Amaranth Grain

This tip brought to you by our Garden Guru Sheri Ann Richerson on Feb 05, 2010

Amaranth is not only decorative but useful. It is one of the most beautiful grain crops. The leaves and flowers come in a wide array of colors including purple, red, green and gold.

Amaranth is an easy to grow grain crop that readily adapts to most environments. It is not bothered by pests, heat or drought. In fact, it prefers warm weather.

Amaranth seeds is a little larger than poppy seeds so it should be planted on top of the ground and pressed into it. You can plant it in very shallow rows if you prefer. Keep it watered and if possible, cover the seed bed with frost cover until it begins to germinate to stop hungry birds from eating the seeds.

Amaranth can take up to six months to mature. Harvesting takes place as soon as you see the seed heads begin to dry up and turn brittle.

The seeds, which can range in color from black to red to white, will fall out of the dry flowers as soon as you turn them sideways.

To help prevent this, you can put a small paper bag over the top of the seed head, tie it at the bottom around the stem, then cut the stem. If the seeds are already dry they will fall into the paper bag when you turn it upside down.

Hang the bag in a cool, dark place where it will get plenty of air circulation. This will allow the seed heads to finish drying. The seed heads may need some sort of friction such as rubbing them between your gloved hands to help release seeds that do not fall out.

To remove the chaff you can use a small screen that is large enough to let the seeds fall through or winnow it. To winnow use a fan or natural breeze to blow the chaff off the seeds.

You will need to be careful using this method as you may lose some seeds as well. Simply hold a handful of seeds and chaff up about half an inch or so above a bowl and let them fall from your hands. The chaff should blow away and the seeds, being heavier, should fall back into the dish.