Dear Curiosity Journal,
It’s getting late in the season, but I’m pushing more plants in the soil to see what happens. Our growing cycle seems to be lengthening, so I’m doing some experiments. I’m doubtful that this Red Amaranth will make a full seed head, although some of the plants I transplanted a few weeks earlier are starting to creep toward maturity. Garnet Red Amaranth takes 90 to 120 days to mature, so it’s a race against time and temperature at this point. We may not see the flowers on these, but we can still enjoy their rosy color and eat the foliage. You can harvest the leaves and tender stems throughout the summer and use them like spinach. They have a mild, sweet flavor, with nutty and earthy notes. However, the most nutritious part of the plant is the grain. The small red seeds are an excellent source of protein, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, and iron. They also help lower cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation, improve digestion, and are a yummy gluten-free alternative. We started growing amaranth as one of the Dia de Muertos flowers, but this is definitely our largest crop to date. So, if you are curious about amaranth, send us a message.
~Joy
