Love Lies Bleeding

🌱 Sowing: In Trays vs. Direct in the Ground

🌿 Starting in Trays

For an early start or if you’re dealing with cooler spring soil, starting in trays is a smart move.

• Use seed-raising mix in shallow trays.
• Sow thinly, covering with just a sprinkle of mix or vermiculite—light aids germination, so don’t bury them deep.
• Keep moist and warm (around 20–25°C soil temperature). Germination is fast—5–10 days.

Tray-sown seedlings transplant easily. Just be gentle with the roots, as amaranth doesn’t love root disturbance once it gets bigger.

🌿 Direct Sowing

In warm climates or later in the season, you can sow directly.

• Rake your bed smooth, water well, and scatter seeds thinly.
• Firm down gently—don’t bury them deeply.
• Thin out once seedlings are 5–10 cm tall, spacing to about 30 cm apart for leaf harvest, or 45–60 cm for flowering types.

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💧 Pre-treatment Required?

None needed—amaranth germinates readily without pre-soaking or scarification. Just sow and keep consistently moist during germination.

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🌞 Soil & Position

Amaranth thrives in full sun, loving long, hot days. The ideal soil is:

• Well-drained, even slightly sandy
• Rich in organic matter, but not overly nitrogen-heavy (too much and you’ll get lush leaves but fewer flowers)
• pH range of 6.0–7.5

Add compost or aged manure before planting. It’s a good idea to mulch around plants once they’re up and growing, to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

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🌿 Care & Maintenance

Amaranth is drought-tolerant once established, but performs better with consistent moisture—especially if you’re harvesting tender leaves. Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Watering: Deeply 1–2 times a week; don’t let it dry out when young.
• Feeding: A liquid feed every fortnight helps with leaf production. Seaweed or compost tea works beautifully.
• Support: Tall flowering varieties may need staking in windy spots.
• Weeding: Keep the area weed-free early on to avoid competition.

Keep harvesting the leaves regularly and deadhead flowers if you don’t want it going to seed too early.

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🌸 Companion Planting Guide

Amaranth is a great neighbour in the garden:

Companion	Benefits
Corn	Amaranth provides groundcover and corn offers shade in extreme heat.
Tomatoes	Helps with soil coverage and pest confusion.
Basil	Attracts pollinators and repels aphids.
Nasturtiums	Acts as a trap crop for pests like aphids and flea beetles.
Beans	Fix nitrogen and support leafy growth.

Avoid planting with spinach or beetroot—they’re from the same family and may attract the same pests.

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✂️ Harvesting

You can start harvesting baby leaves as soon as the plant is around 20 cm tall—just a few from each plant to keep it growing.

• Leaf Harvest: Pinch out the top leaves regularly for the most tender growth.
• Flower Harvest: Tall, plumy flower spikes are ready for fresh arrangements or drying once fully formed—usually 8–12 weeks from sowing, depending on the variety.

If growing for seed, let the flowers mature and dry on the plant.

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🐛 Common Issues & Fixes

Here’s a quick troubleshooting table for common problems:

Issue	Symptoms	Fix
Aphids	Sticky leaves, curling tips	Spray with soapy water, encourage ladybirds
Flea beetles	Tiny holes in leaves	Use floating row covers early on
Downy mildew	Yellow patches under leaves	Improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering
Root rot	Wilting despite moist soil	Ensure soil is well-drained, avoid waterlogging
Bolting (early flowering)	Rapid tall growth	Stress response—ensure even watering and don’t overfeed

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🌾 Seed Saving Guide

Saving amaranth seed is easy and satisfying—just be sure you’re growing an open-pollinated or heirloom variety.

1. Let flower heads fully dry on the plant. They’ll turn brown and feel crisp to the touch.
2. Cut and dry further in a warm, dry place on paper or mesh.
3. Rub the seed heads gently to release tiny seeds.
4. Winnow to remove chaff (a small fan or breeze helps separate the seed).
5. Store in a labelled paper envelope in a cool, dry spot. Viable for 3–5 years when kept dry.

Amaranth is wind and insect-pollinated, so if you’re growing multiple varieties, give them at least 500 m spacing to reduce cross-pollination.

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🌼 Final Thoughts

Amaranth really earns its place in any Australian garden—especially if you love colour and kitchen productivity. It grows quickly, handles heat like a champion, and rewards you with striking flower spikes, nutritious greens, and even edible seeds if you let them mature.

Whether you’re tucking some in as a leafy green for summer stir-fries, or growing the bold flowering types as a backyard showstopper, amaranth is both forgiving and generous.

So go ahead—scatter a few seeds, and let this ancient plant bring a splash of drama and utility to your garden beds.

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