Growing in a range of beautiful coloured flowers and bright green leaves, Amaranth are sure to make an impression in any garden.
CHOOSE A VARIETY
The Globe Amaranth are a perennial flower which resemble a clover and come in shades of pink, red, purple, yellow and white, attracting bees and butterflies.
As a young plant they have white hairs covering the growth and mature into thick green stems which grow to about 30cm. It will reseed itself and will continue to grow for years.
TIP: Globe Amaranth’s dry well and make a great addition to any flower arrangement or a dried flower bouquet.
WHERE TO PLANT
The ideal location for Amaranths is somewhere that fertile, free draining soil in a location that receives plenty of daily sunshine.
All varieties have a high tolerance for heat and drought and grow healthy in these areas, however they are not the ideal plant for a climate which is wet or cool as they may be prone to leaf spot.
TIP: DIG IN SOME COMPOSTED POULTRY MANURE INTO THE SOIL WHEN PLANTING TO ENCOURAGE FLOWERS. SUPER BOOSTER PELLETS ARE IDEAL.
WATERING
If planting your Amaranth as seedlings they will need to be watered regularly until established. It is best to water the base of the plant in the morning so it may dry throughout the day to prevent mildew if watered overhead.
TIP: IF THE SOIL IS DRY TO TOUCH, THEN WATER THE PLANTS ENOUGH TO KEEP THE ROOTS WET.
FERTILISING
A good balanced fertiliser like Katek Super Growth pellets will help produce healthy colourful blooms and keep the plants in great condition. It is important to feed the plants regularly, but not to over fertilise as this can mean all growth and not so many blooms come flowering season.
Regular applications of Super Growth Liquid Fertiliser will also benefit plant growth and health.
TIP: A fertiliser like Katek’s Super Growth, based on composted poultry manure is full of live beneficial microbes and rich in plant available, slow release nutrients.
MULCHING
If you are planting your Amaranth in a garden bed it is very important to apply a layer of good quality mulch, we recommend pea straw, sugar cane, pine bark or hardwood mulch. If growing in pots a thin layer of mulch will also help with moisture retention in the potting mix.
Mulching is very beneficial and will keep the roots of your plants moist and cool, especially during hot weather.