Amaranth ‘Burgundy ‘

Description

A show stopper in any garden – whether you grow it just for its beauty or as food!! The deep red foliage and the remarkable flower clusters really make this plant stand out!

These dark beauties grow 1.5-2m (4-6′) tall, with flamboyant plumes of attractive dark flowers. The deep red foliage and the remarkable flower clusters really make this plant stand out in the garden setting. This heirloom variety can be eaten at every stage of it’s development. The sprouts can be eaten similar to alfalfa sprouts, the greens can be harvested at baby-leaf stage to be used in fresh raw salads, the mature greens can be used like kale, and the seeds can even be harvested and cooked as a grain! No matter when you harvest your amaranth, it will be packed full of nutrients, vitamins, and even a hefty helping of protein! A must add vegetable for your summer garden.

The immature leaves are edible with a distinctive, nutty flavour that works well raw in salad mixes or briefly steamed.
Matures in 90-100 days. Grow this ancient Aztec grain like quinoa for nutritious, gluten-free grains that mature at the end of summer; the burgundy flowers are full of white seed.Good tasting young plants with red leaves and cotyledons. Very popular for micro-greens and baby cut salad, especially during the heat of summer when it thrives.

Direct sow in late May to early June. Optimal soil temperature: 18-24°C (65-75°F). Barely cover seed in well drained soil in full sun. Seeds should germinate in 4 to 10 days. Thin seedlings to 25-35cm (10-14″) apart in rows 50cm (20″) apart.Ideal pH: 6.0-7.5. Keep moist until germinated. In optimum conditions at least 70% of seeds will germinate. Usual seed life: 3 years. Amaranth attracts predatory beneficial ground beetles.

(Open-pollinated) The genus name Amaranthus is derived from amarantos, a Greek word that means unfading. This is referring to the long life of the flowers.