Amaranth plant

Amaranth is a unique plant. Not so long ago it was considered forgotten, but today culture is being restored in full swing in Latin America. They try to grow amaranth in the open field, since then reproduction takes place more actively.

The medicinal species can grow in the wild, in summer cottages, being perceived as a weed. Some adherents of a healthy diet do not like amaranth porridge with fruits, eating cereal every week or preparing various healthy recipes with amaranth seeds.

Origin

Seeing amaranth - a colorful plant from the Amaranth family, for sure, has happened to everyone, if not as a plant, then in the form of grain or cereals.

Blooming in June

Amaranth is a herbaceous medicinal plant that was known to the Maya and Aztecs. All parts of it are used by a person:

• Stem,
• Foliage,
• Root,
• Seed.

Its modern name comes from the Greek word "immortal". However, it grew not only in Greece. It has long been cultivated in Latin America, then it was a very famous food crop, grown in many parts of the continent and used for food, along with corn, beans and zucchini.

It is known from historical sources that white amaranth is an assistant in ancient religious rituals. They were conducted by the Aztecs and Incas. The most popular of these was the process of making statues of deities and idols. For this purpose, the women took the seed of the plant, dyed it red at the expense of human blood (from the sacrifice), mixed it with honey and molasses. Then they sculpted a figurine and after the ritual broke it. The fragments were eaten by all members of the tribe.

Description of the plant

Velvet, or cockscomb (other names for the cereal) is characterized by:

• Branched stems about one meter long,
• Annual or perennial (depending on the variety),
• The leaves are pointed, mostly green in color, but there are also red,
• Inflorescences: purple, red panicles, length - from 0.2 to 0.5 m.
• At the end of flowering (in the 20th of August), fruit-boxes with seeds appear.
• It grows mainly in warm climates; South America is considered its homeland.
  

  2 Tailed

• The culture includes 100 species, they are divided into fodder, vegetable and decorative. In the Russian Federation, you can find about 20 varieties. Found wild in China and India.

How to apply, useful properties

The use of amaranth and its beneficial properties have long been studied. At first, it was cultivated strictly as an ornamental plant, then, after evaluating the significant benefits to the body, they began to use it in the form of livestock feed and for the production of cereals. Amaranth groats are very useful, but they have a specific taste.Cooking it is quite simple, like any standard porridge: pour boiling water and cook for 15-20 minutes.

The plant uniquely combines nutrients, minerals, and vitamins:

• Vitamins - A, C, B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, PP, K.
• Iron, zinc, selenium, manganese, copper are trace elements.
• Calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium are macronutrients.
• Amarantine is an antioxidant.
• Protein.
• Pectin.
• Squalene - prevents the development of cancer.
• Alimentary fiber.
• Fatty acids Omega 3 and 6.

Healing properties of amaranth herb and leaves:

• Reduce cholesterol
• Treat calcium deficiency
• Normalize metabolism,
• Stimulates brain function
• Treat bleeding gums
• They relieve pain and are anti-inflammatory,
• Protect against fungal diseases, etc.

Types and varieties

 There are varieties:

• Fodder,
• Vegetable,
• Cereals,
• Decorative (tailed red, poisonous to humans).

Edible species include:

• "Valentina"
• "Strong",
• "Opopeo",
• "In Memory of the Cowes",
• White and pink look.

Everything is used for food: foliage, stems, and even roots.

Caudate

The height of the caudate amaranth can reach 1.5 meters. It is a very vigorous shrub with an erect stem, large, purple leaves hanging slightly to the ground.

Inflorescences on it begin to open at the beginning of summer. The flowers of the tailed amaranth gather in tassels-panicles, outwardly resembling long fox tails (hence another name for the species). The length of the inflorescences can reach up to half a meter. With their beauty, they delight everyone before the onset of severe frosts.

Views:

• "Rothschwants" (red, darkish flowers);
• "Grunschwants" (inflorescences are light green).

It reproduces well by self-seeding.

Thrown back

Thrown back amaranth is called a weed, and very aggressive. However, this species belongs to medicinal, it is harvested from June to October, using roots, seeds and leaves for medicinal purposes.

Thrown back

Description:

• Straight stem,
• Height - 1 m,
• Rod-shaped root, beetroot color,
• The length of the leaf is 4-14 cm, the width is up to 6 cm. It tapers towards the top, the petiole is longer than the plate. Foliage turns to the light source with its plane.
• Flowers are collected in green inflorescences.
• The fruits open, the seed is about 1 mm in diameter, dark brown in color.
• Flowering from July to August, up to 5000 seeds can form on one plant.

Tricolor

For amaranth tricolor, like for no other, the name "illumination" is suitable. These fireworks are eye-catching and amazing. Meanwhile, they are incredibly easy to clean.

Tricolor

It was brought from the tropics of Asia. It is a pyramidal annual with green, yellow and red leaves. Height - up to 150 cm.

The flowers are at the very top, so it seems that the stem is on fire. It blooms in small panicles from the very beginning of summer until the most severe frosts. Feels great planted, both alone and with a group of other crops.

It is used as a herb in tea in a dried form or as a seasoning spice for food.

Red

Amaranth paniculate red has bright stems, foliage, and inflorescences. Deep rich color makes it stand out from others. It seems as if a large red fruit has grown on the site.

Red

An annual plant, it quickly grows up to 1.6 meters in height, creates a colorful garden exposition. The foliage has a bright crimson color. As a rule, it is painted under the influence of warm temperatures and lighting. The shade intensifies from the heat.

The inflorescences are oblong in shape, stubbornly stretching upward, like torches burning in dark caves.

Landing in open ground

When to plant amaranth from seeds - it is worth starting to grow only when the soil after winter has become warm, a positive temperature has been established on the street. Typically, this process begins in late spring. Amaranth is often used for group and single plantings, where tall plants are needed to fill the site.

Seedlings

Optimal location

You will need:

• A carefully chosen place
• Correct soil,
• Prepared seedlings grown from seeds.

Before proceeding with planting, it is necessary to choose the optimal place, nutritious soil with lime. To grow a strong plant, it is necessary to fertilize the soil well with nitroammophos (20 g per 1 m2).

The culture is very fond of sun and warmth, so the place should be well lit. Sowing seedlings is carried out at a distance of 30 cm from each other on the same furrow.

The step-by-step process of planting from seeds

The beds should be prepared in the fall: dig up and apply organic or complex fertilizers. The best option is humus or compost. Each weave is 500 kg.

Dry sowing of culture, preparation of filler

Requirements:

• The orientation of the beds is from north to south.
• Do not sow on slopes - rains can wash out the seed.
• In the spring, dig up the beds again and re-fertilize.
• Sow in rows, then thin out.
• Disembarkation time is May.
• Wells up to 5 cm deep.
• In the process of germination and rooting of shoots, it is imperative to remove weeds and carry out drainage.

The first shoots will appear after 10 days. Re-sowing is allowed after 2 weeks.

Care

The general rules of care are as follows:

• Amaranth is very resistant to droughts, loves them more than overflow and stagnant moisture.
• Excess moisture does not tolerate, roots begin to rot. Watering, accordingly, should be moderate. After each watering, the soil must be loosened, monitoring the stagnation of moisture. In the first month after planting, watering the plant is vital, since the roots begin to slowly sink into the ground. The root system needs to be “fed” in order for the rooting process to proceed efficiently. In the season without rains, amaranth is watered on a par with other plants on the site.
• The landing site should be well lit.
• The optimum temperature for growing is +20 degrees. Slight frosts (up to -2 degrees) the culture tolerates well. Severe winters are not, therefore, the plant is destroyed for the winter.
• Pests and diseases rarely plague the culture. Basically, this happens if the plant is not planted at the right time.
• For planting in Siberia, ready-made seedlings are always used. Seeds in this area will not be able to grow in open ground.

Much attention should be paid to the width when active growth has begun. The first 4 weeks development is slow and weak, open beds are gradually covered with weak shoots and sprouts. It is very important at this moment to water the land, loosen, weed from weeds and excess vegetation.

If everything goes well, subsequently the sprouts will begin to develop rapidly: add 5-7 cm in height per day. Already after 2 months, the plant will be strong, strong and well-rooted. However, it is important to loosen, weed and water regularly.

Top dressing

An excellent feed for amaranth is ash. The solution is done like this:

• 200 gr. ash on a bucket of water,
• mullein solution (1 part) is added to this mixture.

Fertilizer is applied in the morning after watering.

What is amaranth - a grain crop or a poisonous plant? The question is ambiguous. Some species are not only classified as inedible, they should not be touched at all. But what a delight the beautiful crimson brushes evoke at the moment of flowering! They look like soft but bright icicles hanging wearily from the bush.

A nice bonus is the fact that the culture can be used both as food and taken for medicinal purposes. The main thing is to know what benefit or harm the plant can cause, what are the contraindications for use.