Red Spike, Amaranthus Seeds

Red Spike Amaranth Seed

Dark red feathery spikes stand upright instead of trailing
Graceful narrow plumes fit bouquets without overwhelming companions
Tender young foliage doubles as an edible green
Rich coloring makes an excellent autumn garden accent

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Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Amaranthus cruentus

Days to maturity

65 Days

Sun

Full Sun

Packet

100 Seeds

About Red Spike, Amaranth Seed, Amaranth Seed

The darkest red amaranth we offer makes it perfect for autumn arrangements. This amaranth is much different from the long droopy caudatus types with more upright and feathery blooms. When plants are young and leaves are tender, the foliage makes a nice edible green.

Growing details

Planting

Sow Depth

1/16"

Days to Germination

7–14 days

Germination Type

A - No Pretreatment

In-row plant spacing

8-12"

Row Spacing

12-18"

Plant profile

Life Cycle

Annual

Plant Height

60 inches

Growth Habits

Upright

Seed & variety

Seeds Per Ounce

40,600

Color

Red

Seed Type

Open Pollinated

Before Planting

Reserve a warm, sunny bed with loose soil and space for the selected amaranth’s mature height. Remove weeds before sowing because the tiny seedlings are difficult to cultivate, and avoid excess nitrogen where lodging is likely.

Planting

Direct sow amaranth after frost when soil is at least 65°F, or start indoors only 3–4 weeks earlier to avoid rootbound seedlings. Cover seed about 1/4 inch and maintain 70–75°F until emergence. Harden carefully, transplant into warm soil, and thin grain types to 10–18 inches or greens more closely.

Watering

Keep the seed zone damp through emergence, then shift to deeper irrigation as roots expand. Established plants handle short droughts, but grain and leaf production fall if they remain dry during flowering or rapid vegetative growth.

Fertilizer

A modest compost application is usually adequate. Side-dress leafy amaranth after repeated cutting only if color fades; grain and ornamental types need little nitrogen because lush, top-heavy stems lodge readily.

Harvesting

Harvest amaranth leaves while young and tender, taking outer leaves or cutting shoots above a node for regrowth. For grain, wait until flower heads dry and seeds release when rubbed; cut heads into bags, finish drying under cover, then thresh and winnow.

Tips

Stake tall ornamental forms before seed heads become heavy. For edible leaves, cut young tips repeatedly; for grain, isolate varieties if seed purity matters and remove volunteer plants before they become weedy.

AVG. Seeding Rate

1,600'/oz., 26,000'/lb., 1.2 lb./acre at 15 seeds/ft. in rows 18" apart.

Pests & Diseases

Damping-off, root rots, leaf spots, and white rust may affect amaranth. Watch for seedling collapse, dark roots, expanding leaf lesions, or pale raised pustules beneath leaves. Sow into warm, well-drained soil, rotate crops, avoid overhead irrigation, remove infected residue, and provide spacing that lets foliage dry quickly.

Flea beetles and caterpillars damage young leaves; tarnished plant bugs and aphids feed on shoots and seed heads. Inspect seedlings frequently, remove caterpillars, and control nearby pigweed relatives that harbor pests. Protect ripening grain with netting if finches or other birds become destructive.