Velvet Curtains, Amaranthus Seeds

Velvet Curtains Amaranth Seed

Crimson-purple plumes contrast with deep burgundy foliage
Upright flowers offer a softer alternative to trailing amaranths
Tender young leaves can serve as edible greens
Stems perform well in both fresh and dried work

See product details

Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Amaranthus caudatus

Days to maturity

90 Days

Sun

Full Sun

Packet

250 Seeds

About Velvet Curtains, Amaranth Seed, Amaranth Seed

Delicate, feathery plumes in a slightly softer hue than Red Spike offer a refined look for late summer and fall arrangements. This upright amaranth features rich crimson-purple blooms paired with deep purple-red foliage, creating striking contrast and texture in the garden and the vase. A versatile bouquet filler, it performs beautifully both fresh and dried. When young, the tender leaves can also be enjoyed as a nutritious edible green, adding even more value to this classic ornamental—commonly known simply as amaranth.

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

34,000

Color

Green, Purple, 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.