When to plant Amaranth in Cool Australia

Cool zone — applies to Hobart, Canberra, Ballarat, Orange, Armidale and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.

Sow amaranth direct from September to December, once frost has passed and the soil is warming, as this is a heat-loving crop that sulks in cold ground. The fine seed germinates fast in 5–20 days at just 5 mm deep, and plants race to maturity in 50–60 days for grain or leaf. Thin to 50 cm spacing with 50–80 cm between rows to give the tall stems room. In cool areas such as Orange, Armidale and Canberra, the short warm season suits the quicker leaf types, so sow after your last frost and give it the sunniest, most sheltered bed you have.

Sowing calendar — cool zone

Green months are your sowing window: September to December.

Growing notes

Amaranth is grown two ways: as a tender leafy green harvested young, and as a grain crop taken to full seed head. In a cool zone the leaf approach is the more reliable, because the 50–60 day maturity means you can crop before the season turns, whereas grain heads need a long, warm autumn to fill and dry.

It is frost tender, so timing is everything. Sow only once nights have lifted, because seedlings that meet a late Ballarat or Armidale frost simply collapse. The seed is tiny, so sow shallow at 5 mm and press it into a fine, warm seedbed rather than burying it.

Common failure mode: in cool districts, grain-type amaranth is sown too late, the plant flowers as the weather cools, and the seed heads never dry properly before autumn damp sets in, leading to sprouting or mould on the head. The fix is to choose fast leaf varieties, sow at the start of your window in September or October, and pick young leaves continually rather than waiting for grain.

Amaranth handles heat and dry spells better than most greens once established, but keep young plants watered through germination. Full sun, shelter from wind on the tall stems, and a warm start are all it really asks.

Amaranth at a glance

Common questions

can you grow amaranth in a cold climate

Yes, but treat it as a warm-season crop and grow it for leaves rather than grain. In cool districts like Orange or Armidale the season is often too short to ripen and dry grain heads reliably, so sow fast leaf types after frost and harvest young.

when to sow amaranth in Canberra

Sow direct from September once the last frost has passed, and you can continue through to December. Amaranth is frost tender, so do not sow into cold soil or ahead of the final frost.

how long does amaranth take to grow

Leaf amaranth is ready in around 50–60 days from sowing. Grain types take longer to fill and dry, which is why the quicker leaf harvest suits short cool-climate seasons.

how deep do you plant amaranth seeds

Very shallow, at around 5 mm, because the seed is fine and needs light and warmth to germinate in 5–20 days. Press it into a warm, fine seedbed and keep it moist until seedlings appear.

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