Vegetable · Leafy green
Amaranth Greens
Amaranthus tricolorA vigorous, heat-loving green that shrugs off the sticky, humid weather that wilts most lettuce and spinach. Its colorful, tender leaves keep coming back after cutting, making it a reliable summer stand-in for cooler-season greens. The one rule: sow only once the soil has properly warmed up.
Sow depth
¼ in
Spacing
6 in · rows 12 in
Sun
Full sun
Germination
7–10 days
Time to harvest
30–40 days
Difficulty
Easy
When to sow amaranth greens
- Sow from about 2 weeks after your last expected frost until about 6 weeks before the first expected autumn frost.
Wait for warm soil — amaranth germinates poorly if sown too early.Scatter seed thinly on the surface; it needs light to germinate well.Keep the seedbed consistently moist until seedlings are established.
Thin to 6 in for full-size plants, or grow crowded for baby leaves.Pinch growing tips regularly to encourage bushier, leafier growth.Water during dry spells; established plants are otherwise low-maintenance.
Pick young leaves once plants reach 8–12 in for the mildest flavor.Harvest outer leaves first, or cut whole shoot tips for cut-and-come-again picking.Keep cutting through summer heat — this crop thrives where other greens fail.
Companion plants
Beans fix nitrogen that heavy-feeding amaranth appreciates, while its tall growth gives sprawling cucumber vines welcome afternoon shade.
Watch out for
Aphids — Settle on shoot tips and leaf undersides in warm weather. Hose off with a strong water jet or encourage ladybirds.Flea beetles — Riddle young leaves with small holes in warm, dry spells. Keep plants growing fast and well watered to outgrow the damage.