Amarant.adoc
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@@ -50,16 +50,20 @@ You can start them inside 6-8 weeks before the last frost or direct seed outside
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If you direct seed outdoors, wait for soil temps to reach 65°F. Amaranth seeds are small, so sprinkle them onto prepared soil and top with a thin layer of earth.
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Indoors, plant seeds one-fourth of an inch deep and keep moist.
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-Germination Time
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+*Germination Time*
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Seeds aren’t fussy to start and will germinate in under a week in temperatures between 65-80°F.
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-Spacing Plants
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+*Spacing Plants*
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Thin seedlings 10-12 inches apart after they’ve sprouted. Plant seeds or transplants in the garden 6 to 18-inches apart with 18 inches between rows. Amaranth is a tall plant and can get up to 8-feet tall depending on the variety and conditions.
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-Soil Requirements
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+*Soil Requirements*
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Amaranth is flexible when it comes to soil but prefers well-drained earth with a pH between 6.0 to 7.5, so spread some cottonseed meal or coffee grounds in the row where you are going to plant. If you can, it’s best to do this in the fall before spring planting. That way the cotton seed breaks down over the winter.
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-Sun Requirements
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+*Sun Requirements*
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Growing amaranth plants need full sun with at least 6 hours per day.
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Caring For Your Amaranth
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@@ -73,12 +77,15 @@ Amaranth likes nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, so a garden with lots of com
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Weeding
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It is important to keep up with weeding as young plants are easily smothered by encroaching weeds. Amaranth has shallow roots so take care when you’re hoeing or cultivating. It’s best to cultivate by hand when working close to the plant’s stem.
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-Watering
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+=== Watering
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Amaranth is drought tolerant. However, to produce nice leaves, make sure to keep the soil moist at the root level. Ideally, amaranth needs a few inches of water once or twice a week.
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-Rotation/Succession
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+=== Rotation/Succession
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Rotate plants from year to year to avoid diseases. Don’t plant where you’ve had brassicas the previous year. If you want to make sure you have a continuous supply of leaves and flowers, you can plant amaranth 2 weeks apart. Keep in mind that if you want seeds before frost hits, be sure your last planting takes place 100 days before the first frost in fall.
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== Amaranth Problems, Pests, and Diseases
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While it can be susceptible to some problems, growing amaranth isn’t such a challenge that you should forgo planting.