consists in regular watering. So that the seedlings do not stretch, it must be hardened: containers with seedlings should be taken out into the open air, gradually increasing the time spent on the street.

Planting seedlings in the ground

The amaranth seedling will be ready for transplanting into open ground in about a month. Immediately before planting the seedlings, it must be well watered so that when taken out, the root system is not damaged. The transplant should be done in cloudy weather, and if nature has “pumped up” and there are sunny days, it is better to wait until the evening. In this case, the planted seedlings are recommended to be darkened additionally.

Amaranth seedlings should be planted in a reclining position, sprinkled with earth to the very first leaf. The distance between two plants should be at least half a meter, and when planted in rows, up to 80 cm should be left between them.

Dense plantings of amaranth will adversely affect its stems - they will begin to stretch and break.

Proper care of amaranth in the process of further growth

Amaranth is absolutely unpretentious in care, it is enough to water it in time and spud rows. Time will be spent on weeding only in the first month after planting in the ground, until the plant grows a little and gains strength. From the second month, amaranth will enter a phase of active growth, on the day the top will stretch by 7 cm, and no weeds will be afraid of it. It remains only to ensure that the soil under the amaranth does not dry out, and water regularly.

To increase the number of side shoots and fruit ovaries at the end of June, pinch the top of the amaranth. The culture is able to grow on poor soils, but it is still better to fertilize with a solution and mullein.

Greenery is harvested at a bush height of 25 cm, and the seeds ripen in September. Due to the fact that amaranth seeds are very small, they do not ripen all at once and therefore crumble, panicles are recommended to be cut and dried in a dark room.

Video describing amaranth, its useful and harmful qualities

1. Growing temperature: Normal room temperature is suitable throughout the year.

2. Lighting: shading is possible on the hottest days, the rest of the time the direct rays of the sun can fall on the plants.

3. Watering and humidity: dry the soil between watering a few centimeters deep, air humidity can not be increased.

4. pruning: not required, only old stems are removed.

5. Priming: Should have a neutral or acidic pH and good drainage.

6. top dressing: organic or mineral fertilizer about once a month.

7. reproduction: very easily propagated by seeds and often self-seeding.

Botanical name: Amaranthus.

Amaranth plant - family. Amaranth.

Where does amaranth grow. Comes from Central and South America.

What does amaranth look like? Cultural amaranth - what kind of plant is it? The genus Amaranth or grass - amaranth contains approximately 70 species annual or perennial plants, including several types of invasive weeds found in the US, such as amaranth recumbent. There are a number of different types of amaranth and a vast number of varieties within those species. They are broad-leaved plants with ovate or rhombic leaves, which may be smooth or pubescent with tiny hairs, five to fifteen cm long or more. Leaves have noticeable streaks, can be of a wide variety of colors - from green or red to yellow, depending on the species, have long petioles, arranged alternately on the stem. Plants produce large inflorescences- hanging brushes, usually red or purple. flowers contain a huge number of tiny seeds. (More than 100,000!). The seeds are also of a wide variety of colors - white, yellow, pink or black.

Height. Grows to a height 3.5 m.

2. Growing amaranth

2.1 Planting and care at home

Agrotechnics of homemade amaranth is simple, it is easily grown in indoor culture and does not require special care, although it is considered an open field plant.

2.2. Sowing amaranth

The amaranth flower reproduces by seeds. seeds amaranth should not be sown outdoors until the danger of frost has passed. Seeds should be sown deep 1 - 2 cm. Seedlings are thinned out so that the distance between the rows is at least 20 cm. Lowering the temperature during the night helps seed germination. The plant blooms about three months after sowing.

2.3 Content temperature

Not less than 6 °C, homemade amaranth does not tolerate frost.

2.4.O illumination

Preferably direct sun or light shade on a hot summer afternoon.

2.5. Soil for growing amaranth

Grown in soils with neutral pH, some species are adapted to grow in acidic soil. The soil is sandy, medium - loamy, well-drained with a large amount of nitrogen and phosphorus.

2.6. Fertilizer

Plants will benefit from additional irrigation during dry periods and the addition of fertilizers once or twice during the entire growing season, however, when growingamaranth as a food crop should not be given inorganic fertilizers - they accumulate in the leaves and the plant becomes unfit for food.

2.7.When it blooms

From July until frost.

2.8. Watering

Irrigation of medium intensity. amaranth plants drought resistant and temperature fluctuations.

2.9 Spraying

There are no special requirements.

2.10. Amaranth transplant

When growing at home, a transplant is not required, the plants are annuals.

2.11. Diseases and pests

There are no major problems. root rot can occur due to high humidity and poor drainage. Sensitive to fungal diseases, leaf spot.

2.12. Purpose

In addition to the fact that amaranth itself is a valuable ornamental plant, it has a lot of useful properties. The plant looks great hanging baskets where the drooping inflorescences are best seen. Can be used in flower beds and along garden paths. Amaranth oil has medicinal properties and is used in the cosmetics industry to treat eczema. Various parts of amaranth are edible and used in cooking. The seeds are, for example, used in foods, amaranth flour added to bread and pasta, while the leaves and stems are suitable for salads. Paniculate inflorescences look favorably as dried flowers. Groats from amaranth seeds - quinoa is used in the preparation of cereals. amaranth sprouts contain a large amount of vitamins and microelements and are eaten as microgreens, and also serve to decorate ready-made dishes.

2.13 Note

The use of amaranth is possible in a wide variety of qualities. Leaves and stems can be eaten cooked like spinach. Some plant species produce yellow and green dyes. Since ancient times, amaranth has been used as a grain crop - amaranth flour was added to bread. Cold-pressed amaranth oil is used in cooking for cooking and dressing all kinds of dishes, as it contains many trace elements and vitamins. When planting, carefully read the description of the amaranth variety - some plants can grow up to 2.5 m in height. Amaranth is a plant that often propagates self-seeding and behaves like an aggressive weed. The green mass of amaranth is often used for animal feed. Recently, amaranth is often used for cultivation as microgreens.

3. Varieties of amaranth:

3.1. Amaranth tricolor or illumination - Amaranth tricolor

Very bright ornamental plant. The lower leaves of this species are oblong - lanceolate, of the usual green color. At the tops of the shoots is a "cap" of colorful colored leaves, each of which is colored red, yellow and green at the same time.

3.2. White amaranth - Amaranthus albus

A low decorative flowering plant, the main distinguishing feature of which are long hanging "earrings" of many small white flowers. The leaves of this plant are green.

3.3. Red amaranth - Amaranthus Red

Red amaranth, even in a pot, reaches a height of 1.5 m and is distinguished by rich burgundy foliage and lighter, red apical inflorescences.

3.4. Amaranth upturned - Amaranthus retroflexus

The most "modest" species of the genus - does not differ in either decorative leaves or lush flowering and its appearance rather resembles a weed. A large plant with a powerful erect stem and spear-shaped green leaves covered with a network of veins.

3.5. Panicled amaranth - Amaranthus paniculatus

Decorative flowering "long-tailed" plant with emerald green leaves and large apical inflorescences - panicles, consisting of numerous flowers of very bright colors - yellow, red, burgundy, purple.

3.6. Tailed amaranth - Amaranthus caudatus

Rapidly developing, tall plants with strong, branched stems up to 1.5 - 2 m. The leaves are large, glossy, lanceolate, with small teeth along the edge. Leaf blades are green or burgundy, with an extensive network of veins. During the flowering period, plants form long, often drooping, branched inflorescences, consisting of many small, brightly colored flowers. Most often, the inflorescences are painted in red, burgundy, purple, orange, brownish, yellow, greenish hues.

3.7. Spike amaranth - Amaranthus retroflexus

A flowering plant that behaves like a noxious weed in its natural habitat. Strong vertical shoots of this variety reach a height of 3 m. The lower part of the shoots and roots are painted in a bright pink or red hue. The leaves are green, lanceolate, with a glossy surface, reaching a length of 15 cm. There are plants with silvery leaves. Top inflorescences - panicles appear in the summer months and bear numerous, small, green, male and female flowers.

3.8. Amaranth zhmindovidny - Amaranthus blitoides

An annual herbaceous plant with decumbent stems up to 60 cm long. The stems are strong, abundantly branched at the base, diverging from the center of the plant in different directions. The leaves are dark green, glossy, rounded or oval, arranged alternately. Leaf blades are entire. Small axillary inflorescences appear predominantly at the top of the stems and consist of small, inconspicuous flowers.

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The very tall stems of amaranth are perceived by many as weeds, although this flower is cultivated and is even used in cooking.

Let's see what is special about this plant and how to grow amaranth in your own flower bed.

Amaranth: plant description

By appearance amaranth is a very tall plant with a rather thick stem, which is covered with many leaves and topped with a paniculate straight inflorescence (in some varieties of amaranth, the inflorescence may lean down).

The average height is 120 cm, although ornamental varieties rarely stretch even up to a meter in height. The stems may vary in branching, and the leaves may be presented in an oval, diamond-shaped or elongated shape.

When amaranth was introduced to European countries, it began to be used as a fodder crop for animals and as an ornamental flower that can please with a huge variety of colors:

golden;
Red;
purple;
green;
purple;
a mixture of all the above shades.

After flowering on amaranth, fruits are formed that are in the form of boxes containing seeds. After full ripening, the seeds are harvested and used either for sowing the next year or for food. In warm climates, self-seeding of amaranth is possible.

Did you know? Amaranth is an excellent raw material for teas and salads, but adult plants in the beds are not suitable for this purpose. For food purposes, it is necessary to create separate dense crops, which, upon reaching a height of 20 cm, are completely cut off and sent for drying or cooking.

Climatic conditions for the successful growth of amaranth

Amaranth is an undemanding plant in planting, but not all climatic conditions are suitable for its cultivation. In particular, most varieties in hot Asian countries located at the level of the equator are able to grow as a perennial plant that does not require annual sowing.

But in the climatic conditions of our region, this plant is grown only as an annual, since neither it nor its seeds are able to endure wintering in the open field. Nevertheless, already in the spring in the southern regions of our country, amaranth is quite acceptable to sow seeds directly into open ground.

Amaranth sowing technology

Amaranth can be grown using different technologies, the choice of which depends on climatic conditions. If you live in a region where the heat comes from mid-spring, you can sow amaranth seeds directly into the soil without any problems.

But if real warmth begins to please only from the first summer month, it is better to sow the seeds in boxes or peat pots for seedlings. For the northern regions, we recommend growing amaranth through seedlings.

Reproduction of amaranth by direct sowing

Planting amaranth with seeds involves preliminary preparation of the soil. First of all, it is worth waiting for the end of April, when the earth at least 4-5 centimeters in the middle of the day will warm up to 10 ° C and above.

Also, the soil must be fertilized so that the flower quickly grows. To do this, it is recommended to use mineral fertilizers (you can choose complex fertilizers), adding 30 g of the substance per square meter of flower garden area.

Important! When fertilizing the soil for sowing amaranth seeds, you should not add a lot of nitrogen, since during growth this plant is able to convert nitrogen into nitrates that are dangerous to humans. After the amaranth stems stretch up to 20 cm in height, they must be fed with nitrogen fertilizer, but for the above reasons, only half of the rate indicated on the package should be used.

When sowing for amaranth, it is necessary to make furrows at a depth of 1.5 cm and lower the seeds one by one. The earth at the time of sowing should be loose and moist. It is good if between the plants in one furrow there will be a space of 7 to 10 cm (if the variety is tall, more can be) and about 45 cm in one row.

Shoots are usually visible on the 7-10th day. If they are thick, you can immediately break through the plants and at the same time loosen the soil to stimulate further growth.

A feature of amaranths is that if they are sown at the end of April and grow rapidly, then the weeds lose the opportunity to "take over" the flower bed around the flowers. But if you miscalculate with the timing, the weeds can grow first and the flower bed will have to be weeded very often. After such sowing, full ripening of seeds occurs only after 3.5 months.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

How to grow amaranth using seedlings? For this purpose, seeds are sown in the second half of March, for which plastic boxes, ordinary flower pots or special peat pots are used.

After sowing, the pots are placed on warm windowsills with good lighting. It is very important that the room temperature does not fall below 22°C. Watering should be from a sprayer.

Already within a week, the first shoots appear, which need to be given another 3-4 days and thinned out, removing all weak shoots. After the appearance of three leaves on the seedlings, it can be transplanted into individual pots. If you use peat pots for this (diameter - 12 cm), they can be dug into the ground along with the plant.

How to plant amaranth?

In this section, we will mainly talk about planting seedlings, since after sowing the seeds, caring for amaranths will consist of removing weeds and watering. But with seedlings you have to be a little smarter.

When to plant amaranth

Planting amaranth seedlings should begin when the threat of spring frosts has completely passed and the soil temperature throughout the day will remain within 10 ° C and above. Often this procedure should be planned for the middle or end of May.

The plant is planted in light and nutritious soil with low acidity (it is better if it is mixed with limestone). You can also prepare under the soil drainage.

As a fertilizer for amaranth seedlings, nitroammofoska is used (no more than 20 g per square meter). As for choosing a place for a flower bed with amaranths, it should be well lit by the sun.

Important! Amaranth can hardly be called a whimsical plant, but it can be destroyed by low temperatures and waterlogged soil - damage appears on the roots and stems that begin to rot.

Landing technology

The amaranth seedling itself does not need to be prepared when planting in the ground. It is planted in rows, between which it is necessary to leave a space of at least 45 cm, and for tall large varieties - 70 cm. There should be a space of 30 cm between individual plants.

Small holes are being prepared for planting, in which, after the application of nitroammophoska, fertilizer is not required. Seedlings do not need to be lowered too low into the hole so that they do not rot later.

Until it grows, the soil in the flower bed must be watered regularly. If it suddenly starts to get cold, a flower bed with amaranths can be covered with a film for the night (but in the morning the shelter must be removed so that the seedlings do not suffocate).

Plant care rules

Most of all, amaranth requires care only after transplanting seedlings into open ground. It has to be watered regularly, weeding around it weeds. But as soon as the seedlings begin to grow, the weeds in the flower bed with amaranths will practically disappear, as it is difficult for them to get along with a large, strong flower.

Amaranth can be called a unique culture. This is an ornamental plant whose pink flowers will decorate any area. In addition to this, it is incredibly useful for the body and treats many ailments. Many gardeners shy away from this culture, as they are sure that it is very capricious. But this is not so: unpretentiousness is one of the main qualities of a plant. amaranth. Growing from seeds, besides, it will be available even for beginners. Some varieties of culture even grow everywhere like weeds - for example, upturned amaranth. Acquaintance with the plant must begin with a story about it.

The first country to actively grow amaranth was America. There she appeared about 8,000 years ago. In addition to beans and peas, amaranth became the main crop that the Aztecs and Incas ate. Spanish sailors brought amaranth to Europe, and at first it was planted only in flower beds for beauty.

For the first time, Europeans thought about the benefits of amaranth in the 18th century, then it became widespread as a fodder crop. Now it is widespread in China and India. In Russia, different varieties of amaranth are known as amaranth, velvet, cockscomb, cat's tail, and under a host of other names. But few people take culture seriously, perceiving it as a beautiful weed. Mostly due to the fact that many do not even know about the set of useful qualities of the plant.

The benefits of amaranth

The name of the culture comes from the word "amanthos", translated as "unfading flower". This is a perennial plant that is used as food as a preventive and medicinal vegetable. With regular use, amaranth helps to get rid of:

obesity;
diseases of the liver and kidneys;
atherosclerosis;
prostate adenomas;
vascular and heart diseases;
weakened immunity;
protein deficiency.

Amaranth is also indicated for inflammatory processes in the body and even fights against malignant tumors. It heals the body and helps prolong youth. Most often, amaranth is consumed internally in the form of a tea drink, which is insisted on leaves. However, in general, all components of the plant are suitable for food - the stem, leaves and seeds. The latter are especially valuable.

Features of amaranth seeds

Amaranth seeds are difficult to confuse with planting material of other crops. They are very small, like large dust. They differ depending on the color of an adult plant:

Amaranth with light flowers and green leaves. Seeds have a delicate beige hue. The shell is dense, smooth, slightly shiny. You can compare planting material with white sesame, but very small.
A plant with red leaves. It is grown as an ornamental crop to decorate the garden plot. It has beautiful flowers and unusual leaves. In such varieties, the seeds are black and also look like coarse dust.

In all varieties, the seeds ripen in about 3 months. For ripening, they are best stored in a seed box and in a dark place.

Removing seeds for cultivation

Amaranth seeds are sold in any flower shop. However, gardeners prefer to propagate the culture with their own planting material. It can be removed from an adult flower in your area or asked from a neighbor.

Seeds are obtained in the following way:

The plant is cut at the base, and then placed on a smooth surface. It can be a table, a stool, a dark corner in a garden house.
"Panicles" are left to ripen for 2 months. The place should be dry and dark. Constant air circulation is also necessary so that the cut plants are well ventilated.
The seeds are ready to be harvested when the seed pods turn brown. This means that they are dry enough.
Planting material is removed from the boxes by passing it through a sieve with very small holes. The resulting seeds are kept in a dark room, scattered over a smooth surface. In this state, they should rest for about a week. The seeds are stirred regularly.
Amaranth seeds are a delicacy for mice. To protect them from rodents will help a few sprigs of elderberry, which must be laid out around a tray of seeds.

Dried seeds are laid out in paper bags or dry containers. They retain their germination for 4-5 years.

Important! Not all seeds ripen at the same time. Therefore, you need to cut off whole inflorescences at once, otherwise part of the planting material will crumble on the ground. Next season, a whole amaranth garden will grow in this place.

Prices for amaranth seeds

amaranth seeds Gavrish

Growing amaranth from seeds

Unpretentious amaranth sprouts well with direct sowing, that is, sowing directly into open ground. In order for the process to go right and please with a good harvest, cultivation takes place according to a certain algorithm.

Step 1. Choosing a time for landing

The optimal sowing time is the end of April / 3rd decade of May. As a rule, warm weather is already established by this time. Before planting, it is important to make sure that the soil has warmed up to 7-10 degrees. However, there are other options for time limits, they are presented in the table below.

Table 1. How to choose the time for planting amaranth seeds.

When to sow	Nuances	Benefits of Selecting Sowing Timings
In the middle of February	suitable only for sowing seedlings, since open ground is not yet ready to accept seeds; young shoots need to be artificially illuminated, as they will not have enough sun.	amaranth will bloom much earlier than when sown in May; earlier it will be possible to use the plant for food: early removal of seeds will allow you to prepare them for wintering as soon as possible, without lingering on the garden plot.
In late March	suitable for growing in garden plots in the Moscow region and other cities of the middle zone, in the Urals	seedlings do not need to be highlighted; flowers will not stretch upwards, but will ripen in the form of decorative bushes.

In regions with a harsh climate, amaranth sprouts heavily when planted directly in the ground in a garden plot. Therefore, in the northern regions, it is recommended to pay attention to the cultivation of amaranth by seedlings.

Step 2. Seed preparation

Before planting in the ground, amaranth seeds must be mixed with a porous material. It can be sand, ash or wood shavings. Approximately 20 parts of the material are taken for one part of the seeds. Such a porous structure will allow oxygen and moisture to penetrate to the seeds. Therefore, the development of the plant will be more intensive.

Step 3. Ground preparation

For planting amaranth, you can use several soil variations:

Universal primer from a specialized store. As a rule, such soil is already supplied with everything necessary for good seed germination. Soil acidity should be neutral.
Soil of own production. This is a simple garden soil with the addition of peat and humus. The main condition is that the soil should be loose, airy, well pass oxygen and moisture.

If it is planned to sow in open ground, land preparation begins in the fall. The earth on the site is dug up and fed with peat, compost, rotted manure. In early spring, the procedure is carried out again. This time the soil is enriched with mineral fertilizers and loosened.

If aramanth will be grown from seedlings, any soil can also be taken. It must first be disinfected. For this use:

potassium permanganate solution;
vitriol copper;
colloidal sulfur;
fungicides, including Gamir, Fitosporin, Extrasol.

For amaranth, for good growth, it is important that the soil contains phosphorus and potassium. This must be taken into account during the spring fertilization of the soil with mineral components.

Important! If the crop is grown for food, fertilizers with a high nitrogen content should not be put into the soil. This mineral is able to turn into deadly nitrate over time.

Manure prices

humus

Step 4. Seeding process

There is nothing difficult in sowing amaranth. The procedure takes place according to the following algorithm:

Watering the soil. The soil for sowing must be moist, so before planting it is well spilled with water.
Creation of holes for seeds. In moist soil, several grooves are made parallel to each other. Depth - about 1.5 cm, distance between furrows - about 40 cm.
Planting seeds. Seeds are placed 3-4 pieces in one hole, they should be at a depth of no more than 1.5 cm. From above, the seeds are covered with a thin layer of earth, which is leveled and compacted.

After about 8-9 days, the first shoots will appear. Weak sprouts are removed so that only strong growth remains. After thinning, the soil is additionally loosened. When the sprouts grow to 20 cm, the beds are fed with nitrogen fertilizer. The solution must be very weak.

The appearance of the first shoots

Growing seedlings of amaranth

Amaranth seedlings are grown in low but wide boxes. They can be wooden or plastic. You can also use flower pots. Their height should be no more than 10 cm, so that the root system does not grow unnecessarily. The landing algorithm will be as follows:

The boxes are filled with soil and moistened, after which the seeds are scattered. Top cover the seeds with a layer of earth 0.5 cm thick.
The top layer of soil is moistened with a spray gun. Then the pots are covered with foil or placed in bags to make a mini-greenhouse.
Greenhouses need to be placed in a warm, lit place. The warmer it is under the film, the faster the sprouts will hatch. At a temperature of 22 degrees, the first green growth appears in a week. If it starts from 16 degrees, the sprouts should be expected no earlier than in 12-13 days.
With the advent of the first sprouts, the film is removed. To make the seedlings dense and healthy, they need to be transplanted into individual cups. Picking begins after the germination of the first living leaf.

At the bottom of each box there should be several holes for excess liquid to escape. Otherwise, the plants will rot.

How to care for seedlings

Amaranth seedlings are taken care of in the same way as other garden crops. Care consists of several points, all of them are presented in the table below.

Table 2. Principles of care for amaranth seedlings.

What do we have to do?	Peculiarities
	The ground under the sprouts should always be moist, but not too damp. It is best to moisten the ground with a spray bottle as it dries, so as not to accidentally damage the young sprout with a dense jet of water from a watering can.
highlight	In late February and early spring, seedlings lack sunlight, and amaranths need full daylight hours. In order for plants to develop properly, they must be highlighted. Fluorescent lamps or special phytolamps are ideal for these purposes.
harden	The first hardening procedure is carried out 10-12 days before planting seedlings in the garden. For this, the plants are taken out to the balcony or outside for 15 minutes a day. Hardening time increases gradually. If it is not possible to take the pots outside, you can simply open the window.
dive	Seedlings dive after the appearance of 3-4 true leaves. The strongest plants are transplanted into individual pots with a diameter of at least 10 cm.

Glasses are filled with earth to the very top. It is best to take the earth from the common box where the seedlings grew.
The earth must be moistened in advance. In each cup, a recess of 3-4 cm is made.
Seedlings one at a time are carefully removed from the box and placed in a cup.
After transplanting, the tops of the seedlings are pinched. This will cause the plants to develop roots instead of stretching upwards.

Adult life: transplanting amaranth into open ground

If sowing took place in mid-March, the seedlings will be ready for transfer to the garden plot in early May. As a rule, at this time the soil is already warming up to +4 ... +6 ° C, and the danger of night frosts is coming to naught.

But the young growth has been living in a greenhouse climate all this time, so it needs to be prepared before transplanting.

Preparing seedlings for transfer to the ground

Young greens must go through several procedures. They will help you get used to the garden climate. These are:

Decrease watering. A week before the intended transfer to the ground, it is required to reduce the frequency of watering.
Prolonged hardening. Pots with seedlings are taken outside for 2-3 hours. The last 3-4 days before being transferred to the ground, the plants are left to spend the night outdoors.

Principles of transplanting into open ground

When transplanting plants to a garden plot, it is important to consider several recommendations. They concern the choice of time and place where flowers will be planted.

Planter box prices

seedling boxes

Principle 1. Amaranths grow in the sun

A place for amaranths is chosen in advance. In general, this plant is able to take root in any conditions. However, there are a few things to consider:

The plant needs a lot of light. Choose the sunniest and warmest place on the site. There, amaranth will develop actively, and the flowers will be much brighter than in the shade.
Excessively wet and swampy soil is not suitable for growing amaranth. This plant loves sandy or loamy soil and good drainage.
Amaranth is a very friendly culture, which gets along well next to other colors.

Principle 2. Flowers are transplanted in the evening

The best option for transplanting seedlings is late evening or cloudy weather. The sun should not be on the site. Transferring from pots is already stressful for young plants, and bright sunlight can completely destroy them.

The same principle is relevant for the next 3-4 days after transplantation. If the weather is sunny outside, it is recommended to shade the plants for several days. In such conditions, they adapt better to a new place and begin to grow more actively.

Principle 3. Good watering and neatness

So, the place and time have been chosen, the seedlings are ready. The disembarkation process begins:

The soil in a pot with seedlings needs to be well moistened so that they come out of the ground more easily.
In the prepared soil, it is necessary to make holes sufficient to accommodate the rhizome. The distance between the bushes should be about 30-40 cm. If a whole flower garden is planned, the gap from row to row is left at least 70-80 cm.
Young seedlings should be carefully removed from the pots so as not to damage the roots. Plants are placed in the holes at a slight slope.
The seedlings are deepened in the ground to the first leaf, and the soil around it is slightly crushed.

Rows of amaranth in the ground must be well watered. This will allow the plant to quickly adapt to the new soil.