The amaranth flower attracts attention with its unusual and sophisticated appearance due to its green-violet color. It is used in the design of flower beds, parks and garden areas, and in arranging bouquets. The stem and inflorescences remain decorative for a long time when dried.

Origin

The natural habitat is located in India, in the vast expanses of China and America.

Caucus amaranth, sad amaranth and tricolor amaranth are grown for food and ornamental purposes. The peoples of the East plant tricolor amaranth as a vegetable. A long time ago, the plant began to be cultivated along with corn and legumes in Mexico and South America. Certain species are grown as cereals today. And others are recognized as weeds (bluish or upturned appearance).

The flower was brought to the European continent by Spanish sailors. At first it served as a decoration for flower beds, and from the 18th century it began to be cultivated as a cereal and fodder crop.

Name

The name of the plant is of Greek origin, meaning “unfading flower.” Amaranth is also known by other names: amaranth, velvet, cockscomb.

Description

Amaranth (Amaranthus) is a member of the Amaranth family. The amaranth bush is green, purple or violet in color, and more often a combination. It is formed from smooth or branched stems, the thickness of which reaches 7-19 cm. The shape of the leaves is lanceolate, oval or diamond-shaped with the base of the leaf elongated into a petiole. At the top of the leaf there is a groove with a pointed point. The arrangement of the leaves is regular. The height of the plant depends on the variety and ranges from 30 cm to 3 m.

Inflorescences-bundles of small flowers are located in the axils of the leaves. The apical inflorescences are spike-shaped panicles. They are painted in green, crimson, purple or golden tones. Amaranth is a wind-pollinated plant. The achene resembles a capsule. Small seeds are found in brown, white and black colors.

IN temperate climate amaranth is an annual. The plant is divided into fodder, vegetable, ornamental and grain types.

Sowing

Growing a flower from seeds is very simple. Seeds are planted in open ground in the last ten days of April. The temperature of the top layer of soil +10° allows you to start planting.

The seeds are placed in moistened grooves at a depth of 1.5 cm. The row spacing is 45 cm, and 8-10 cm are maintained between the grains in the row.

To make it easier to work with fine compositions, add sand or fine sawdust in a ratio of 1:20. Shoots are expected after 7-10 days. If necessary, they are thinned out and the ground is loosened.

For later plantings in May, weed control will be required.

For plants that have reached a height of 20-25 cm, nitrogen fertilizer is applied, reducing the recommended dosage by half. Amaranth ripening occurs 3-3.5 months after planting.

Growing seedlings

Seedlings are planted at the end of March. This will require containers or flower pots 10 cm deep. The seeds are buried 2 cm into the moistened substrate. The containers are kept in a bright and warm place at a temperature of +22°. The first shoots will appear in about a week.

Weak shoots are removed and the plantings are thinned out. After the formation of 2-3 full-fledged leaves, they are picked into separate pots. To transplant seedlings into the garden, there must be frost and the ground must warm up. Most often, this time is at the end of May.

Conditions for planting in the garden

The location for amaranth is sunny with good drainage. The soil needs to be nutritious, with a loose structure. Amaranth is unpretentious in all respects except for low temperatures and stagnation of water in the ground.
Preparation consists of digging and adding square meter 30 g of mineral complex.

The amount of nitrogen should be minimal, because amaranth has the property of converting it into nitrates. In the garden bed, seedlings are placed at a distance of 15-30 cm. 45-70 cm are left free between rows, depending on the variety. At first, the plants need regular watering.

Pests, diseases

If there is excess moisture in the soil, amaranth is affected by fungal diseases. A fungicide such as copper oxychloride or copper sulfate will help get rid of them.

Care requirements

The plant loves light and warmth and is drought tolerant. The flower requires attention only at the establishment stage, until active vegetation begins. In the first month, development is slow. Plants need watering, weed removal and loosening. After rooting, development accelerates and amaranth displaces weeds. After a month, the root goes deep into the ground and the amaranth no longer requires watering, only on particularly dry days.

You will need to feed the plants 3-4 times with an interval of 1 month. Mullein (1:5) and ash at the rate of 200 g per bucket are suitable for this. Fertilizers are applied in the evening after watering.

IN middle lane amaranth will not survive even a mild winter. In the fall, at the end of the season, the bush is completely removed from the ground, the remains of the above-ground part are collected and disposed of. Healthy, disease-free stems are placed on a compost heap.

Procurement of seeds

To collect seeds, select the largest plants. You need to wait until the lower leaves turn red, then dry out and fall off. The amaranth stem should turn whitish. The collection is carried out on a dry, sunny day. The panicles are cut off first at the base of the stem, then at the top.

The collected material is left in a dry, airy place for 2 weeks. After that, dry inflorescences are rubbed with your hands so that the seeds fall out. They are sifted through a fine sieve and stored in paper packaging. Seed germination remains high for 5 years.

Existing species and varieties

Over 900 varieties of amaranth have been classified, differing in flower structure and color. The main representatives include:

1. Purple or paniculate often found in flower beds and bouquets. The plant grows 75-150 cm. The red-brown leaves are elongated-ovate with a pointed apex. Small red or burgundy flowers form erect or drooping inflorescences. Flowering begins in June and continues until frost. The following plant forms have been developed:
   Sanguineus with cascading inflorescence margins
   Cruentus with drooping red panicles
   Nana is a low-growing bush no higher than 50 cm
   The most popular among flower growers are low-growing species height 25-40 cm.
   Zwergfakel and Grunefakel are distinguished by purple and dark green flowers
   Rother Dam and Rother Paris with rich, red foliage and dark burgundy inflorescences. Stem height 50-60 cm.
   Hot Biscuit is a tall species with a meter height. Green leaves set off the orange-red flowers.

   

2. Dark or sad– a flower with low bushiness up to 1.5 m in height. The oblong, sharp leaves are purple or green-purple in color. The vertical spikelets of the panicles are mostly dark red. U blood red forms sanguineus pendulous inflorescences.
   Presented by varieties:
   Green Thumb with aboveground part emerald color and height 60 cm.
   Pigmy Torch is a 60 cm tall bush. With the arrival of autumn, its leaves become multi-colored, and the dark purple panicles acquire a chestnut color.

   

3. Tricolor amaranth- Beautiful, decorative flower(pictured) with straight stems, rising 70-160 cm. The pyramidal structure of the bush is covered with elongated, narrow or wavy leaves. The multicolor color consists of yellow, green and red tones. Young leaves are colorful and beautiful. Flowering from June to October.
   Presented in the following forms:
   Red-greenish with deep purple leaf blades and green splashes.
   Willowy with belt-like, wavy leaves of 20 cm in bronze-green hue.
   Red with blood-red foliage.
   Vibrant with green foliage spotted with brown.
   Common varieties:
   Aurora with wavy leaves of a golden hue at the top.
   Early Splender with leaves of two colors. At the bottom they are dark with a purple tint, and at the top they are crimson.
   Illumination represents strong plant With large leaves. Grows up to 70 cm.

   

4. Tailed amaranth lives in the tropics of Asia, Africa and South America. The bush, 1.5 m high, is formed by massive, erect shoots with little branching. It has large, elongated oval leaves of green and purple color. Small crimson and green-yellow flowers are grouped into balls, from which a drooping long panicle is formed.
   There are several forms of the plant:
   White-colored with greenish-whitish flowers.
   Green with light green panicles.
   Representative varieties are powerful, spreading bushes 70 cm high:
   Rotschwanz with red spikelets
   Grünschwanz, who has pale green tassels

   

Useful Application

Amaranth is used as food for humans and livestock. The plant is saturated nutrients, protein, proteins, amino acids and vitamins. Amaranth is used as nutritious feed for livestock, rabbits and poultry. Its nutritional qualities exceed buckwheat.

Thanks to taste qualities amaranth is popular among chefs. Tender young leaves are added to salads and side dishes, seasoned with them for first courses, and herbal teas are prepared. Amaranth is added to cucumbers when pickling to add elasticity and freshness. The leaves and stems are pickled as a separate dish.
Amaranth tastes like spinach.

Medicinal properties

Amaranth is used to prepare healing ointments, mixtures, and infusions. Oil is extracted from the plant, which promotes the healing of burns, blocks the development of tumors, and cleanses the body of heavy metals.

The plant is used for inflammation, diabetes, neuroses and enuresis. Regular addition to food helps rejuvenate the body and restores the body's strength. Helps with obesity and impotence.

IN medical purposes The plant is used as a hemostatic, for diseases of the heart and blood vessels, and inflammation of the genitourinary system.

Amaranth tea strengthens the immune system and normalizes sugar levels in diabetes.

Watch also the video

Amaranth is an ornamental plant that delights people with its attractive appearance and beneficial properties for more than 8,000 years. America is considered the birthplace of culture. The name of this plant comes from the word “amanthos” and is translated as “unfading flower.” In addition to its external beauty, amaranth is a fodder crop, used as medicine, and also as food. In this article you can learn how to grow amaranth and the features of caring for the plant.

Amaranth - very beautiful plant which can become a real decoration summer cottage or lawn. This annual crop reaches 2-3 m in height, has a fleshy stem and leaves of red, purple and green colors. Amaranth is a weed crop, so it is not afraid of long droughts, is little susceptible to diseases and pests, but at the same time loves light and warmth. Amaranth is absolutely picky, grows on any soil, except swampy, and in any weather conditions, with the exception of the desert and the far north. It feels best at an air temperature of 25 to 30 °C, and can easily tolerate light frosts and heat of 45-50 °C. In addition to their decorative properties amaranth is used in livestock and poultry farming. This plant serves as the most effective and environmentally friendly food compared to others. fodder crops. It contains 18 out of 20 all existing amino acids. Amaranth is not just a fortified and nutritious food, but also replaces some medications. In addition, the plant is actively used in human nutrition. Grain and flour made from it are used in baked goods, in canning and as an additive to vegetable salads. Bread made with amaranth flour does not go stale for a long time. Leaves and inflorescences are used to prepare medicinal tea, which can remove harmful salts and radionuclides from the body. The leaves can also be added to fresh salads instead of spinach. And amaranth oil is considered more useful than even sea buckthorn oil. It is very widely used in Food Industry and in cosmetology. Amaranth varieties There are many varieties of this beautiful and useful plant. Get to know the most popular types: Decorative variety “Red-leaved” - its height can reach up to 1.5 m in height. Inflorescences of dark purple color in the form of “tails” hang almost to the ground. The leaves have a rich red color. The decorative variety "Gulliver" is a low-growing crop, reaching a height of 50 to 70 cm. This variety is unusual because of its appearance - flowers form from the very ground to the top of the plant, forming a beautiful ear of small flowers of dark purple or almost black color. "Gulliver" is very similar to an exotic cactus. The decorative variety "Elbrus" is a low-growing plant about 70 cm in height. Unusual 15 cm inflorescences pyramidal shape have White color with a greenish tint. The "Argentine" variety is a classic bush variety of amaranth, reaching a height of 1.5 m. It has a large number of“tails” are violet-lilac in color. It is from this type of amaranth that decorative bouquets are made. The White-seeded variety is a very valuable type of amaranth, which is used to feed domestic animals. The plant reaches 2 m in height and has large grayish leaves. Pyramidal inflorescences in the form of panicles are bright red or green. The “Tailed” variety is a classic type of amaranth that is used to decorate bouquets. It has inflorescences of various colors. The “Emerald” variety got its name for its beautiful green color. Amaranth grows up to 70 cm in height. Variety "Helios" is a grain type of amaranth. Its leaves are light green, its “tails” are orange. From of this variety The largest percentage of amaranth oil is extracted. Variety "Aztec" is a forage species of amaranth. In addition to livestock feed, it is used for the production of amaranth oil, and the grain is used for baking bakery products. The height of the crop reaches 1.5 m. It has red-green leaves and a red panicle. Variety “Sem” is a forage species of amaranth. Used to make amaranth oil. Has a high protein content. The stem, panicle and leaves are red. Variety “Kharkovsky 1” is a universal variety of amaranth (food, fodder, grain and medicinal). It has green leaves and a panicle of the same color. Variety "Lera" - a predominantly grain variety of amaranth is also used for making oil. It has a green stem and green leaves with red veins. The panicle is always red. Obtaining amaranth seeds In order to grow amaranth, you can buy seeds at any specialized store. Still, many people prefer to grow crops from their plants. It’s easy to get amaranth seeds: Cut the amaranth at the very base and place the panicles on a table or any other surface to dry completely for another 2 months. The room in which amaranth will dry must be dry and well ventilated. After 2 months, sift the panicles using a sieve with very fine mesh. Place the extracted seeds on the surface in the same well-ventilated area and leave for another 7-10 days. Stir the seeds periodically. Make sure that rodents do not get to the seeds. To do this, place elderberry sprigs around the seeds. Place the dried seeds in paper envelopes or boxes. They can be stored for 4-5 years. Germinating amaranth from seeds Germinating amaranth from seeds for seedlings does not require much effort, but some recommendations are still worth considering: You can start germinating seeds for seedlings as early as March. Prepare a special soil - mix humus and sterile sand in a 3/1 ratio. Don't forget to warm the soil to kill pests and various fungi. The container in which you plan to grow the seeds must be at least 10 cm high. These can be pots or wooden boxes. Pots must have drainage holes excess moisture and water. If there are no such holes, make them yourself. This required condition, otherwise the seedlings may rot. Place the seeds in moistened soil to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. After this, cover the boxes and pots with film. Pots and boxes with seeds should be in a warm and bright place. It is best to moisten the soil with seeds from a spray bottle. If you do decide to water the soil, do not overdo it, otherwise the seeds will rot. Provided that the room temperature is 22 °C, the seeds will germinate in 3-4 days. If the air temperature is 16 °C or lower, then you will have to wait for sprouts no earlier than 10 days. It is advisable to thin out the seedlings so that they do not grow too densely. Leave only stronger and healthier sprouts. Picking seedlings: When 3-4 leaves appear on the sprout, each seedling must be transplanted into separate pot. The diameter of the pot must be at least 12 cm. Fill each pot with soil. It is correct to use the same soil in which you germinated the seeds. Moisten the soil in which your seedlings grow in advance, and only then carefully remove each sprout. Make holes in the soil and plant seedlings in it. Water the plant. After transplanting each seedling into a separate pot, pinch the top of the sprout. This will help strengthen the roots of the plant. You can plant seedlings in open ground in early May, when the average air temperature reaches 4 °C. By this time the soil will have warmed up enough, and there is no danger of frost. Transplanting amaranth into open ground Choosing a place in the garden Before transplanting seedlings into open ground, you need to choose a place where the plant will be comfortable. Amaranth is absolutely not picky and takes root anywhere. And, nevertheless, there are some points that need to be taken into account when choosing a place to transplant seedlings: Amaranth loves a lot of sunlight and warmth. In such conditions, it will grow much more actively, and its inflorescences will have a brighter color. Amaranth does not like too wet and swampy soils, but prefers loamy, sandy loam with good drainage. The soil for planting seedlings must be prepared in the fall: dig up, add humus and mineral fertilizers (potassium and phosphorus). Amaranth feels good and looks great next to any other plants. It is advisable to plant amaranth in the background of a common flower bed in the garden. This will highlight its unusual beauty well. Preparing seedlings for transplantation In May, when the average air temperature reaches above 4 °C, you can begin planting seedlings in open ground. Since the seedlings were in greenhouse conditions, before transplanting it must be prepared - hardened and accustomed to street conditions: 7-8 days before the planned transplant, reduce watering of the seedlings. Start taking pots of seedlings outside. This could be a balcony, loggia or garden. During the first days, leave the seedlings outside for 2-3 hours. And after 3-4 days it will be possible to let the seedlings spend the night in new conditions. Planting seedlings If you have already hardened the seedlings sufficiently, the soil is completely ready to accept seedlings, and there is no threat of frost, it’s time to start planting plants in open ground: Moisten the soil with the seedlings in advance so that you can remove the flowers without any problems. Make holes in the ground. If you want to plant amaranth in rows, then the distance between them should be at least 80 cm, and the distance between the bushes 40-50 cm. Remove the seedlings from the pots and transplant them into the holes. Amaranth must be planted slightly at an angle and deepened to the first leaf. The most best time for replanting amaranth - cloudy weather. If you still decide to transplant seedlings in sunny weather, wait until the evening, when the sun is not so bright. After transplanting, water the plants well. How beautiful amaranth grows from seeds can be seen in the photo: Features of caring for amaranth Amaranth is completely unpretentious in care, it does not require a lot of moisture or any special conditions. But in order for the plant not to die and give good harvest, you must adhere to the following recommendations: Throughout the summer, amaranth needs fertilizing with organic and mineral fertilizers. Although amaranth is drought tolerant, it must be watered regularly in very hot summers, otherwise it will simply stop growing. Amaranth can be affected by aphids. To avoid this, for prevention it is necessary to treat plants with biological preparations - acarin and fitoverm. Weed and hill up plants as needed. Be sure to tie up the amaranth so that its branches do not break under the weight of the flowers. In June, pinch the tops of the plants, then the bushes will be more lush, the stems will be stable, and the number of ovaries on the branches will be greater. In the fall, you will be able to collect a new crop of seeds and grow seedlings from them for the next planting. Amaranth diseases Some pests and diseases can be dangerous for amaranth: The biggest danger to the plant is aphids. It can completely destroy the harvest of young amaranth. Most often, aphids become active in very rainy and damp weather. To combat this pest, it is necessary to use special pesticides. Another dangerous pest- weevil. Its larvae settle in the stems and reproduce there, thereby delaying the development and growth of amaranth. Special pesticides are also used to control weevils. So, you have already learned everything about amaranth, growing it from seeds and about the features of caring for this crop. As you can see, growing amaranth from seeds is absolutely easy. It is completely unpretentious and can easily tolerate dry weather. The main thing when growing is to adhere to the following recommendations - create special conditions in the room where the seeds will germinate, moisten them in time, choose the right place and prepare the soil for replanting. After the seedlings are planted in the ground, it is necessary to periodically weed and hill up the amaranth bushes. If you do not forget all these rules, amaranth will give a good harvest and will delight you with its beauty all season long. Growing amaranth. Video

In the spring, amaranth itself grew on my plot. Probably, the seeds were carried by the wind, but it was not possible to collect new ones - half of them fell off, and the remaining ones did not have time to ripen before frost. I've heard a lot about this plant, in particular, that it is best to grow it through seedlings. Please advise what rules exist for growing amaranth seedlings?

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

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

Sowing amaranth seeds for seedlings

It is better to sow seeds for seedlings at the very beginning of spring. It is good to use peat pots for these purposes, since the plant loves loose soil. It is enough to lightly cover the seeds with soil; there is no need to compact it. To create a greenhouse effect, cover the top with film. If the planting was not individual, after germination the seedlings should be thinned out and left in a pot, one plant at a time.

Caring for seedlings involves regular watering. To prevent seedlings from stretching, they must be hardened: containers with seedlings should be taken out into the open air, gradually increasing the time spent outside.

Planting seedlings in the ground

The amaranth seedling will be ready for transplanting into open ground in about a month. Immediately before planting the seedlings, they must be watered well so that they are not damaged when removed. root system. The transplant should be done in cloudy weather, and if nature has “let us down” and they stand sunny days- It's better to wait until the evening. In this case, it is recommended to darken the planted seedlings further.

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

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

Proper care of amaranth during further growth

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

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

Amaranth is most often grown as an ornamental plant. But young leaves can be used for making salads and as animal feed. This annual plant has a whole range of amino acids and proteins, the content of which exceeds even such a useful one. Plant height is from 30 cm to 3 m.

Planting amaranth with seeds

Amaranth can be sown before winter, but it still develops better when spring planting. Unpretentious to soil.

In the spring, when the top layer of soil warms up to a temperature of 6-10°C (end of April-May), apply a complex mixture when digging the beds mineral fertilizer. Next, place the seeds in the grooves at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other, to a depth of 1-1.5 cm and sprinkle with soil. The distance between the rows is 45 cm. If the sowing is too dense, amaranth grows poorly.

The first shoots appear after 7-10 days, and when the seedlings grow up, they are thinned out, leaving only strong shoots. At a plant height of 15-20 cm, fertilizing is carried out nitrogen fertilizer, reducing the concentration several times. The fact is that amaranth has the ability to accumulate nitrogen in itself, converting fertilizer into nitrates, so you need to be careful with nitrogen fertilizer.

Amaranth care

Amaranth ripens within 3-3.5 months. In the first month, the soil between the rows must be weeded and loosened. In the second month of growth, development picks up speed, and amaranth suppresses the growth of weeds; there is no longer any point in weeding.

If amaranth is grown as green manure (for mowing), then the development period is 60-80 days, until the seeds ripen - 110 days, and the amaranth leaves are ready for greenery when they reach a height of 20-25 cm, leaving the roots in the ground until they grow next green.

The plant is drought-resistant and will easily tolerate drought even in direct sunlight.

Growing amaranth seedlings

The seedling method of growing amaranth is good because development is faster and flowering begins earlier. early dates than when sowing seeds.

At the end of March, sow amaranth seeds in pots up to 10 cm high, to a soil depth of 1.5-2 cm, cover with film and place in a dark, warm (20-22°C) place. Ventilate and inspect the soil every day, and if necessary, moisten with a spray bottle. After a week, move the plantings to the windowsill. Grown seedlings are thinned out, removing weak ones. When 3 true leaves are formed, pick them in separate cups with a diameter of no more than 12 cm.

In May, when the threat of return frosts has passed, amaranth seedlings are planted in open ground, keeping a distance between plants of 15-30 cm. The distance between rows is 45-70 cm, depending on the variety. It should be taken into account that although amaranth takes root in any soil, it prefers light, nutritious and well-drained soil.

In the meantime, until the seedlings begin to grow, they need to be watered; the plants will not grow due to drought. Then watering is reduced, since excess moisture causes fungal diseases. In case of illness, spray with a solution of colloidal sulfur or copper sulfate. If amaranth is planted early and frost unexpectedly returns, then be prepared to immediately cover the young plants, at least for the night.

Collection of amaranth seeds

To collect amaranth seeds, select strong plants and leave them until the lower leaves fall off (September). By this time the stem will become faded. On a clear, dry day, cut off the inflorescences and place them to dry in a dry, ventilated, but draft-free place. After 10-15 days, the dried inflorescences are rubbed between the palms so that the seeds fall off. You can dry amaranth panicles in a suspended state, but then you need to lay out paper or cloth under them so that the dried seeds do not fall off onto the floor. Sift through a sieve to remove excess debris and place in a paper bag. Shelf life 4-5 years.

How to determine the type of amaranth

The seeds of vegetable and grain varieties of amaranth are light in color, but dark color seeds clearly indicates decorative look plants, which is suitable only for decorating flower beds or as a...

Wintering amaranth

Amaranth absolutely does not tolerate cold weather, so after flowering it is mowed and removed from the site, since some specimens may be infected with diseases or damaged by pests and it is better not to add amaranth to the compost heap.

The ornamental plant amaranth has not only external beauty, but also many useful properties. It is used as medicine and green manure, flour, medicinal amaranth oil and livestock feed are made from it. To date, breeders have bred decorative varieties amaranth, which decorate flower beds in summer cottages.

The plant is unpretentious, as evidenced by the name of the flower, which translates as “unfading flower.” About the features of growing it from seeds and caring for it open ground you can find out from our article.

Description of amaranth with photo

An annual plant with fleshy simple or branched stems, its height can reach from 30 cm to 2–3 meters. His leaves are decorative and can be green, purple and red. The top of the leaf has a slight point and notch, the base is elongated into a petiole. The apical spike-shaped panicles of purple, green, red or golden color consist of axillary flowers.

There are about 900 species of amaranth in nature, of which no more than seventeen are grown in Russian gardens. All of them are unpretentious and grow in almost any weather conditions and on any non-waterlogged soils.

Amaranth: types, varieties, photos

Amaranth caudate. In nature, a plant with powerful, erect stems grows in South America, Asia and Africa. It can reach a height of one and a half meters. Green or purple large leaves have an elongated ovate shape. Long paniculate inflorescences consist of spherical glomeruli, which in turn are collected from crimson or yellowish-green flowers. Flowering lasts from June to October. The most famous varieties are:

• Grunschwarz is a powerful plant with light green inflorescences.
• Rotschwanz is a bush up to 75 cm high, on the shoots of which red inflorescences form.

Amaranth tricolor. The decorative foliage plant is a pyramidal bush, the erect stems of which reach 70–150 cm. The ovoid elongated leaves are painted in three colors at once. Extraordinarily beautiful and bright leaf plate looks a combination of red, green and yellow shades. Blooms in early summer and blooms until frost. Popular varieties:

Amaranth is sad or dark. Few-branched bush with stems up to 1.5 meters distinguished by purple-green or green pointed leaves oblong-lanceolate in shape. The color of the spike-shaped vertical panicles depends on the variety:

• Green Thumb - a small plant with different tones of emerald hue;
• Pygmy Torch is a bush up to 60 cm high with multi-colored leaves and inflorescences, which at first have a dark purple tint, and over time become chestnut.

Purple or paniculate amaranth. A plant with a sharp elongated top and red-brown elongated leaves reaches a height of 75-150 cm. Erect inflorescences consist of small red flowers that bloom in June. Flowering continues until frost. The species is used to decorate garden plots and make bouquets. The most popular among gardeners low-growing varieties amaranth paniculata:

Amaranth: growing from seeds

Amaranth seeds take a long time to grow, so the plant is grown through seedlings or by sowing in open ground in the fall.

When and how to plant seeds for seedlings?

In regions with harsh winters and short summers seedlings should begin to be grown in the first ten days of February. Since the days are short in winter, it will need to be additionally illuminated.

Soil for planting can be bought universal or mixed earth mixture from equal parts:

1. humus;
2. peat;
3. turf land.

The result should be a loose soil mixture that retains moisture well. To kill pathogenic microflora, the soil is first spilled with a solution of potassium permanganate or boiling water.

Seedling boxes with a height of 10 cm are filled with moist soil, into which seeds are embedded to a depth of approximately 0.5 cm. From above they are sprayed with water from a spray bottle room temperature and covered with glass or polyethylene. In such a greenhouse and at an air temperature not lower than +22° C seedlings will sprout in 4–5 days. They will need to be placed in a well-lit place and the film removed. Caring for seedlings involves timely watering and thinning the sprouts if they are sown too densely.

The diameter of the pots in which young plants will be planted must be at least 12 cm. Pinching the tops when transplanting seedlings will help the plant grow stronger and begin to bush.

When the average air temperature does not drop below +4 degrees, the seedlings can be planted in the flowerbed of the garden plot.

Features of planting amaranths in open ground

The unpretentious plant will take root and grow almost anywhere. But in order to achieve the greatest decorativeness of leaves and long flowering, the site for amaranth is selected in accordance with the following recommendations:

• In a well-lit place, the inflorescences and leaves will have a brighter color.
• It is not recommended to grow bushes in swampy soils, since the fleshy stems of amaranth may begin to rot. It is advisable to plant in well-drained sandy or loamy soils.
• The flower will feel good and grow well in the vicinity of any other crops.

It is advisable to prepare the soil for planting seedlings in the fall. It needs to be dug up, cleared of debris and weeds and fertilized with potassium, phosphorus and humus.

It is necessary to begin preparing seedlings for planting in open ground a week in advance. These days, their watering is gradually reduced and the seedlings are hardened. For this every day pots with young plants taken out onto the balcony or into the garden. On the first day for one hour, and then the time the seedlings spend in the open air increases by another hour every day. In recent days, the seedlings are left in the garden overnight.

Amaranth seedlings are planted at a distance of 40-50 cm from each other. When planting in groups, the distance There must be at least 80 cm between rows For large plants and about 50 cm for short people. Bushes planted in prepared holes are well watered.

IN further plant does not require special care. Abundant but not frequent watering, removing weeds, periodically loosening the soil and fertilizing the plant will be enough. For this once every 7–10 days amaranths are watered with infusion wood ash or mullein.

Amaranth after flowering

Under natural conditions, amaranth is perennial plant, but in our latitudes it does not tolerate any winters. Therefore, in the fall, a plant that has lost its decorative effect is pulled out and disposed of. If it is not susceptible to any diseases, then the tops can be placed in a compost pit. The above-ground part of the plant contains a lot of vitamin C, carotene and protein, so it can be fed to poultry or pigs.

Seed collection

In order not to buy seeds next year, you can collect your own after the amaranth blooms. To do this you need:

You can store amaranth seeds in a paper bag or box. They do not lose germination for five years.

Because the ornamental plants amaranths are beautiful, unpretentious, healthy and easy to grow from seeds; they have become increasingly popular among gardeners. They decorate flower beds and flowerbeds, used as a background for flowering plants , or to make a bright spot on the lawn. Even in areas not rich in sun, amaranths will delight with their decorative effect throughout the summer.