Fercita amaranth
$4.00 – $10.00
(Amaranthus spp.)
An early-maturing grain amaranth with a delightful mixture of plant and flower colours, from pale green to deep burgundy to pink (the grain is all uniformly light yellow). Plants are supposedly short at 4’ tall, but ours still grew to 6’! Developed in Willits, California by Ecology Action, the promoters of Biointensive gardening. Our gardens are laid out in beds inspired by the writing of John Jeavons, Ecology Action’s executive director, so I am excited to grow their amaranth!
Plant once soil is warm (70º F/21º C), after corn. Cover seeds lightly, thin to 6” between plants, 12-18” between rows. For greens, pinch out growing tip to encourage branching; pick individual leaves like spinach. For grain, allow plants to go to seed, then collect dry heads and rub through a screen into a bucket, or bend over plants and rub seed heads with hands into a bucket; do not hang to dry first. Winnow, and dry further if necessary.
Amaranth may cross with red-rooted pigweed; keep isolated. Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) is a pleasant cooked green; eat it before it pollinates your crop! It is easier to maintain purity if you grow a purple-leaved amaranth.