35 types and varieties of amaranth with a description, planting and care in the open field

People grow everything that is beautiful and also useful. Amaranth is one of these plants. In unchanged form - a weed, called a thrown back. Every gardener at least once met the so-called "soldiers" on his garden plot, this is nothing more than amaranth. Today, breeders have bred just a great many varieties and types of amaranth. They are eye-catching with their beauty and uniqueness, and besides, this plant is useful and fruitfully used in cooking. What is this unique and what species are known today.

Species diversity

What kind of plant and where does it grow? Amaranth is an annual herb with panicle-shaped inflorescences. The color is varied - from golden yellow to purple. We turn to the description of amaranth. The stem of the plant is straight and branched, from 0.7 to 3 meters in height, the leaves are large, lanceolate. Small flowers are collected in inflorescences, each of which eventually turns into a fruit-box.

One amaranth gives up to half a million fruits - grains - the weight of one is about 0.4 grams.

In total, there are 65 genera of this plant, which include about 900 species of amaranth. In Russia, amaranth is represented by 17 species. The most famous among them is the shiritsa or thrown back amaranth, which is a weed and is not suitable for consumption. Ornamental species are also widespread: crimson (paniculate), dark, tricolor, tailed amaranth.

Where does it grow in Russia? The plant can be found almost throughout the country. Looking at the photo, many may be surprised, because they have seen it more than once, but did not suspect that many of its varieties are of particular value for agriculture, the cosmetic and food industries.

Amaranth tailed, tips for growing from seeds

It is difficult to find a more original garden decoration than a blooming one. amaranth tailed... This amazing plant is distinguished by lush foliage and cute drooping "tails" of inflorescences. Even a novice florist can grow it and cope with caring for it.

Gorgeous amaranth

Amaranth tailed or squid, Amaranthus caudatus, is an annual plant that grows in South America, Asia and Africa.

Leaves This plant, which comes from the Shchiritsev family, is large in size and green or purple-green in color.

Small flowers in crimson, red or even yellow-green inflorescences create a unique look of amaranth. Its height can reach up to 1.5 m, and the length of the inflorescences - up to 45 cm. Flowering begins in June and lasts until October.

"Fox tail", "flower of deceitful love" and "cockscomb" - all this popular names for amaranth... Its grains are used to make edible flour for baking, and fresh leaves are used in salads. Magic amaranth oil is used in the treatment of many ailments and protects against cancer.

Most often amaranth tailed grown in flower beds, but also able to live in a greenhouse or on a windowsill. Also, the plant can become a hedge or green border. The inflorescences are dried and used in flower arrangements.

There are several popular forms amaranth tailed:

• Dark purple inflorescences with brown leaves;
• Red inflorescences - "Rothschwants";
• Yellow or red bead-shaped inflorescences, similar to beads;
• Greenish white inflorescences;
• Light green inflorescences - "grunschwants".

Growing from seeds

In September amaranth tailed bears a large number of seeds. They germinate wonderfully by self-seeding, but young plants cannot stand frost.

The best thing collect seeds and plant them in the spring: in May in open ground or in March in a greenhouse. If sown in the ground at the end of May, flowering will come later.

When landing tailed amaranth requires moist earth with humus introduced into it in advance. Sowing depth - 3 cm. Seeds are sprinkled on top with an even layer of earth or sand.

In the greenhouse seedlings appear in a week, and in the open field - in two. It is very important to pinch the sprouts at an early stage so that they branch better.

In two weeks seedlings grown in a greenhouse must first be dived into a large container or into a more spacious space. Then, after another week or two, the plants are transplanted into individual peat pots or tablets.

When is it installed warm weather without the risk of frost return, you can plant amaranth in open ground directly in pots. There should be a distance of at least 40 cm between adjacent bushes.

Late June or early July the plant needs to pinch the top.

Seat selection and transfer

Amaranth tailed is a great lover of the sun and its direct rays, can grow both in a sunny place and in partial shade.

Dispose the plant is needed in an area with securely drained soil and shelter from the wind.

If at the landing site there is still a draft, the amaranth stems need to be tied up. In winter, the plant needs a temperature of about 12 ° C indoors.

At home, amaranth takes every two years transplantbut.

Watering and moisture

From spring to autumn amaranth tailed needs in abundant watering without waterlogging. In winter, when grown in a pot or conservatory, the plant should be watered moderately. Regular, but not too frequent spraying of the leaves will not hurt either.

Read about how to properly water the money tree with us.

Planting hyacinths in the fall in the ground can please with abundant flowering in spring. Take note of helpful recommendations.

Top dressing

In two weeks after transplant for a permanent place, you need to feed the plant with complex fertilizer or mullein solution. Top dressing can be applied up to 3 times per season.

Pests

The main enemy of amaranth is aphids. To win "Fitoverm" or "Akarin" will help the enemy.

As you can see, amaranth tailed - this is a plant that pleases a flower grower in a flowerbed in summer, and in dried bouquets in winter. The unfading flower does not require complicated care and captivates at first sight.

You can also read more about the care and planting of tricolor amaranth.

And for those who like to know more, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the video about amaranth with a tail

How did he get to us

The homeland of amaranth is South America. From there he got to North America, then to India, where his secondary formation took place. In its homeland, the herb amaranth is called "wheat of the Aztecs" and "bread of the Incas". For more than 8 thousand years, amaranth has competed with beans and corn.

Amaranth came to Europe with the first conquistadors and at first was considered an exclusively ornamental plant. Only by the end of the 18th century did it acquire the importance of fodder and cereal crops in Europe.

Today, significant work has been done to improve grain performance and increase the yield of amaranth, which may make it the leading agricultural crop of the future.

Amaranth: features of planting and care in the open field

After sufficient heating of the soil, it is planted in open ground. The growing area should have good lighting and good drainage. Preference should be given to light and nutritious soils, sufficiently limed. An annual is extremely difficult to tolerate low temperature conditions, as well as waterlogging of the soil, which must be taken into account when choosing a place for cultivation.

At the preparatory stage, the soil must be dug onto a shovel bayonet with the simultaneous introduction of 20 g of nitroammofoska for each square meter of the flower garden. Depending on the varietal and species characteristics, the planting and cultivation scheme may vary. The average distance between seedlings should be about 10-30 cm, while maintaining a distance between rows of 45-70 cm.Immediately after planting, for about a couple of weeks, you need to very carefully monitor the soil moisture indicators.

Amaranth feeding is done three to four times per season.

During the first month, seedlings are characterized by very slow growth and development, therefore, at this stage, amaranth needs to be provided with full care, which consists in watering, weeding and loosening the soil. At the stage of activation of growth processes watering should be rare enough, only in too dry periods. Top dressing is done three to four times per season. For this purpose, it is recommended to use a solution based on mullein, diluted in a ratio of 1: 5 and wood ash at the rate of a glass to a bucket of water.

In order to prevent plant parasites, the aboveground part of the garden culture is treated with drugs such as Actellik or Fufanon. To prevent the defeat of fungal diseases, it is allowed to use for spraying ornamental garden plants "Colloidal sulfur", "Copper sulfate" and "Copper oxychloride". Processing is carried out in dry and calm weather.

Current situation

In the United States, amaranth is today grown in all states, and the government funds special programs for farmers. The importance of the issue is confirmed by the fact that 23 institutes of agriculture monitor the cultivation and introduce this crop into the food industry. In US stores, in the dietary section, you can see at least 30 types of amaranth products - from sweets to cutlets. At the same time, meat grown on amaranth feed costs a quarter more than ordinary meat.

Amaranth fields can be found in India and Nepal, China and Ceylon, Mozambique, Uganda, Nigeria. The plant is also grown in Germany, Slovakia, Poland, Kazakhstan.

Unfortunately, in Russia there are still few areas where amaranth grows. Nevertheless, this culture is becoming more and more popular among domestic farmers.

How to plant and grow a flower in the garden

Difficulties arise at first. Young seedlings grow slowly. But it is enough to provide an abundance of sun, warmth and the necessary humidity, the plant is rapidly gaining momentum. And now a small sprout turns into a gorgeous tree bush.

Agricultural technology also does not take much time and effort, since in the open field amaranth is unpretentious, drought-resistant and only occasionally requires attention.

Landing methods and technology

You should not dwell on the choice of soil, since many types of decorative amaranth, usually tall tailed, paniculate and spike-shaped, can grow on any land: clay, sand and even crushed stone.

There are only two planting methods: by seeds and through seedlings. Each has its own nuances, but does not present any particular difficulties.

Seeds

If amaranth was already grown on the site in the previous year, then most likely the next season shoots will grow in this place, since the seeds have excellent germination and they do not cost anything to overwinter. Such sprouts can be transplanted into the right place and provide them with proper care.

If amaranth is planted for the first time, then you need to stock up on seeds in advance and start working.Sowing begins in May, when the soil warmed up, and constantly warm day and night temperatures of up to +6 degrees were established on the street.

A place is chosen where a huge bush or a miniature bicolor will flaunt in the future. Small holes are made in the soil, up to about 1-2 cm deep, carefully shed and spread the seeds.

The planting scheme depends on the purpose of the cultivation. If decoration is needed, then it is better to provide future seedlings with space and plant them at a distance of 70-90 cm from each other, if for culinary purposes, planting is better to thicken. In this case, the amaranth will grow greens and bloom late.

Amaranth has rather small seeds, so when sowing they are mixed with sand, but this technique will not allow you to get rare shoots, so it would be better to thin them out. Seedlings sown outside will appear in a week.

Seedlings

Seedlings start planting in March - mid-April. Any loose soil is poured into an ordinary seedling box, slightly compacting it. Seed material is distributed from above. Sprinkle the seeds with a thin layer of earth. Cover with foil or glass and put away in a dark and warm place.

When the seeds hatch out, the box is placed on the windowsill, and the shelter is removed. Usually the first greens appear on the 7-12th day. When the first pair of leaves appears, the seedlings are dived and planted in separate containers. For them, it is enough to provide light and regular watering. From mid-May, the pots are put outside to harden and get used to the sun's rays. And at the end of May they are planted in a permanent place.

Before planting, mineral fertilizers are applied to the soil: 20 g of nitroammofoska per 1 square meter.

The value and properties of the plant

Amaranth has a number of properties that are beneficial to the human body. It has been proven that the protein contained in amaranth seeds is much better absorbed by the body than milk. No wonder where amaranth grows, in South America, it ranks second as a cereal crop after corn. In addition, it contains several times more lysine than other plants. And it also contains a large amount of trace elements: potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus.

For many, amaranth is of particular interest as a source of biologically active substances: amarantins, rutin and carotenoids. Recent studies have proven the effectiveness of amaranth seeds and oil in the treatment of hypertension and coronary heart disease. The main reason is the presence in the composition of substances that regulate cholesterol synthesis.

In the flower beds where amaranth grows, it looks quite attractive, bright panicles are visible from afar. In addition, its flowering period is quite long: throughout the summer and until the first frost. As a decoration of a garden bed, three types are mainly used: sad, tailed and paniculate. In the middle lane, where amaranth grows in Russia, it also has other names: they call it an aksamitnik, a cat's tail, a velvet tree, and a scythe.

Amaranth - unfading flower

Tailed amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus) is called an unfading flower. The ancient Greeks saw it as a symbol of immortality. And it is not in vain: amaranth inflorescences look spectacular both in the garden and in winter bouquets; when dried, they retain their beauty for a long time.

Amaranth came to Europe from the East Indies in 1596. The colored waterfalls of its luxurious inflorescences made such a strong impression that the Order of the Knights of Amaranth was founded in Sweden by Queen Christina in 1653. And to this day, despite the rather demanding nature, these flowers are loved by gardeners. It is far from being as exotic as its “close relative”, the Australian endemic bird poultry, but its cultivation does not cause perplexing questions and bitter disappointments.

External data

Tailed amaranth is an annual plant.In favorable conditions, it reaches a height of one and a half meters. Amaranth grows slowly at first, therefore it is grown exclusively by the seedling method; The optimal time for sowing seeds for the Non-Black Earth Zone is mid-March.

The uniqueness of this plant lies in its unusual paniculate inflorescences, consisting of many small burgundy-red or yellow-green flowers. Amaranth blooms about two and a half months after the shoots appear. Appearing at the top of the plant, the inflorescences gradually grow, drooping and hanging down; the length of the inflorescences can be up to 80 cm.

Growing amaranth seedlings and choosing a place in the garden

Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out to a depth of one and a half centimeters. The optimum temperature for seedlings is from +20 to + 24 * С; in such conditions, the first shoots appear already on the 4th - 5th day. It is important to protect the seedlings from the cold; when placing containers on the window, take care to protect the roots from hypothermia. The recommended air temperature for seedlings is from +19 to + 21 * C.

Seedlings require good lighting. So that the plants do not shade each other, the seedlings are thinned out, removing weak plants, and when 1 - 2 true leaves appear, they dive into pots 6 x 6 cm in size.In the garden for amaranth, you should also choose a light area.

To protect against the black leg, the seedlings are watered with a pale solution of potassium permanganate. Treatment with bioregulators (for example, immunocytophyte or epin) is useful in order to increase the resistance of plants to adverse conditions. It is advisable to limit top dressing, given the slow growth of seedlings.

Soils for growing amaranth are preferable loamy or sandy loam, well-drained. It is advisable to prepare the site in the fall; digging up the soil, add humus (at the rate of 5 kg per square meter), potash and phosphorus fertilizers. Planting plants in open ground is possible after the threat of late frosts has passed.

The optimal planting pattern is 40 x 70 cm. It is preferable to place amaranth in the background of a flower garden or plant in separate groups - this will not only emphasize its features, but also allow you to hide the stakes to which adult plants are tied.

Care features

During the summer, amaranth requires regular feeding. 1 - 2 times per season, organic fertilizer is applied to the soil; flowers are fed with full mineral up to three times a summer.

It is necessary to monitor soil moisture: an adult plant can withstand drought, but at the same time it almost completely stops growing. Timely care should be taken to protect against pests. Amaranth inflorescences are often affected by aphids.

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To get rid of it, it is recommended to treat with biological preparations acarin or fitoverm.

Grown amaranths must be tied up. In June, pinch the tops so that the plants do not stretch; amaranth planted in the ground grows quickly enough. At the end of August, the inflorescences are pruned for winter bouquets and quickly dried with hot air to maintain their shape and color.

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Vitamin salad straight from the flower bed

Amaranth leaves taste very similar to spinach. They contain lysine - one of the eight essential amino acids for the human body, which promotes the absorption of protein, calcium, strengthening muscles and bones, prevents atherosclerosis, prevents strokes and heart attacks.

In Japan, it is believed that the taste of amaranth greens resembles squid meat; with its regular use, the body is energized and rejuvenated.

Moreover, even ornamental plants are suitable for eating. The nutritional value of 200 grams of squid leaves is comparable to 1 kg of cucumbers.

Amaranth leaf tea is good for atherosclerosis, dysbiosis, obesity, frequent stress and neurosis.

Amaranth species

Today, a huge number of species are known that, in natural outdoor conditions, grow in regions with a warm and temperate climate. In total, almost a hundred species stand out, but on the territory of our country he grows seventeen species of such a plant. The category of the most popular and well-known amaranth species is represented by tricolor, caudate, crimson, paniculate, upturned, and common amaranth.

Amaranth tailed

A. tailed (A. caudatus) has very beautiful hanging and thin inflorescences that resemble a fox's tail. The most popular ornamental variety is Viridis with green or creamy buds. A wonderful honey plant.

Amaranth tricolor

Tricolor (A.tricolor) has rather narrow, sometimes wavy, tricolor leaves with a red, yellow and green tint. Inflorescences are erect, strongly branched. Ornamental varieties include FlamingFountains, Illumination and Joseph's Coat.

Amaranth tricolor (Amaranthus tricolor)

A. paniculate

Paniculate (A.cruentus, syn. A. paniculatus) is characterized by the presence of a brownish-red foliage and drooping or vertical inflorescences with original hanging tips. Ornamental varieties include Zwergfackel, GrueneFackel, PygmyTorch and RoterDom.

A. vegetable

The vegetable was grown as a cereal crop, but today it is recommended for use fresh, boiled, fried and dried. Most often it has a dark green or purple color. The category of the most popular varieties includes "Krepysh", "Valentina", "In memory of Kvasov", "White sheet", "Kharkiv-1" and "Shuntuk".

Amaranth vegetable

Indoor amaranth

Indoor amaranth is preferred to grow in the Urals, as well as in Siberia and other regions with insufficiently favorable climatic conditions. Indoor amaranths grow well in standard medium-sized flower pots. Planting seedlings or growing from seed requires the use of a versatile soil for flowering ornamental plants.

Amaranth paniculata

Healing oil is also produced from it.

Amaranth seed oil, in addition to a large amount of polyunsaturated acids and vitamins (A, E, C), contains squalene. It is a great antioxidant. It is able to penetrate cell membranes, cleanse blood vessels from cholesterol deposits, and prevent blood clots. In addition, squalene increases tissue elasticity and promotes tissue regeneration.

According to the latest data, the use of amaranth oil contributes to the overall health of the body, rejuvenation, elimination of toxins and toxins. Inhibition of the growth of cancer cells, an improvement in blood circulation and brain activity, an increase in the level of stress resistance and immunity were noted.

Amaranth oil is 2 times ahead of sea buckthorn oil by its medicinal properties. It can be used to heal wounds and skin lesions, healing will go much faster.

Vitamins A, E, B1, B2, polyunsaturated acids slow down the aging process of the skin. That is why cosmetology creams and masks, which include this component, are popular today.

Vegetable amaranth: sturdy variety, growing from seeds

Amaranth is often used for cooking, feeding animals, and also as a medicine for the treatment of various diseases. It is nutritious, so it can feed any person. Let's take a closer look at what vegetable amaranth is, what are its positive properties, and also how a promising valuable plant is grown.

Briefly about the plant

Amaranth is sometimes referred to as the amaranth. It has small orange or green flowers. They form inflorescences, which also come in different colors.The plant begins to bloom from June and continues to delight the eye until the first cold weather.

It can grow rapidly, the growing season is 90 -120 days. Amaranth grows anywhere, easily tolerates heat, drought, and resists pathogens. Most housewives grow amaranth vegetable in the garden as an ornamental plant.

You can make salads from young leaves and stems. The dry leaves of the plant are often used to make tea. This drink is aromatic and has a positive effect on the body's work.

The usefulness of the plant

The benefits of vegetable amaranth are as follows:

1. It is made up of a protein that contains lysine. The Japanese often compare the plant to squid meat because it is nutritious;
2. Amaranth is also enriched with squalene, which has been shown to successfully fight cancer. Thanks to this component, the condition of the human skin improves, inflammation is relieved, wounds heal quickly;
3. The plant is rich in tocopherols, which are necessary to restore lipid metabolism, normalize cholesterol, and fight free radicals;
4. For a better removal of cholesterol from the body, the plant contains not only tocopherols, but also phytosterols;
5. Amaranth contains phospholipids to build healthy cells.

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Vegetable amaranth also consists of vitamins and minerals that have a positive effect on the human body, on the proper functioning of internal organs.

The use of amaranth for diseases

Schiritsa has long been used to treat various diseases. It helps with excessive weight, high blood sugar, neuroses, lack of vitamins in the body, kidney diseases. Also, various folk remedies are made from the seeds and leaves of the plant that help a person recover after any operations.

Doctors can advise drugs with amaranth for the treatment of inflammation of the genitourinary system, as well as for the treatment of hemorrhoids. In addition, a useful plant is used in the following cases:

1. To eliminate a severe loss of strength;
2. With anemia;
3. For the treatment of skin diseases, burns;
4. They are treated for stomatitis and atherosclerosis.

To lower cholesterol, while removing harmful radioactive substances from the body and developing cancer, experts prescribe drugs with amaranth oil.

Plant harm

Greens, grains, flour, amaranth oil in small doses will not harm your health. But, if you want to use it for the purpose of healing every day, you must definitely consult a doctor.

Amaranth and ecology

Shchiritsa is a plant with the C4 type of photosynthesis, which corresponds to high levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide binding, which is especially necessary in conditions of global warming on the planet.

Where amaranth grows, wind erosion of the soil is reduced. This is due to the powerful root system of the plant. Where amaranth grows, the soil is cleared of harmful substances over time. Therefore, it is advisable to cultivate it in regions unfavorable from the point of view of ecology.

Shchiritsa can also be used as a raw material for biofuel. The energy content of the dry mass is 14 MJ / kg, and the production process is quite simple. Crops of amaranth are harvested with a flax harvester, dried and formed into briquettes.

Its importance is also great for the preservation of the population of the inhabitants of the seas and oceans. After all, squalene used to be mined exclusively from sharks and whales.

How to care for your culture

It is necessary to monitor the condition of the seedlings in the first months, so you need to visit the country more often. Due to the slow growth, seedlings can be oppressed by weeds. Timely weeding will provide them with freedom, light and oxygen.

Outdoor care consists in performing the following agrotechnical techniques:

1. At the beginning of summer, flower beds with amaranth should be mulched so that moisture is retained in the soil.Mowed and chopped grass is used as mulch.
2. Young amaranths need sufficient moisture, so they are watered several times a week in dry weather. After the plant begins to grow, watering is reduced.
3. In the first month, the plants can be fed with mullein infusion in a ratio of 1 to 5 or wood ash. Amaranth is responsive to green fertilizer. Complementary foods should be applied in the morning, on wet soil.
4. From the second month, amaranth starts growing. Now he does not need weeding, since weeds are suppressed under his crown, but watering still needs to be continued and the soil must not dry out.

When the plant reaches a height of 25-30 cm, it is harvested for greenery. Otherwise, the amaranth remains in the garden for decoration.

Why is it important

One of the conditions for the concept of sustainable development, which is being carried out all over the world in recent decades and is the only way out for mankind from the ecological crisis, is high technologies of agriculture in the production of products with a balanced composition. And it is amaranth that meets these requirements.

Indeed, in addition to squalene, flour from the seeds of this plant contains 3 times more proteins, 9.4 times more lipids, 17 times more fiber, sodium - 24 times, calcium - 19 times, magnesium - 6 times, phosphorus - 5 times, iron - 36 times than in wheat flour.

Amaranth proteins have a balanced composition. So, the essential amino acids in it are 1.6 g / 100 g of protein, and the total amount is 37.7 g / 100 g. For comparison: in wheat flour, the last indicator is 10.4 g / 100 g.

Of the 20 amino acids required by the human body, the flour of this plant contains 18.

The addition of amaranth flour to baked goods improves quality indicators. Indeed, amaranth proteins lack an alcohol-soluble fraction (prolamins), which forms the gluten of the dough. And the degree of satisfaction of the daily requirement for essential amino acids with the use of such bread increases 2 times. In addition, the bread acquires a nutty flavor and a pleasant appearance.

Description and use cases in landscape design

The description of the plant is characterized by the formation of small flowers, which are collected in rather dense and very attractive inflorescences of the spike-paniculate type. All species and varieties belong to the Amaranth family (Amaranthaceae).

The stem part can be either simple or branched. The alternate, solid foliage also looks very attractive, and can be diamond-shaped, lanceolate, or ovoid. The base of the leaf is elongated into a petiole, and the apical part has a notch and a small point. Axillary flowers are arranged in bunches, and the apical ones gather in dense paniculate spike-shaped inflorescences. The plant blooms profusely, after which it forms fruit-boxes with seeds. The color of the plant is green or purplish red.

Fodder crop

The high yield of amaranth crops - 5 tons per hectare of useful grain and 200 tons per hectare of biomass - make this crop an excellent forage base for livestock. From June to October, animals can be fed with green biomass, and the rest of the time - with silage, dry panicles, granules.

Recent studies have shown that amaranth silage contains 1.7 times more protein than corn silage. And when using mixed crops of these crops, the level of protein per feed unit is up to 100 g, which corresponds to zootechnical standards. The use of amaranth silage showed an increase in the average daily weight gain of young cattle by 16%.

In addition, as a fodder crop, shchiritsa is of interest due to its low water consumption to create a unit of biomass - 3 times less than alfalfa and beans. In comparison with corn, silage of amaranth requires 2 times less labor costs.

All these indicators indicate that amaranth is an effective solution to the feed problem and contributes to an increase in livestock production.

Varietal variety of amaranth

In the world flora, common amaranth is represented by more than sixty species. There are annual and perennial crops that are resistant to even the most severe frosts and resistant to any pest. Growing a plant is simple and not troublesome. With such a great variety of varieties and types, you can get confused and purchase fodder or vegetable, instead of decorative. What varieties are the most popular and in demand and in what quality.

Amaranth tailed

The representative of this variety is a rather powerful herbaceous plant, reaching a height of 1.5 m or more. It has an erect thick stem and large leaves hanging slightly to the ground. Leaves are often purple tint, less often green. The root system is pivotal, with a long central root extending 50-70 cm deep. Such roots are given to withstand a huge bush and prevent it from breaking under its own weight and in bad weather.

At the beginning of summer, the tailed amaranth produces a peduncle resembling a long cord or tail, for which it is nicknamed tailed. Inflorescences are densely collected small flowers strung on a long peduncle. The length of one cord sometimes reaches half a meter, or even more. Depending on the variety, they have a different color.

The most common varieties of the caudate are the following.

Rothschwanz

The plant is erect, up to 70 cm high. A pair of bushes occupies a fairly large space. Leaves are light green with whitish, clearly pronounced veins, corrugated to the touch. The inflorescences are collected in a broom. In one inflorescence, up to 50 separate cords up to 30 cm long are observed. The color palette of the panicle is usually red, burgundy, with a more saturated color at the base.

Important! Individual ropes-inflorescences can hang down to the ground and even lie on it.

Grunschwarz

In terms of its botanical characteristics, it resembles the Rothschwants variety, but has bright green inflorescences. The duo will perfectly fit into the decoration of any flower bed, as they are of almost the same height and diameter. These tails or flagella are the favorite material of florists for composing winter compositions from dried flowers.

Amaranth green tails

Tall plant, up to 80 cm. A rare variety of green amaranth. All parts are green: leaves, inflorescences, flowers, stem. But it is wonderful because the length of the hanging panicles or its individual elements reaches 80 cm. It looks great as an independent planting or as a decoration for an artificial fence or as a hedge. Strong bushes will prevent any wind from getting into the garden.

Crimson beads

The meter-long stems of this variety have a red, almost crimson color, like inflorescences, which looks spectacular in a frame of green leaves. The bush is able to grow strongly to the sides, therefore it is planted in a flowerbed in the singular.

The inflorescences hang down to a length of 1 m. They are beautiful when fresh cut and can decorate any winter composition for floor vases.

Avalanche

Beautiful long purple tails can be seen from early summer to late autumn. Of interest are individual inflorescences, which are long threads with bundle-like collected flowers, strung on a peduncle like beads. The Avalanche variety loves space and an abundance of light.

Green torch

An annual herb up to 40 cm high. It has green, ovoid leaves and an erect, powerful stem. Heat-loving amaranth is poorly resistant to low temperatures. Flowering can be observed from June until frost, when it dies.

The inflorescences or tails grow upward, and do not hang down, as is customary for the caudate amaranth. Panicles are represented by separate thickened peduncles. The color is bright green.

Dreadlox

This amaranth variety is perhaps the most bizarre.It can be classified as paniculate and tailed. The panicle inflorescence is of interest. Some of her flagella resemble dreadlocks, African hairstyle. Balls of small burgundy flowers are strung on a thin pedicel. And in combination with bright greenery, the plant will not leave any grower aside.

Amaranth tricolor and bicolor

Special types of annual amaranth are two- and three-color. These varieties are valued by gardeners not for flowering, like the previous representative, but for an interesting color of the leaves, which combines two or more contrasting colors at once. Moreover, various shades prevail at once on the same root.

Leaves are elongated, can be wavy, are red, yellow and green at the same time. These varieties usually belong to the average height of the varieties, reaching 60-70 cm, but there are specimens with a height of 1.5 m.

Illuminations

The most attractive variety is Illumination (Illumination). He is perhaps the most favorite among flower growers. The decorative effect is created by the play of colors on one leaf. Red, yellow, green shades of one leaf blade, as if someone spilled three bottles of paints at once.

The height does not exceed 70 cm, the shape is pyramidal, that is, at the base it is widened and narrowed upward. Multi-colored petal leaves appear on young shoots. At the beginning of summer, they are less bright, and by autumn their pigment increases, and they acquire an almost red-orange shade.

Glamorous shine

Amaranth height is no more than half a meter. The plant has a compact bush with large leaves. The lower leaves are dark green with a burgundy border. The top of the amaranth is painted in bright burgundy tones without greenery, which makes the flower look elegant and solemn.

Molten Fire

A bicolor amaranth with a decent size. The height of the bush can be up to 80 cm. The lower part of the foliage is colored brown, closer to chocolate color, and this composition is crowned with scarlet leaves. The leaves at the top are long in shape and slightly wavy edges.

Airlie splender

Amaranth Earley splender belongs to the genus of annuals. The thickened stems create a bush more than 1 m high. The two-tone color plays with tones of burgundy and crimson, with which the upper leaves are painted, rather long, wriggling like snakes. The lower rows of foliage have a maroon color with a bronze tint.

In the landscape it is used as a central plant in any flower beds or in combination with petunias. Thick foliage is observed down to the ground.

Aurora

Bicolor Aurora grows up to 1.2 m in height. The composition of yellow and green leaves will perfectly fit into any flower garden. Leaves are oblong, slightly wavy. The lower foliage is dark green, but the upper one is significantly different and represents a delicate sunny bouquet of yellow or cream tones. Looks great in combination with Earley Splender or Molten Fire.

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Splendens perfect

Pyramidal amaranth 1.2 m high. This representative of the tricolor requires freedom to show itself in all its glory. Leaves, narrow on long petioles, are valued in amaranth. The lower layer of foliage is dark green with black spots, the top is presented in the form of an accumulation of variegated, yellow-red leaves. The foliage looks elegant until late autumn.

Molten Fire

The original variety, in which the color of the lower layers is painted in burgundy, then smoothly turns into purple at the top. The extreme upper leaves are not completely colored in light colors, but only half.

Bicolor

The height of the amaranth is slightly more than 80 cm, it has a pyramidal structure. The foliage is green below, dimmer than the one passing to the top. On the crown, a cluster of bright scarlet elongated, wavy leaves predominates. Looks most elegant in sunny areas.

Amaranth paniculata

The people call this type of amaranth crimson.It differs significantly from its counterparts: tailed and multi-colored amaranth. It has an erect stem with a large number of side shoots, which makes it take up a lot of space in the garden.

The inflorescence is presented in the form of a panicle, but erect. Only in some varieties does the panicle droop down due to its weight. Amaranth grows from 35 cm to 150 cm. Depending on this, low, medium and tall plants are distinguished.

Varieties of paniculate amaranth.

Oeshberg

A tall panicled amaranth of German breeding, reaching a height of 1 m. The bush is simply huge, so it does not look in combination with other varieties, it is better to grow it as a single decoration. The leaves are dark green, through them erect panicles with densely stuffed peduncles can be seen. The flowers are almost burgundy, when illuminated they become more saturated colors.

Twins

Amaranth of this variety comes with green and burgundy inflorescences. Interesting in the shape of the peduncle. In the panicle itself, the central peduncle stands out significantly against the background of the lateral ones, reaching 30-40 cm, while the lateral ones are 5-10 cm. Small flowers are located very closely to each other on the peduncles. The central branch is up to 7 cm in diameter.

The panicle is erect, on a high, up to 80 cm, bush. Large green leaves. The bush has a thickened stem to support a sufficiently branchy plant.

Bronze

Giant plant, up to 2 m. Erect thick stem densely endowed with large green leaves. Gorgeous panicles rise through them. Long bloom, from June to frost. A gorgeous sight when an ear peeps out from under the snow.

Loved by flower growers in group flower beds, as well as in cut. It is enough to add a couple of other flowers, and the bouquet is ready. The plant is unpretentious in care, loves space and an abundance of light, which makes it seem golden.

Openwork

This variety of paniculate amaranth is similar to the Bronze variety. It has an erect stem up to 1.2 m in height, strong lateral shoots, green leaves and bronze-colored panicle inflorescences.

Red cathedral

Tall amaranth, reaching more than 1.2 m. The leaves are bright green, against which beautiful burgundy paniculate inflorescences grow upward. This variety has a long flowering period. It is grown by seeds in the ground or through seedlings.

Bronze Age

The Bronze Age variety outwardly resembles Openwork and Bronze, but the color palette of the panicle is somewhat different. In fact, it is bronze, and in the sunlight it becomes more saturated in color.

Red torch

Amaranth height 40 cm. The trunk is rather thick with powerful lateral branches. The inflorescence is collected in the center and is the end of the apex. The panicle is burgundy. Amaranth is thermophilic, does not tolerate even small frosts. Fits beautifully on flower beds with undersized flowers.

Amaranth feed

Tallness, strong splendor, an abundance of green mass, huge inflorescences, such a feature cannot be missed by livestock breeders. Amaranths are grown for the preparation of poultry feed mixtures and for silage for livestock. The harvest of fodder amaranth will always be born, and the minimum financial costs make this plant in demand in animal husbandry. The varieties bred today are distinguished by unpretentious care and high yields.

Kinelsky 254

This variety is a product of the Konstantinov Volga NIISS. The growing season lasts 100 days. Plant height up to 1.6 m. Has a panicle inflorescence up to 60 cm long. The variety is drought and frost-resistant. Shoots are weakly leafy. The yield of green mass is up to 30 tons per hectare in dry weather and up to 70 tons in favorable conditions. The seeds are used to make medicinal oil.

Giant

A fodder variety included in the State Register of the Russian Federation. The bush has dark green foliage and yellow, less often red, panicle inflorescence. The size of the panicle can be described as follows, it is not included in both hands, the length of the inflorescence is up to 42 cm.The bushiness and juiciness of the aboveground part is abundant, which is used in animal husbandry for the preparation of silage for livestock feed. The yield of amaranth Giant is 15-20 t / ha. Plant height reaches almost 2 m.

Lera

Fodder amaranth. Height reaches 2.2 m. Ripening is average, up to 105 days. The stem and leaves are green, the latter have red streaks, a red panicle, the length of which is up to 54 cm. It is used for the preparation of silage, since the green mass is juicy and nutritious, enriched with protein necessary for cattle.

Kharkiv-1

This variety is intended not only for feed to livestock and poultry, but also for medicinal purposes and as a grain. The growing season is 110 days. Productivity up to 20 t / ha. The leaves are used to prepare feed granules, grass flour and cake. The plant is more than 2 m, with a bright green panicle. The green mass of amaranth is abundant and juicy. The bush has a large number of shoots, which makes planting at a distance of 70 cm from each other.

Aztec

The variety of fodder amaranth is predominantly red in color, from foliage and stems to inflorescence. The ripening period is 110 days. One and a half meter amaranth has panicle inflorescences reaching 50 cm in length. It has a large yield of greens for feed and a feed unit content of 1 kg of dry matter.

Kizlyarets

A variety of green amaranth suitable for forage purposes. Starting from the sixtieth day of growing season, you can start harvesting for silage. The stem reaches a height of 1.6 m, this is not the limit, but it is valued not for its growth, but for the presence of a rich green mass. Unpretentious in care, resistant to diseases and pests. Productivity from 1 hectare - up to 50 tons.

Cherry jam

It is known as fodder, medicinal and food amaranth. A low-growing (75 cm) herbaceous plant, under favorable growing conditions, it can be perennial. It has long drooping inflorescences of cherry-colored panicles and green leaves. Productivity 40 t / ha.

Amaranth dark (sad)

The height of the plant can be up to 1.5 m. The bush is low-branched, the leaves are oblong, lanceolate, purple or purple-green. The inflorescence grows vertically, resembles an ear or panicle of burgundy, almost black.

A known variety with bloody drooping inflorescences. The most popular varieties are: Pigmy Torch, Green Tamb. These are low-growing varieties of sad amaranth, their height is from 40 to 60 cm. They are used for bouquet cutting.

Amaranth white - white squid

A low-growing shrub that grows up to half a meter. It got its name because of the light tones of green, almost white, leaves and stems. Interesting inflorescences in the form of separate bundles, very long and white. Several flagella fold into heavy clusters, which hang down to the ground under their weight. It is actively cultivated in European countries, where it comes from.

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Amaranth Red - Amaranthus Red

Indeed, it justifies its second name - "red leaf". The plant is completely red, only the stem and leaves of one shade, but the inflorescences of another. Amaranth grows up to 2 m. The stem is thick, you can't break it just like that, without using force. It is given to the plant as a support, since the bush is powerful and highly leafy.

The inflorescence is presented in the form of a large panicle of a dark scarlet, almost bloody color. The plant is unpretentious, it can grow on any soil. And what is interesting, some farms are raised not for decoration and for livestock feed, but to protect soil from water and wind erosion.

Amaranth thrown back or spiky - Amaranthus retroflexus

They are nothing more than garden "soldiers" met as a weed. It grows up to 1.5 m and has many side shoots. The root system is pink. It grows strongly in different directions, hindering the growth of grass and cultivated plants.

Color - an ear of small green flowers with a predominance of gray or yellow.As the ear ripens, it becomes prickly. The seed material is rather small and resembles black beads.

Types of decorative amaranths

All the varieties of amaranth presented above are undoubtedly beautiful and will decorate any flower bed, but other varieties have also been bred by breeders for decorative purposes.

Cherry velvet

A low-growing amaranth of red color, from the lower leaves to the top. Height is 60 cm, inflorescences are scattered ears, openwork lace. Some plants are almost purple in color. We can say that Red Velvet is a cultivated plant, as it loves loose and fertile soils and a lot of light. Freezes at low frosts.

Amaranth vegetable

It is rather a group of amaranths, which are used not only to decorate the landscape, but also for food. Inflorescences and leaves, which are used in cooking and traditional medicine, are edible. A rich composition of vitamins and minerals, protein, that is what distinguishes vegetable varieties from decorative ones. Today, the following varieties are considered famous: Valentina, Krepysh, White Leaf and Opopeo.

Indoor amaranth

Any of the presented amaranths can be grown at home. Of course, they will be miniatures of their fellows in the open field. Usually, low-growing varieties are used for indoor keeping: Rother Dam, Rother Paris, Zwegfakel, Grunefakel and Hot Biscuit. The conditions of keeping are similar to those of houseplants.

Unpretentious culture

Amaranth is a pseudo-cereal culture. Refers to plants of a short day, with an increase in daylight hours, the seeds may not ripen. Schiritsa grows well on sandy and clay soils, tolerates drought well. This is facilitated by the following features of the plant:

• There are two types of roots - superficial fibrous and taproot. The first successfully extracts moisture from the upper layers of the soil, and the second extracts moisture in the dry period from a depth of up to 7 meters.
• The stomata of amaranth leaves close during drought and high temperatures, which reduces evaporation and retains moisture inside the plant.

The optimum temperature for growth is + 26 ° C with a growing season of 90 - 130 days.

It is necessary to sow amaranth at a temperature of 10 ° C, the seeding rate is from 0.5 to 5 kg per hectare. Harvest at the first frost, at a temperature of -5 ° C, the plants dry out. Combine harvesters and flax harvesters are used for harvesting.

Crop care is not difficult, and amaranth is resistant to many diseases.

In the temperate climate of domestic middle latitudes, food varieties with a squalene content of up to 10% ("ultra", "Kharkiv-1", "helios") are popular. The high oil content (up to 7%) is distinguished by the varieties "lera" and "sam".

The low level of labor costs, high profitability and the growing popularity of this agricultural crop attract the attention of domestic farmers.

Growing amaranth: questions and answers

Today, farmers are increasingly faced with drought in their fields, which means the need to rotate their usual field crops to more drought-resistant ones. One of these can be amaranth. With an average yield in Ukraine of 2 t / ha (and 5-6 t / ha are harvested on experimental plots) and a selling price of 25 thousand UAH / ton (organic - 35 thousand UAH / ton), amaranth is a very economically attractive crop. Due to the wide range of uses, high potential yield of seeds and green mass (up to 250 t / ha) and the profitability of amaranth production, more and more agricultural producers are interested. However, it takes a lot of effort to grow amaranth.

Alexander Duda, Chairman of the Association of Amaranth and Amaranth Producers, spoke about the agro-technological intricacies of this culture, the peculiarities of processing and marketing.

Every agronomist remembers that this is a malicious weed. How can it be useful for an agricultural producer?

This is one of the most drought-resistant crops in Ukraine.Moreover, amaranth loves just the heat: the greatest growth rate of the green mass of a plant is at temperatures above 30 ° C. In addition, it enriches the soil with organic matter and nitrogen, is a good precursor in crop rotation, and can be successfully used in organic farming. Amaranth surpasses most of the traditional crops grown in Ukraine in the yield of protein, vitamins, biologically active substances from a unit of sown area. Its processed products are used in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic industry, as well as in feed production.

How many farms grow it in Ukraine?

Today - a little, a little more than 30. Their areas are different - from several hectares to 150 hectares in Transcarpathia.

In what areas is it advisable to grow it?

Throughout Ukraine. In the southern, central and eastern regions, it perfectly resists drought and, thanks to high temperatures and sufficient solar radiation, gives the best quality seeds, in more humid regions - the best yields of green mass and seeds. In Ukraine, 15 varieties of amaranth are zoned with different duration of the growing season, so you can choose a variety for each region.

What are the best predecessors for amaranth? When is it sown?

According to the technology of growing amaranth, the main requirement for predecessors is early harvesting and the absence of large volumes of crop residues. The most suitable are annual grasses, grains and legumes, and potatoes.

Autumn tillage provides for 1-2 stubble peeling and deep plowing. Spring includes harrowing, weed control and leveling of the soil by cultivation. Presowing cultivation is carried out to a depth of 5 cm, followed by rolling to level the soil surface and obtain its fine-grained structure.

Optimal sowing dates: until May 10 in the southern regions, until May 15 in the central regions and until May 20 in the northern regions. If the soil has warmed up to 12 ° C and there is enough moisture in the upper layer, you can sow to a depth of 2 cm. If the soil temperature is still insufficient or there is not enough moisture, you should fight weeds and wait for precipitation. Each farmer must find that optimal moment for sowing amaranth, which will allow him to get good shoots. Sowing amaranth without losing future yield can be carried out until June 1, and if the farmer is ready to concede part of the future harvest - and until June 15.

What varieties of amarvnta do you recommend?

Good varieties were created by the Kharkiv National Agrarian University and the National Botanical Garden. N.N. Grishko. The most common of them: Kharkov-1, Lera, Ultra, Sam, Aztec, Helios, Student. They have a different growing season and directions of use, so it is possible to choose a variety for any region and needs.

Growing technology: how to sow and collect amaranth?

Amaranth seeds are very small: the weight of the seeds is 0.7-0.8 g, the diameter is 0.6-0.8 mm, therefore, the process of sowing amaranth itself is of concern to many agricultural producers. The best results are achieved when using vegetable, grass seed drills, which allow you to get even seedlings. But there is a successful experience of using wide-row seeders: "Maple", Vesta Profi.

If there is nothing like this on the farm, but there is a desire to grow amaranth, you can use an ordinary grain seeder. In this case, amaranth seeds are mixed with sifted dried earth. Usually they give a large seeding rate, so that later on it will be possible to use spring harrows to control weeds in the row. At the time of seed collection, it is desirable to have a plant density of 110-150 thousand plants per hectare.

For the most popular vigorous varieties Kharkovsky-1, Lera, the optimal row spacing is 45 cm, in a row there are 5-7 plants per running meter. At the same time, an optimal plant nutrition area, maximum leaf surface area, plant height, and resistance to aging are achieved.

You can sow amaranth with row spacing of 70 cm, focusing on 90-110 thousand plants per hectare. It is also possible to sow amaranth for green fodder in ordinary row crops with row spacing of 15 cm (post-harvest crops are also practiced in order to obtain green mass for fodder or to use amaranth as a green manure).

The crop should be harvested using a modern harvester with a rapeseed table at full ripeness of seeds and moisture content of 12-15%. The standard storage humidity is 10%.

What are the limiting factors for amaranth?

Amaranth is afraid of frost, because the seeds germinate and descend at a soil temperature of 12-14 ° C. For sowing, especially in the South, it is difficult to retain moisture in the topsoil. In addition, many farms do not have the opportunity to sow such a small seed crop with high quality.

What is the best fertilizer for amaranth?

The culture does not like acidic (pH <5.5) and poor soils. On fertile soils, it can be grown without fertilizers, because, thanks to the branched and deep root system, it provides itself with macro- and microelements in sufficient quantities, and even synthesizes and accumulates nitrogen, enriches the soil with it. But responds well to fertilization.

The ratio of consumption of macronutrients from soil N: P: K = 1: 0.8: 3. A useful feature of amaranth is also its ability to restore saline soils. Experiments have proven that after 2-3 years of cultivation, amaranth is able to significantly improve the fertility of saline soils. Amaranth is an ideal crop for organic farming, responds well to feeding with humates, introducing effective microorganisms into the soil.

How to organize the sale of amaranth?

There are no problems with sales: processing enterprises are now concluding agreements to buy out 100% of the grown crop. Indeed, there is not enough amaranth seeds on the domestic market. I will add that the developed domestic technologies for processing amaranth make it possible to obtain 40 liters of oil, 350 kg of polished cereals, 400 kg of so-called native flour from a ton of seeds. The rest are cake from embryos.

And all of this can be sold at a bargain price around the world. Annual sales of amaranth oil alone in the world exceed half a billion dollars.

In which industries can amaranth be used? What products can be made from it?

86% is used in the pharmaceutical industry and 14% in the cosmetics industry. Amaranth oil is extremely effective in disorders of the immune and endocrine systems of the body, heart and skin diseases, removes toxins, toxins, radionuclides, starts regeneration processes in the human body, prevents and inhibits the development of tumors. Cosmetics gently care for the skin and rejuvenate it thanks to squalene, polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E in active tocotrienol form and other components.

Polished amaranth groats are a daily food product. But it is the best among all cereals thanks to the protein, which is recognized as the standard for humans among all proteins of plant and animal origin. In its composition, it is the closest to the protein of human mother's milk and is an ideal product for baby, dietary and sports nutrition, as it contains a lot of lysine, methionine, tryptophan. This product is new in Ukraine, NPK Amaranth (Nikolaev) started producing it only in December 2019, but it is very promising. Organic and inorganic domestic polished amaranth groats will be sold in hundreds of thousands of tons and will become a locomotive for the cultivation and processing of amaranth in Ukraine.

Amaranth flour can be used in any gluten-free mixes, bakery, pasta and confectionery products. By the way, heat treatment gives it a pleasant nutty taste and aroma. Already in many cities and towns of Ukraine, bread is baked with the addition of amaranth flour, which, by the way, does not stale for a long time.And in Boyarka, bread crumbs are made from amaranth flour.

Amaranth cake is an ingredient in compound feed for agricultural and domestic animals, birds and fish, which are produced in the Dnipropetrovsk and Chernivtsi regions. It provides better digestion of other feed components, improves reproductive function, minimizes livestock losses, and provides significant gains in live weight. Also, amaranth cake is successfully used (Kiev and Dnipro) in the production of baits for fish.

The next product is dried and crushed amaranth leaves, that is, herbal tea, which has tonic properties, increases immunity and performance. Such teas are produced by private entrepreneurs in the Kiev, Nikolaev and Zaporozhye regions, but so far large tea companies do not use amaranth.

What amaranth on a personal plot

The most popular decorative amaranths in our gardens are as follows:

• Amaranth crimson or paniculate. An annual plant up to 150 cm in height with elongated brown-red leaves. There are several varieties - undersized forms with drooping inflorescences and vertical inflorescences. Flowers are red (roter paris, roter dam), green (grunefakel, zwergfakel), orange (hot biscuit).
• Amaranth is sad. Annual up to 150 cm high with burgundy and green leaf plates. Inflorescences are vertical red. The variety "green tamb" is most often used to decorate dry bouquets, because its inflorescence is a combination of various shades of emerald.
• Amaranth tricolor. High (up to 1 meter) erect pyramidal bush. Leaves are narrow and tricolor - transitions of green, yellow and red. The inflorescences are reddish in color, but this amaranth is valued precisely because of the beauty of the foliage.
• Tailed amaranth. Tall plant (up to 1.5 meters). The leaves are large, green. The inflorescences are massive, hanging. They can be yellowish green, dark red, purple and crimson.

  

How to grow vegetable amaranth on your site

The Internet is replete with articles about the exceptional benefits of amaranth. They say that the vegetable culture of the twenty-first century, surpasses milk in protein content, can feed the whole world, prolong people's youth and help to improve the health of the body. And with all its many advantages in growing, amaranth is unpretentious and undemanding.

One of the main advantages of this vegetable culture is that almost all parts of the plant are suitable for food: both leaves and stems, and (especially valuable) seeds. It turns out that it is a sin not to allocate a piece of land to such a profitable amaranth in your summer cottage. And we will tell you everything you need to know and take into account to get an excellent harvest of valuable amaranth.

Growing technology of vegetable amaranth

Amaranth is a light-loving plant, thermophilic and responsive to watering. It grows in almost all types of soil, including sandy, rocky and salt marshes. Greens ripen 60-70 days, seeds - 100-120 days.

Amaranth is an excellent green manure and green manure. Therefore, you should pick off leaves, stems and tops for food, leaving roots in the ground. The summer resident receives a vitamin salad, and soil microorganisms - the necessary organic matter. And everyone is good!

Amaranth can be grown in two ways: seedling and seedless. As a rule, amaranth grain varieties are planted on seedlings to accelerate the growth and maturation of seeds, or decorative varieties for early flowering. Growing amaranth for the sake of leaves is quite possible by direct sowing of a seed into the ground.

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Growing amaranth through seedlings

Amaranth seeds are planted on seedlings in late March - early April. First, the seeds are sown in a common box and sprinkled with wet soil. Then they are covered with foil and sent to a dark, warm place. After 7-12 days, shoots appear, then the box is rearranged on the windowsill.

With the appearance of the first true leaf, amaranth seedlings dive into pots. He tolerates a transplant well, so there should be no problems.

After the threat of frost has passed (in late May or early June), the seedlings are planted in a permanent place.

Growing amaranth by direct sowing

The seeds are planted one at a time in moist soil. They can be sown in late April-early May, when the soil has warmed up to + 6 ° C.

Any distance between bushes and rows is allowed and depends on the immediate purpose of growing. If you need powerful plants, with a large number of panicles and seeds, a 70x30 cm scheme is used.If preference is given to delicate greenery, then you can thicken the planting and use the 15x15 cm scheme.

For those who decide to plant a large area with amaranth, it will be more convenient to mix seeds with sand, ash or sawdust in a ratio of 1:20, sow in rows, and then thin out. It is not worth deepening the seeds too much, it is enough to sprinkle them with a layer of soil of 1-2 centimeters and roll them a little for better contact with the ground. Under favorable conditions, seedlings appear in 7-10 days.

Amaranth care and harvesting

Amaranth requires care only in the first month of growth. At this time, its ground part grows so slowly that it is difficult to believe that these little blades will soon turn into powerful tall bushes. Therefore, you need to periodically weed the garden bed, mulch with mowed grass in order to prevent drying out, if you wish, you can feed it with mullein and ash infusion (or liquid fertilizer from grass).

Starting from the second month, amaranth starts to grow rapidly and adds 5-7 centimeters per day. Now he himself is able to drown out any weed, and all that he needs from the gardener is regular watering.

Amaranth is cut for greens when it reaches a height of 20-25 centimeters. After cutting off the tops, new shoots begin to grow from the lateral sinuses.

Seeds ripen in early September. At this time, the panicles begin to turn brown, and the lower leaves dry out and fall off. Amaranth seeds ripen unevenly and crumble very quickly, so it is preferable to cut the panicles in advance and dry in a dark place. At the same time, the seeds ripen perfectly.

Amaranth varieties

There are a great many varieties and varieties of amaranth. Vegetable, grain, fodder, ornamental We, as gardeners, are primarily interested in universal varieties (which are grown both for greens and for "grain"), leafy and grain varieties.

Valentine... An excellent early vegetable variety with a lot of shoots along the entire length of the stem. The leaves and stems are purple, the flowers are erect purple. Seeds are translucent, light brown, with a red border. It grows in height up to 1.7 meters. Ripening period of leaves 45-60 days, seeds - 110-120 days.

Giant... A fodder variety that can be grown for grain. The leaves are dark green, the flowers are red or yellow, the seeds are white disc-shaped. It grows in height 1.6-1.9 meters. The period from germination to seed ripening is 115-127 days.

Sturdy... Early ripening vegetable variety, grown for the sake of fresh herbs. The leaves are green, juicy and delicate, the flowers are brown with red spots. Seeds are light yellow. It reaches a height of 1.3-1.4 meters. The growing season is 70-80 days.

White list (White Leaf). Vegetable dwarf variety, grown for greens. It is cut off when it reaches a height of 18-20 centimeters. The leaves and stems are light green, very tender and delicious. This variety can be grown on a windowsill in winter.

Kharkiv-1... A versatile variety, one of the best for grain cultivation. The leaves are green, the inflorescences are erect yellow, the seeds are light. It reaches a height of 1.7-1.9 meters. The growing season is 90-110 days.

In memory of Covas... A universal mid-season variety. The leaves are dark green in color, very juicy and tender. Inflorescences are erect, red with a brown tint. The plant is 0.9-1.1 meters high.

Voronezh... Early ripening grain variety.The leaves are green, the panicle is long, erect, yellow-green, the seeds are light. The average plant height is 0.8-1.2 meters. Grain ripening period is 90-100 days.

Helios... Grain early ripening variety. Light yellow leaves with orange veins, erect orange panicles, white grain. It can grow up to 1.5-1.7 meters high. The seed ripening period is 105 days.

Kizlyarets... It is considered a forage variety that can be grown for grain. The leaf is large, light green. Inflorescence is a straight panicle of yellow-green color, when ripe it turns red. Seeds are round, light yellow. Plants reach 1.2-1.6 meters in height. Grain ripening period is 80-120 days.

Remember that in vegetable and grain varieties of amaranth, the color of the seeds should be light. If the seeds are dark, this is an ornamental amaranth, which is grown for beautiful bright panicles. It is not recommended to eat the grain of such plants, but the leaves can be added to summer salads in any case.

We wish you success and big harvests!

a source

Both lunch and dessert

Today on the market you can find many products that include amaranth. They differ in a pleasant nutty taste.

The oil is used as an additive to yoghurts, sour milk products, ice cream, salads.

And finally, a few recipes using amaranth.

For example, amaranth and leek soup. To do this, the leaves of the plant are boiled for 10 minutes with vegetables.

Amaranth seeds can be boiled for 15 minutes, then added to fried vegetables and simmered over low heat. The garnish is ready.

You can prepare a sauce for meat and vegetable dishes. To do this, take 300 g of cream and 200 g of amaranth leaves. The leaves are crushed, mixed with cream, spices and 100 g of grated hard cheese are added. Over low heat, it is necessary to bring the sauce until the cheese is completely melted.

To prepare the dessert, take honey, butter or margarine and melt it. Amaranth seeds, nuts, peanuts are added to the resulting mixture and poured into baking dishes. Then everything is cooled in the refrigerator. The nutty dessert is ready.

Reproduction methods

All species of amateurs reproduce from seeds. Seeds are collected in autumn, when the lower leaves are crumbling, and the panicle begins to dry out slightly. It is important not to miss the moment, as the seeds quickly fall to the soil. It is better to cut off an unripe panicle and determine for ripening in a ventilated room.

After a few days, rub the inflorescences with your hands over a white cloth or paper, and then pour the seeds into a small storage container. Amaranth is beautiful, unpretentious, huge, magnificent, useful, and these are not all advantages.

Let's sum up

A huge weed on your backyard turned out to be "food of the gods" and a promising crop.

Amaranth products are quite popular and expensive. So, for 1 liter of pharmaceutical oil, you will have to pay 700 euros (about 53 thousand rubles), and edible oil - 12 euros (900 rubles), 1 kilogram of flour on the European market costs 8.6 euros (650 rubles).

Amaranth can become a promising crop for small farms that need to survive in the market and compete with large agricultural holdings. And the development of the health food industry will invariably increase the demand for products with a balanced and healthy composition.

The best varieties of amaranth

Currently, domestic and foreign breeders have developed a large number of all kinds of amaranth varieties, which differ not only in external characteristics, but also in resistance to external unfavorable factors and demanding care.

Even a beginner or a time-limited amateur florist can grow almost any variety on their own.

Illuminations

The popular and often grown in the country cultivar "Illumination" or "Illumination" is a rather powerful and well-developed plant no more than 60-70 cm high with very impressive and large foliage. Young foliage is characterized by a reddish-yellow colorationand the older leaves are reddish orange in color. The lower leaves have a very original bronze shade.

Amaranth Illumination

Molten Fire

The peculiarity of the Molten Fire variety is its high decorative effect.This bicolor variety successfully combines red-raspberry and chocolate brown in seed. The culture is distinguished by light-, moisture- and heat-loving, is characterized by rapid growth, but does not tolerate severe frosts. Gives preference to light and fertile soils.

Perfect for single and group planting, decoration of a curb background, decoration of fences and the center of the flower bed. Cut inflorescences are used in bouquets and flower arrangements.

Crimson beads

The standard height of an adult plant does not exceed 80-100 cm. This fast-growing annual crop has a powerful and fairly branched stem part no more than a meter high. You can plant this unpretentious variety for the purpose of decorating walls, fences, low buildings and the creation of decorative living hedges. Group plantings look great against the background of decorative deciduous and flowering shrubs.

Amaranth Raspberry beads

Cherry velvet

Highly decorative variety "Cherry Velvet" refers to annual herbaceous ornamental plants, which are widely used in decorating garden space and personal plot, as well as used in the creation of bouquet arrangements.

The variety is characterized by the formation of flowers collected in very neat highly decorative paniculate inflorescences. The bush is compact, no more than 40-45 cm high, with a fairly dense foliage. Inflorescences are erect, exotic, deep cherry-purple color.

Brazilian Carnival

Variety "Brazilian Carnival" is a bright decorative and deciduous mixture. Cute multi-colored bushes reach a height of half a meter. The aerial part is covered with elongated ovate tricolor leaves.

The foliage has a greenish-yellow, reddish-burgundy and pinkish-burgundy coloration. The variety has proven itself both in single and in group plantings on lawns, in the background of flower beds or mixborders.

Amaranth Cherry Velvet

Other varieties for indoor and garden cultivation

Amaranth "Openwork" blooms before the onset of perceptible frost. The aerial part is powerful and slender, decorated with very lush inflorescences-sultans, which resemble biscuit dough in their appearance. The height of the annual is 120 cm. The decorative leafy amaranth has a very original and bright appearance "Red octopus"... These are very nice multi-colored bushes no more than 35-40 cm high with an elongated ovoid tricolor foliage of a greenish-burgundy, red and bronze hue.

Amaranth is no less popular with amateur flower growers. "Perfect". A bushy type of medium vigor, the plant reaches a height of 75-90 cm. The foliage is very decorative. The upper leaves are deep red, yellow and green, and the lower foliage is green with very pronounced burgundy blotches.

Amaranth Openwork

For beginner amateur flower growers, very undemanding in care and varieties unpretentious to soil and climatic conditions:

• dark-leaved "Mermaid";
• grain "Helios";
• grain "Lera";
• fodder "Aztec";
• fodder "Sem";
• "Magic Fountain";
• Green Tamb;
• "Bronze Age";
• "Glamorous shine";
• "Christmas tree toy";
• "Red Torch";
• "Red-leaved";
• "Handsome";
• "Inspiration";
• "Dance of Fire";
• "Aurora";
• "Kesha";
• "Polovtsian Dances";
• "Twins";
• "Velveteen".

Varietal peculiarity of the medium-sized "Pigmy Torch" is the formation of dark purple inflorescences, which acquire an unusual chestnut shade in the autumn. The foliage of the plant is highly decorative, multi-colored. Amaranth "Cascade" up to 70-80 cm high has a powerful and erect stem part. Small flowers gather in paniculate inflorescences of a drooping type, no more than 60-80 cm long. Flowering is long and very abundant. Unpretentious variety "Cherry jam" refers to early maturing garden crops.The above-ground part is up to one and a half meters high. The plant is an excellent source of highly digestible vegetable protein.

Amaranth how to grow at home

I will share a recipe for obtaining an extract of amaranth oil extract at home, which we have been doing for many years and have experienced its useful and healing properties on our family and loved ones. 1 course of prophylaxis requires 1 liter of amaranth oil per person, and 2 liters for treatment. Dose: use every day three times a day, in the morning at lunchtime and in the evening half an hour before meals.

Preparation: to prepare amaranth oil, it is necessary to lightly fry 1 kg of selected, large amaranth seeds in a frying pan, then crush them in a coffee grinder. Pour 1.5 liters of olive oil (first cold pressing) purchased in the store into a 3-liter bottle. You can also use sunflower oil (cold pressed). Pour the ground amaranth seed flour there, which we received by crushing on a coffee grinder. Stir the contents thoroughly, cover with a plastic lid and shake. Place the bottle with the contents in a dark place. Shake the bottle every day for 15-20 days.

Filtration: After 10-20 days, we take our bottle and another smaller vessel (2 liter jar), filter the hood through a watering can, on which we put gauze or linen cloth (filter) in 4-5 layers and filter. With two hands we squeeze what is left on the filter.

We put the strained (filtered) oil in a dark place for settling and use.

It is advisable to carry out the treatment procedure twice a year - in spring and autumn.

Remaining squeezed out cake , place in a dark dish in the refrigerator. Use in the form of biscuits, at night, on the joints of the arms and legs for arthritis, polyarthritis, rheumatism, skin diseases, radiculitis, boils, bruises and other ailments.

Place the cake in cheesecloth, cover with cellophane and wrap with a warm bandage. The procedures are carried out several times as necessary. The cake can also be used in the first and second courses.

(* Consult your doctor before use )

Amaranth sprouts, which one to cook

Amaranth is often used in cooking, and this applies not only to spices with the addition of amaranth and fresh leaves, it also applies to amaranth sprouts.

Amaranth sprouts are not only tasty and beautiful, but also very useful. The seedlings contain plant stem cells, vitamins and minerals that can not only heal and rejuvenate the body, but also prevent cancer, atherosclerosis, diabetes, coronary artery disease and heart disease.

Of course, you cannot cook a dish of amaranth sprouts on your own, but they can be a great addition to many dishes.

An omelet with amaranth sprouts is available for breakfast. To cook it, just mix eggs, a little milk or cream, add salt and pepper to taste. Amaranth sprouts can be added to the pan, both at the time of preparation and before serving.

Also, amaranth sprouts go well with all boiled and fresh vegetables. You can make a summer salad with amaranth sprouts, or even a vinaigrette.

Amaranth sprouts can also serve as a side dish for meat or fish. To prepare a healthy side dish of green beans and amaranth sprouts, you will need:

• 300 gr. bean beans;
• 100 g amaranth seedlings;
• 1 boiled egg;
• 150 ml. cream;
• Salt and white pepper to taste.

Cook the green beans for 3 minutes in boiling salted water, then quickly drain in a colander and rinse in cold water. Then send the green beans to a hot skillet and fry for 2 minutes, then pour in the cream and reduce the heat, simmer for 2-3 minutes.Then send amaranth sprouts, a finely chopped egg to a frying pan, salt and pepper, mix well and simmer a little. This side dish is served warm.

Amaranth tailed, growing in an apartment

According to the horoscope, plants are ranked as the sign of the zodiac Leo (July 24 - August 23): akalifa bristly-haired; protruding aphelandra; Ethiopian zantedeschia (kala); hybrid calceolaria; Japanese camellia; gardenia jasmine; balsam; bashful mimosa; Pelargonium (geranium) royal; Chinese rose; amaranth tailed (squid).

I understand a certain bewilderment of some gardeners: how is it that tall amaranth (otherwise - shiritsa) got into the number indoor plants? However, this is how floral astrologers classify this plant. Indeed, although amaranth is usually grown in flower beds in the open field, sometimes these plants are also kept at home - in large flower pots.

About 90 species of this genus Amaranthus (the Amaranth family) is found in the warm and temperate zones of North and South America, Africa, Asia and Europe, although experts “tie” its origin to India. Some species of this plant are used as food crops, others are grown as ornamental plants. The name of the genus Amaranthus in Greek means "immortal" or "unfading".

Among the ornamental annual species, the most interesting are tricolor (A. tricolor), paniculate (A. paniculatus) and tailed (A. caudatus)... These plants are large, up to 1.8 m high. In the tricolor amaranth, the inflorescence is directed upwards, it is strongly branched, the leaves are often variegated, brightly colored, and in the paniculate plant, the terminal panicles are red, drooping or vertical with hanging ends.

The most popular in ornamental floriculture amaranth tailed very showy inflorescences: branched, spike-shaped long, hanging thin panicles (like clusters), elongated, similar to tails, blood-red or yellowish-green. It is for such a bright, peculiar shape that it is sometimes called the "fox tail". It has ovoid leaves with red veins. Extraordinarily decorative varieties with white, purple and even green flowers are obtained from this species. For example, Viridis has pale green flowers.

To keep these types of amaranth in room conditions, choose maximum illuminated place (preferably from the south side), since this plant requires a lot of light for the normal formation of inflorescences. It is able to withstand even direct sunlight for a long time. During active growth and development, amaranth requires abundant watering, has a positive attitude to high humidity, so its leaves are sprayed (but preferably in the evening). If its content is partly in the winter, then watering is reduced, and the temperature should be at least 120C.

Amaranth propagated by seeds, which are so small that they are often sown in room conditions on the surface of damp earth, covering the top of the container with glass to create increased humidity. Seeds are very demanding on this factor (sometimes they also moisten the soil with a spray bottle). Seeds are usually planted in boxes at the end of March. When the seedlings grow up, they dive into large-sized containers, increasing the volume of the latter with each transplant. If the amaranths want to be taken out into the garden or on the lawn or on an open balcony (loggia), they are tied up so that the wind does not fall to the ground. If the grower plans to get the seeds himself, then it must be borne in mind that the growing season for amaranth is long - the plants bloom from July to October. Usually, the plant begins to bloom at home in the middle of summer, and outdoors - at the end of summer. In this case, it should be planted with seedlings and only when late frosts have passed.

Sowing amaranth: tricks and subtleties of gardening

It is not at all difficult to grow a flower like amaranth, having certain knowledge. In those places where the soil warms up to 10 degrees Celsius by April, at a depth of 5 centimeters, amaranth can be planted. Experienced gardeners advise to cultivate the land before planting, fertilize the soil with mineral fertilizer or a complex mixture, according to the instructions.

If you sow the seeds of this flower in time, it will germinate quickly. The best time to do this is at the end of April. Also, planting a plant during this period will save you from the problem of weed control. The grains must be planted in a hole 1.5 cm deep. A distance of 35-40 centimeters must be observed between the rows. If you mix the seeds with sand, then planting will become more convenient. After a week or a little more, the plant will grow and must be thinned out.

Amaranth - growing and care

Amaranth is an annual, 2-3 meters high. Has a fairly fleshy stem and leaves that are red, purple, or the usual green. The flowers are golden, red or purple.
Although amaranth is a weedy crop, it is grown not only to decorate a garden or plot, but also for consumption.

Phlox Drummond - tips for growing and care

Eschsholzia - growing from seeds at home

Amaranth is a rather unpretentious plant. He does not require special attention to himself and does not need special care. It easily tolerates drought, light frosts and heat. Amaranth grows on any type of soil, with the exception of marshy and in any climatic zone. But with all this, the plant loves light and warmth.

When is the best time to plant amaranth

If you decide to grow amaranth, growing from seed and when to plant depends on many factors. It is best to plant flowers when the soil in the area warms up enough. You should look at the weather forecast so that frost is not foreshadowed, then you can transfer amaranth to open ground. This period usually occurs in mid to late May. The place prepared for the plant should be well lit, the soil should be nutritious, with the required amount of lime.

Simply put, amaranth itself is unpretentious, but it absolutely does not tolerate cold weather and abundant moisture in the ground. The flower is planted at a distance of 10-30 centimeters between the plants, and a gap of 45-65 cm is required between the rows. Until the seedlings take root, it needs regular watering. If it's cold outside, you need to shelter the plants from low temperatures.

The benefits and harms of amaranth

The UN Food Commission recognized this pseudo-grain as the best culture of the 21st century! It is an excellent source of easily digestible protein, fiber, a number of useful amino acids (primarily lysine). A whole complex of minerals was found in it, and according to the content of one of them, magnesium, this is generally a champion plant. The breadth is also of great value because, with a high protein content, gluten is completely absent (gluten so hated by nutritionists around the world).

The entire terrestrial part of the plant can be eaten. Young greens are rich in vitamins, flavonoids, and minerals. The grains are used for the production of flour, cooking cereals, and obtaining the most valuable oil. This plant is not ignored by the cosmetic industry.

At the same time, he also has his own contraindications. Products based on amaranth are undesirable for people with diagnosed pancreatitis, cholelithiasis and urolithiasis. Cases of allergic reactions have also been reported.

When collecting amaranth, do not pull out the plants with roots. Remaining in the ground, they enrich it, make it more nutritious and friable. For the next year, this will replace the crops with a significant part of fertilizers.

Despite the fact that amaranth has not yet been included in the lists of the pharmacopoeia of Russia, traditional medicine has long and successfully used it as an anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hemostatic and diuretic.

Years of crop breeding have led to the fact that the basis of our nutrition began to be heavy enough for the digestive system of cereals, while light, easily digestible and healthy products are unreasonably forgotten. And today we have every reason and opportunity to correct this mistake.

Landing

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

1. Hardening of grown seedlings, leaving outside for several days for 3 hours, and then - overnight. You can display containers with seedlings in the loggia, or on the balcony, or right on the garden beds.
2. Preparation of planting holes at a distance between rows of about 50-80 cm and between shoots from 10 to 40 cm, depending on the amaranth variety. If you plan to grow for greenery, that is, for food in an immature state, use a square planting scheme - 15x15 cm.
3. Moisten the soil before removing the plants from the containers. This facilitates easy extraction of the root system.
4. When planting, the seedlings are deepened obliquely, placed in the ground at the level of the first leaf.
5. Planted amaranths need abundant watering.

It is better to transplant flowers into soil in cloudy weather. If this is not possible, then you need 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 of cold weather. Fragile plants feel especially hard at sub-zero temperatures, they can die.

According to experts, it is not so easy to plant a flower with a shoot correctly. This method of planting amaranth is used only when necessary. Use propagation by shoots to preserve the varietal characteristics of amaranth. At first, the shoots are rooted, then planted, just like the seedlings. For the procurement of planting material, adult plants are used.

We have written how to plant and care for amaranth, and it is your task to do everything accurately and correctly.

Diseases and pests of amaranth. Combination with other plants on the site

Errors in care can provoke the appearance and rapid reproduction of aphids on the plant. Experienced gardeners usually make the correct diagnosis by examining the leaves. Newbie gardeners may need a photo to compare signs of ailment. The predisposition to aphids is high humidity, so first of all, adjust the watering mode.

For rapid development, the plant will need feeding

A rainy summer often causes rot. Otherwise, the annual demonstrates good immunity.

Because of the bright external data, it is difficult for a tricolor amaranth to pick up "neighbors". Nevertheless, its combination with alissum, yaskolka, iberis is considered successful. This variegated plant looks good against the background of lush lawn grass and evergreen bushes. Planting tall varieties should be done in the background of a flower garden or along fences, and curbs can be arranged with undersized varieties.

Tricolor amaranth may well become a bright spot and the center of any garden composition. It will decorate even an inconspicuous corner of the garden, but only on condition that the sun constantly looks in there.

Sowing in the street

The technology of growing amaranth from seeds is not a big problem. In the southern regions of our country, this culture can be propagated directly by sowing in open ground. For sowing, a bed is selected in a lighted place. The soil for amaranth should be loose, moderately moist and fertile.

Sowing is carried out in wide rows with a gap of 20-30 cm. Seeds must be sprinkled with a small layer of fine earth (from 1 to 2 cm). After sowing, the beds are well moistened.

Seedlings dive after the appearance of 2-3 pairs of true leaves, but if this is not possible, then simply remove some of the young amaranths so that the distance between them is about 10 cm.After such thinning, the plants can stay in the garden for one to one and a half months, after which they it is desirable to land on a permanent place.

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Growing seedlings at home

The seedling method is used much more often. There is nothing difficult in growing amaranth seedlings on your own. You just need to follow some of the recommendations of experienced gardeners. Namely:

• It is better to start sowing seeds for seedlings in March.
• A mixture of humus and sand is best suited for sowing seeds. Before planting, this mixture must be warmed up to protect future shoots from fungi and pests.
• The capacity where it is planned to sow amaranth must be high enough at least 10 cm.
• Small holes must be made in boxes and pots in order for excess water to leave them. Otherwise, the seedlings can rot and die.
• Seeds are sown to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. The soil is preliminarily slightly moistened.
• The containers are covered with foil and placed in the light in a warm place.
• The timing of the appearance of the first shoots at home depends on the air temperature in the room. At a temperature of 22 degrees, the sprouts are born after 3-4 days. At a temperature of 16 degrees or less, the seeds will germinate no earlier than in 10 days.
• Thinning of seedlings is mandatory.
• After the appearance of 3 and 4 leaves, each plant is transplanted into a separate container. Immediately after transplanting, pinch the top of the seedling. This helps the roots get stronger faster.

Gallery: amaranth plant (25 photos)

Seed collection

In the fall, you can start collecting seeds. Collecting them is not at all difficult. For this, amaranth is cut at the root. Panicles are laid out on any flat surface for drying. The entire drying process takes about 2 months.

After that, the panicles are sieved through a fine sieve. The sifted seeds are also spread on the surface in a thin layer and left for some time to dry. Seeds usually dry out in 10 days.

Finished seeds are put in paper bags. Already next year, new plants can be grown from them. Their shelf life is 4-5 years.

Partner plants

Amaranth looks best near hedges and borders. Especially if they don't have aesthetic appeal. Shchiritsa is able to decorate with its appearance both concrete and insufficiently well-processed wood. And even the netting next to such a “neighbor” does not look so depressing.

In fact, amaranth does not have any contraindications regarding partner plants: the squid perfectly takes root next to other flowering representatives of the dacha. True, it is better to choose low-growing shade-tolerant plants so that amaranth does not interfere with their development, or representatives of flowering flora, which are similar in height to amaranth.

Amaranth is a great way to control carrot flies. It affects pests as a repeller. Therefore, it makes sense to plant a squid next to a bed of carrots to protect the root crop from annoying insects that spoil the crop.

Acquaintance with amaranth

Amaranth is an annual that prefers tropical and subtropical climates and came to our continent from African and American. Moderate latitudes are not the best conditions for amaranth. However, in our country (in fact, as well as in the rest of the European territory), you can find almost two dozen varieties of squid. In general, this plant has not two, but as many as eight dozen varieties in the genus, among which there are both babies (15 cm high) and real giants (the minimum height is 0.8 meters).

In suburban areas, you can often find huge amaranths, which are up to three meters high. it is noteworthy that the length of the root of the giant amaranth is approximately equal to the height: the root system is located vertically relative to the ground line and goes two to three meters underground.

• Leaves color:can be different and be both green and burgundy.
• Foliage shape: can be both ovoid and have the shape of a rhombus or lancet (it all depends on the varietal variety).
• Root vegetable:some species have amaranth, while others do not.
• Petioles:the leaves closer to the top have shorter petioles, and the leaves closer to the base have longer petioles. Thanks to this trick, the upper foliage of the squid does not prevent the development of the lower one.
• Flowers: have the shape of panicles, botanists divide amaranth inflorescences into two types - apical and axillary.

There are ornamental varieties of shiritsa that boast giant panicles. The height of some of them (panicles, not all amaranth) sometimes reaches one and a half meters.

Depending on the specific region in which amaranth grows, its growing season can be very different. in cold climates, it usually lasts 90 days, and in warm climates it reaches 150 days.

Seeds on an unusual ornamental plant do not appear until late summer. And until the end of the first autumn month, the grower has the opportunity to collect them in order to use them for the reproduction of the species closer to spring. It is noteworthy that amaranth leaves can signal the possibility of collecting seeds: as soon as the seeds ripen, the foliage acquires a creamy hue.

The Indians used amaranth as often as beans or corn. This plant was one of the staples of their daily diet. However, you can enjoy the taste of amaranth even now. The main thing is to correctly choose the variety, giving preference to the vegetable variety instead of the decorative one.

Care rules

Shiritsu is hardly a capricious culture. She will only require care and concern for the first time. Even weeds cannot cope with this strong and large plant, so the need for weeding will be only until it comes into force.

The growth rate of tall varieties is such that in one sunny warm day it can add up to 7cm!

Watering

Required only in the first month. During this time, the roots will go deep into the ground (up to 1m) and the plant will no longer need watering. Only very hot and dry summers can be an exception.

Pinching

The pinching procedure is not necessary, but it stimulates the development of lateral shoots well, and therefore makes the bush more lush and beautiful and increases productivity.

Re-sowing the width of the bed at intervals of about 2 weeks will help fill the bed evenly and prolong fruiting.

What seeds look like

Many do not know what amaranth seeds look like. In fact, it is not difficult to distinguish the grains of this crop from other plants. Amaranth planting material is very small. In light varieties of plants with green leaves, sandy-colored seeds (like white sesame, only much smaller), with dense, smooth, slightly shiny shells. Such varieties are used for food and feed purposes. Plants with red leaves are decorative varieties that are grown for beautiful flowers. They have black seeds, also very small. Before planting amaranth seeds, it is recommended for convenience to mix the grains with sawdust, wood ash or sand in a ratio of 1:20.

Seeds ripen well, being on inflorescences in a dark place.

The growing season of amaranth is 70 days, while the seeds are formed after 3 months of cultivation. The grains do not ripen at the same time, so it is easier to cut off whole amaranth inflorescences, otherwise some just fall on the ground.

When the panicles turn brown and dry well after about a month or two, you need to remove the seeds. Dry them only in a dark place.

You can clean them simply in the wind or on a very fine sieve. When stored in a dry place, amaranth seeds retain the ability to germinate for five years.

Composition and useful properties

They remembered the miraculous properties of the American plant only in the last century.Having studied its composition, it turned out that amaranth is rich in substances necessary for a person, and its protein is superior in quality even to the protein contained in breast milk. The chemical composition of the plant is considered unique, as it contains:

1. beta-carotene, vitamins C and P, almost all B vitamins that play a huge role in the proper functioning of the whole body: thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3 or PP), choline (B4), pantothenic acid ( B5), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid (B9);
2. the plant contains a particularly active form of vitamin E;
3. rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, iron, manganese, copper, selenium and zinc;
4. amaranth protein is rich in the rare amino acid lysine, as well as methionine and tryptophan;
5. crop seeds contain almost 77% of the whole complex of polyunsaturated fatty acids: linoleic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linolenic;
6. serotonin, red pigments and steroids;
7. the leaves of the plant contain a large amount of vitamins C and P.

It is noteworthy that the plant is completely edible. It can be dried, boiled, pickled and salted. Its seeds are used to make flour for baking pastries, and they are also used to make valuable butter. The name amaranth comes from the ancient goddess Mara, who personifies death, and the first letter "A" means negation; it turns out that the plant is "immortality" or grants it. The ancient American peoples believed that the flower was the food of the gods, which they gave to people so that they could live healthy lives for a long time.

We grow seedlings

Before you start planting and caring for amaranth, you need to grow seedlings. In most regions of our country (except for the southern ones), amaranth is often grown in seedlings. To do this, choose wide and low containers filled with loose, breathable and nutritious soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction (pH 5.5-7).

Sowing is carried out in late March - early April. For germination of amaranth seeds, 1 to 1.5 grams are sown per square meter of moistened soil. They are covered with a thin layer of earth about 1 cm and covered with transparent plastic, glass or film. The seeded container is placed in a well-lit place where a constant temperature is maintained at 22 degrees Celsius.

Amaranth seeds germinate within 5-8 days. As soon as more than half of them hatch, the shelter is removed, and the temperature is lowered by 2-3 degrees. In order for the remaining seeds to germinate, you need to keep the soil moist. To prevent the appearance of blackleg and other diseases, the soil is treated with a solution of Fitosporin or Previkura.

Amaranth seeds

Seedlings begin to be planted as soon as one or two pairs of true leaves appear on them. For picking, pots are chosen, the diameter of which ranges from 9 to 12 cm. They are filled with universal flower or vegetable soil, to which river sand is added.

Two weeks after transplanting, young amaranths begin to feed with flower fertilizers for deciduous ornamental flowers. Top dressing is carried out every two weeks. After sowing, the plants bloom in 2.5-3 months.

Well-lit areas with permeable, light and nutritious soils are best suited for growing this crop. High varieties in flower beds are planted according to the scheme 50 by 50 cm, and low ones - 30 by 30 cm.

The planting site is carefully dug up, leveled, and ammophos or nitrophoska is added (10-15 grams per 1 m2). Since amaranth does not tolerate freezing temperatures, they are planted on the beds or flower beds after the end of the frost. In the southern part of Russia, this occurs in early May (5-10 numbers), and in the middle lane - at the beginning of June (5-10 numbers).

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Amaranth care: watering, fertilizing and feeding, other procedures

At first, even with proper care and favorable conditions, the plant develops slowly. He needs watering only on dry days, although amaranth is already well adapted to drought. Young specimens usually need sufficient water. As they grow older, you can simply moisten the soil a little in the late afternoon.

Attention! Amaranth loves warmth, therefore, with proper care, it will firmly endure the summer heat. But it will react badly to stagnant moisture in the ground.

Throughout the season, the plant will only need 3 feedings. As a fertilizer, you can use a ready-made mineral complex or mix ash with cow dung. The amaranth plantation should be regularly rid of weeds. Weeding is important in the phase of active development of the bush. The soil around the stem can be mulched.

Advice. To increase the yield, you need to pinch the tops of the plant. This stimulates the proliferation of lateral processes. However, if you are not going to feast on the green of the culture, the procedure can be carried out only with the aim of forming a bush.

Pests and diseases

One of the main advantages of amaranth is based on its strong immune system: this plant is ill very rarely, and even then in the most extreme cases. The main problems that can happen with amaranth are listed in the short list below.

1. Aphid attack. Aphids are perhaps the most important enemy of an unusual flowering plant. But it is enough to arm yourself with the chemical karbofos to get rid of the insect once and for all.
2. Weevil attack.Sometimes amaranth is affected by weevils. But they can also be defeated with an insecticide. Actellic is considered the most effective in the fight against parasites.
3. Rotting.Rarely, but from time to time it still happens that the amaranth begins to rot. This usually occurs with its stem base and root system. There is only one reason for the activation of putrefactive processes: a large amount of moisture accumulates at the roots of the flower, which, due to the excessive density of the soil and the lack of high-quality drainage, stagnates where it should not stagnate. The abundance of moisture entails the multiplication of fungi. As a result, putrefactive processes begin.

However, defeating the fungus is also quite simple. To cope with this misfortune will help the good old Bordeaux mixture, which you probably not only heard about, but also repeatedly used in your summer cottage.

Growing amaranth seedlings

Cultivating a plant from seed is the easiest way. But to accelerate the ripening period of amaranth, which is about 3 months, it is better to grow it using seedlings. This method guarantees a more lush flowering, therefore this method is also practiced for decorative varieties.

Before germinating amaranth at home, you need to remember that the grains should be sown in a container at the end of February or in March.

In order to grow amaranth for seedlings, you must:

1. In early spring, sow seeds in prepared soil, preferably in peat containers. The soil should be loose, the seeds should be sprinkled with earth only a little and not tamped.
2. The pots must be placed in a greenhouse from a plastic container or covered with foil.
3. Systematically ventilate the mini-greenhouse and water the ground.
4. When the seeds sprout, they need to be thinned out.

   

5. As the seedlings grow, they are periodically taken out to fresh air so that they get used to the new conditions (hardened).

   

Another option for obtaining seedlings is to sow seeds in a box with earth and place it in a polyethylene bag, put it in a warm place. After one to two weeks, seedlings appear and the plants can already be kept on the windowsill.

A few tips on how to germinate amaranth at home:

1. In order for amaranth seeds to grow better in an apartment or house, they must first be soaked in water for several days so that they "hatch".
2. The soil is best prepared from a mixture of peat, leaf humus and soil from the garden. It is important to add ash and superphosphate to the mixture.
3. Until sprouts appear, it is necessary to maintain the temperature at least + 20 ° C.
4. Watering should be moderate but regular. You can carry it out with a spray bottle.

You can not plant seedlings at lunchtime, when it is very hot outside.

If the first three or four leaves appear on the seedlings, this means that it is time to dive amaranth. To do this, you need to take pots with a diameter of about 12 cm and plant the plants so that there is only one copy in each of them.

Let's talk about leaving

Caring for amaranth or amaranth consists of regular watering, which is especially needed in the first two months after planting and very hot time. It is worth remembering that, although this culture is considered drought-resistant, it responds well to watering.

Also, amaranth needs additional feeding, which is carried out every month. Organic fertilizers with microelements or humic fertilizers ("Ideal") are best suited for this.

An indispensable item in the cultivation of amaranth is loosening and removing weeds, which are carried out during the entire warm time as needed.

Of the diseases affecting this culture, it is worth mentioning fungal diseases that develop with excessive moisture. Preventive measures are the observance of all rules of agricultural technology.

Of the insect pests on amaranth, several species of aphids can be observed. To combat aphids, insecticides of contact-intestinal action are suitable: "Actellik", "Bankop" and "Akrin".

Seeds of the shiri begin to be harvested when they are two-thirds ripe. They are cut, dried in ventilated rooms, then threshed. On average, you can get about 10 grams of seeds from one bush (decorative species and varieties). From a bush of fodder amaranth, tens of times more seeds are obtained.