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Amaranth -- Amaranthus spp.1
James M. Stephens2There are several cultivated species of the genus Amaranthus collectively called amaranths . Some of the individual representatives of this group are: tampala, hon-toi-moi, bush greens, pigweed, and Chinese spinach. These amaranths are used for food regularly in different parts of the tropics and occasionally in the United States Leaf shape and color vary considerably. Some are red, others are green, while others may be variegated, usually with purplish patterns on a green background.
amaranths. DESCRIPTION
The green form of A. gangeticus L. is most commonly cultivated for use as boiled greens. Like most, it is an upright branched annual. While some are quite large and broad-leaved (5-6 inches wide), others are much smaller and narrow-leaved. The red-leaved variety probably is A. tricolor L.Amaranthus edulis is a grain amaranth reported to be exceptionally high in lysine - a critical amino acid often deficient in plant protein.
CULTURE
Amaranth grows well and rapidly at all altitudes in the West Indies. It grows vigorously in Florida gardens. The green-leaved variety, tampala, which can be obtained from United States seedsmen, is satisfactory. Direct broadcast seeding is practiced and the seedlings are thinned to 3 inches apart when quite young. Young seedlings may be eaten. Amaranth is killed by cold so plant for warm season growth. The major pest observed in Florida was caterpillars, which can chew leaves rapidly in autumn.USE
The young leaves and shoot tips are eaten 3-6 weeks after sowing. Some produce an edible seed head which forms a fuzzy spikelet. When heated, seeds are said to burst like popcorn. The most common use for grain amaranth is to grind the grain into flour to make breads, noodles, pancakes, cereals, cookies, etc. Many amaranth products are currently on the U.S. market.The wild types are weed pests in fields and gardens. Usually the garden species do not self-seed to become serious pests following cultivation. Wild amaranth is edible but not tasty.
Footnotes
1. This document is HS539, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date April 1994. Reviewed May 2003. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.2. James M. Stephens, professor, Horticultural Sciences Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611.
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U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
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