Amaranthus hybridus grow and care – herbaceous of the genus Amaranthus and also known as Smooth pigweed or Green amaranth, Amaranthus hybridus shot perennial evergreen or in cold weather an annual plant, it’s edible plant and mostly used as ornamental plant, grow in mediterranean, subtropical, temperate, tropic climate and growing in hardiness zone 2+.
Moist, rich soil, mulch, sometimes the plants need support of cane that the plant won’t fall
What is the best way to start growing: Plant / Seed, germinate with high success in the spring but possible also in the summer and autumn, in area with warm winter can bloom in the winter, the plant reseed itself, collecting seeds better to do in the end of the blooming to put paper bag on the flowers to close it down and twist the stem little down that all the seeds will fall to the paper bag.
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction? No, possible to do start from cutting, but better from seeds
Difficulties/Problems with growing: Aggressive, can be weed
Planting season: Spring, (in cold area better start growing indoor in the end of the winter than to transfer it outdoor after the last frost), when buy small plant in warm region possible to plant it in the summer
Pests and diseases: Apids, prodenia
Pruning season: All year, better after the plant dead or in the spring before the flowers
How to prune: Usually not necessary to prune, but if needed that the plant will be small or more full of stems better to cut in the top of the plant in the spring after the plant establish
Size of the plant? 0.8-1.5 m, 32-60 inches
Growth speed in optimal condition: Fast growing
Irrigation water management requirement: Average amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Full Sun, can be with less than full sun, it will affect the amount of flowers
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant? No
Growing is also possible in a pot / planter /flowerpot / containers: Yes, when grow in container size better to be 5-8 liter (1.5-2 gallon), require average amount of water, it’s to keep the soil moist consider to put mulch and can reduce vaporization of the water, need to take care that the soil well ventilated with good drainage, rich with organic matter, can use in potting mix or peat soil with perlite or vermiculite.
Blooming information
When does flowers bloom? Summer / Autumn
General information about the flower Purple small flowers, inflorescence stalk
Thinning / Deadheading of Blossom: Not recommend cause the seeds are also edible, if you choose to cut better to do it in the buds and not let the plant bloom
Pollination is done by: Bees, fly
Edible leaves
When to trim the leaves? Spring, Summer, Autumn / in warm climate better to harvest in spring the leaves young and tender and the plant might bloom in the summer, in colder region better to start to harvest in the late spring after the plant establish until the end of the summer, sometimes possible in the autumn but better to harvest when the plant doesn’t bloom
How to trim the leaves? Cut the stems or just leaves from the base, better to cut the leaves when the leaves fully grown and young, the leaves softer and less fibrous
Information about leaves: Oval, the leaves color can be: green, red or both
Sowing requirement: Rich soil, humidity, sunny location, and hot climate better not too much
Saving seeds until sowing: Dry and dark location
Sowing season: Spring after the last frost to early summer in hardiness zone 2-10a, in hardiness zone 10b+ can be planted all the year mostly germinate in spring or autumn but will looks less good in the winter and might won’t grow well
Planting spacing: 20*30cm (8-12 inches)
Depth of Sowing: 1-10mm
Conditions for seeds germinate: Moist soil, full sun, warm weather
Watering requires for Seeds: Average amount of water / Big amount of water
Germination time: 2 weeks to 12 month
Condition of seedling: Water regularly and weed free
