Amaranth (Greens)

Place amaranth toward the back or north side of a bed so its eventual height does not crowd lower crops or cast across a narrow planting strip. A row beside a path works well when the path gives you access for frequent leaf picking without stepping into the bed. It can be direct-seeded or transplanted after outdoor soil has warmed to about 60°F, making it a useful occupant for open space after early crops finish.^[2]

Space plants 1 foot apart, center to center, for a close, harvestable row. Individual plants can reach about 2 feet across, so expect the foliage to knit together as the planting fills in; leave the outside edge clear of paths, bed borders, and smaller crops that need open light and reach-in space. In a mixed bed, reserve a broad band rather than a single narrow slot.

Use a full-sun position with moderate, regular watering. This is a practical crop for exposed summer beds and can handle poorer soil, but keep the root zone from drying hard while plants are establishing and producing leaves. Avoid placing it where a roof overhang, dense planting, or competing roots make moisture uneven; its tall leafy canopy is better suited to an open bed with reliable access to water.

Leaves begin to provide a harvest in roughly 45 days, with the main picking window running from summer into early fall. Harvest individual leaves or make partial cuts if you want plants to regrow for another picking. Once flowering begins, leaf production declines, so plan this crop as a productive summer occupant that can be cleared as the season shifts.^[1][2]