How to grow Amaranth in Australia
Amaranth is a fast, heat-loving leafy green that thrives in the weather that sends lettuce and silverbeet to seed. Leaf types such as Amaranthus tricolor are picked young and cooked like spinach, and they are a staple green across Asia, Africa and the Pacific.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Amaranth in Australia
At a glance
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | September to March | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to March | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | October to January | Warm-season leaf crop; sow Oct to Jan once soil warms. Productive through Sydney summer heat. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October to December | Frost tender. Sow from October to December once the soil reaches 20°C. Plants die in the autumn frosts, so the window is narrow. |
| Adelaide & SA | September and October | Mediterranean: narrow to Sep to Oct. Amaranth frost-sensitive; avoid Dec to Feb extreme heat and Jun to Aug frost. |
| Perth & WA | September and October | Sow Sep to Oct so plants are growing strongly before the Dec to Feb heat. Amaranth needs warm soil and steady water on Perth sand; winter cold finishes it. |
| Tasmania | November and December | Marginal. Sow Nov to Dec in the warmest bed. Cool summers keep plants small. |
| Canberra & ACT | November and December | Sow Nov to Dec after the last frost in early November. Quick leaf types suit the short Canberra season best. |
| North Queensland | September to March | Wet season. Amaranth is tropical staple leafy green; heat and humidity-loving. |
| Darwin & Top End | September to March | Wet season. Amaranth is tropical staple leafy green; heat and humidity-loving. |
Where to plant
Amaranth grows vigorously in deep, fertile, well-drained soil with compost dug in. It does well in full sun, though afternoon shade in hot climates gives larger, more tender leaves. Poor soil and too little water give small leaves, thin stems and early flowering.
It needs warm soil to germinate and is killed by frost, so it is a crop for the warm months in the south and the wet season in the tropics.
- South East Queensland, the Northern Rivers, North Queensland and Darwin: sow from spring through summer and into autumn. It is one of the best greens for the hot, wet months.
- Sydney: sow from October to January, once the soil warms.
- Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart: sow from about October or November to December, after the last frost. The season is short, so quick leaf types suit best.
- Adelaide and Perth: sow in September and October so plants are growing strongly before the summer heat, and keep up the water on sandy soil.
How to plant
- Wait until the soil is warm, at least 18°C.
- Sow the tiny seed very shallowly, about 5 mm deep, in rows or scattered thinly, and keep the surface moist.
- Seedlings usually appear within about a week. Thin them to about 30 cm apart, and eat the thinnings.
- Young seedlings transplant easily, so you can also raise them in punnets and plant them out.
Watering and feeding
Water steadily so the leaves stay large and tender; dry plants turn tough and flower early. Compost dug in before sowing and a nitrogen-rich liquid feed every few weeks keep the leaves coming.
Pruning and care through the year
- Pick the growing tips often. Each pick makes the plant branch and produce new tips within a few weeks.
- Pinch out flower heads on leaf crops to keep the leaves coming longer.
- Tall types can reach head height and may need staking in windy spots.
Harvesting
Start picking young leaves and tips about four weeks after sowing. Pick the top of each shoot back to about the fifth newest full leaf, along with fresh-looking older leaves. Harvest in the cool of the morning so the leaves do not wilt, or pull whole young plants at about 7 to 8 weeks.
Use the leaves soon after picking. Stood in a little water with a plastic bag over them, they keep cool for a day or two, and they can be frozen.
Growing in pots
Amaranth grows well in a large pot, at least 25 cm wide and deep, filled with a good potting mix and compost. Keep it well watered, as pots dry out fast in summer.
Using it
- Cook the leaves rather than eating them raw. Like spinach, amaranth leaves contain oxalate, and cooking lowers it. Steam young leaves lightly, and add older leaves to soups, curries and stews.
- Peel tender stem tips before cooking.
- Grain amaranth types are grown for their seed, which is cooked like a grain.
Saving seed
Let a plant flower and form its feathery seed heads, then cut them when dry and rub out the tiny seeds. Amaranth self-seeds readily, and some amaranth species are weeds of farmland, so do not let plants drop seed where you do not want them.
Companion planting
Amaranth suits a mixed summer bed. Tall types make light shade for lower crops.
Good companions
Pests and diseases
Amaranth is not usually troubled by pests or disease. Leaf-eating insects are the most common problem.
Pests to watch for
- Caterpillars Chewed leaves and droppings on the foliage.
- Grasshoppers Ragged holes chewed from the leaf edges in summer.
- Aphids Clusters of small insects on the shoot tips.
Diseases to watch for
- Leaf spot Brown or grey spots on older leaves in humid weather. Pick off affected leaves.
Common questions
Can you eat amaranth leaves raw?
It is better to cook them. Amaranth leaves contain oxalate, which reduces the uptake of minerals such as iron and calcium, and cooking lowers it. Steam young leaves lightly, or add older ones to soups and curries.
When should I plant amaranth?
Sow when the soil is warm, at least 18°C, from spring into summer. In the tropics and subtropics it grows through the wet season. Pick your region at the top of the page for the months.
How do you harvest amaranth so it keeps growing?
Pick the growing tips back to about the fifth newest full leaf. The plant then branches and grows new tips for picking a few weeks later. Pinching off flower heads keeps leaf types producing longer.
Is amaranth a weed?
Several wild amaranth species are weeds of Australian farms and gardens, and cultivated amaranth self-seeds readily. Grow the leaf or grain types you want and cut the seed heads before they drop seed where it is not wanted.
What is the difference between leaf and grain amaranth?
Leaf amaranths such as Amaranthus tricolor are grown for large, tender leaves and are picked young. Grain amaranths are grown for their seed heads. Young leaves of most types are edible when cooked.
Does amaranth grow well in hot weather?
Yes. Amaranth loves heat and keeps producing leaves through summer when most leafy greens bolt. It needs steady water to stay tender.
Sources we checked: ACIAR: Leafy green vegetables in the tropics, Amaranth factsheet no. 11; University of New England: Amaranth weed management guide for Australian vegetable production; The Seed Collection: Amaranth Green Leaf.