When to Plant Amaranth Seeds

Amaranth can be planted inside or outside in the Spring, but we’d recommend starting the seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost. If you decide to plant outside, wait until the soil is warm. Amaranth needs full sun and can be grown in almost any well-drained soil besides dense clay.

Where to Plant Amaranth Seeds

Amaranth needs full sun and can be grown in almost any well-drained soil besides dense clay.

How to Plant Amaranth Seeds

Amaranth seeds require light to germinate, so be careful not to cover them when planting. Learn more about germination light requirements here.

Plant your seeds about 10-12 inches apart and cover lightly with soil. They will germinate within 3-4 days if the temperatures are between 60-90 degrees F. When moving your seeds outside, sow them 1.5 to 2 feet apart. Amaranth is drought and heat resistant, so it is only necessary to water once or twice a week during dry periods. For taller plants, add fertilizer once or twice a year or add compost. Amaranth grows between 4 and 6 feet tall but with particularly rich soil with plenty of nitrogen and phosphorous, the plants can get to around 8 feet!

How to Harvest Amaranth

Amaranth will flower until the first hard frost, so there will be plenty of seeds to harvest! Seeds from the flowers are usually ready for harvest after 3 months. To harvest, shake the flower heads and catch the falling seeds.