In Praise of Amaranthus.

Hi freedom. I followed the RHS seed germination instructions, which I have in the form of a small booklet. It says 21c - 24c, takes up to 90 days, lightly cover seeds.

Being an annual, they are very easy to germinate. If you think about it, it doesn't matter if a tree seed takes 5 years to germinate. But annuals live in the fast lane and don't have much time. Consequently most annuals germinate easily and quickly.

I sowed mine on 1st Feb in a heated propagator in a light box - but I don't think the light would have helped them to germinate. They germinated after just 4 days. I now have a little forest of seedlings about two inches high in a three inch pot. They are still in the lightbox, and I haven't tried to pot them up yet - partly because there are so many of them that I don't know where to put them all. I was about to pot them up today, as I need the propagator space for more seeds, but I got sidetracked by a friend. So I will do it tomorrow.

I am planning to put mine on the windowsills in the house - but you have reminded me I must put some in the greenhouse and see what happens.

 

Hi again PeterS how are your plants getting on? I have five & only had time to pot the largest ones on recently, but the weather has helped them grow quite alot in a short space of time, this pic was taken last week:

 

Hi Freedom - your plants look great. You can really see the colour coming through on the leaves, and the start of a flower.



Mine, above, are doing well. I sowed them earlier than you, so they are a bit more advanced. The biggest are now about 12 inches high. But the plants in the big pots behind (a couple of Solanums and a Nicandra) are already 36 inches tall, from seed sown at the same time. So I keep telling my Amaranthus to get a move on. :D

As you say, I think the temperature must effect their rate of growth. I have some Echium russicums growing in their second year. The flower spikes are currently 60 inches high, and have been growing around 1 to 2 inches every day. I have been so intrigued that I have been measuring the height of the tallest two every day. And I have noticed how they can grow 2 inches in warm weather, in a day, and almost none in cold weather. I am sure the same applies to most other plants - its just that we never think to measure them. So I am hoping for some hot weather to make my Amaranthus grow well.

 

Wow, they look fantastic, the flowers are looking great already! :gnthb: Mine are still growing well & I've ended up with two red & three green. Nice to get an update.

 

Thanks Freedom Spark. I will be interested to see how your green one comes out. I have been growing so many things from seed this year, that I opted for just the purple one.

Once you have got them, of cource, you can collect the seed and grow them for ever.

 

Hi again PeterS, here's a more recent pic of mine, you can see the green ones pretty well altough the picture is a bit strangely angled! Don't feel obliged to photograph yours, I know you grow lots of flowers, I'm still a beginner so I become a bit obsessed with the few things I grow

 

Lovely to see them Freedom. They are looking really healthy.

I know what you mean about getting obsessed. I can get that way sometimes with a new plant and love it and tend it, sometimes to the exclusion of the others.

 

Hi guys........Well these Amaranthus were self sets from some in pots last year..... in fact they are related to the plants that started this thread.
They are not quite as strong as the origionals but hey,plants for free.

 

Roders - what a lovely photo.

Mine were OK - but a bit disappointing. Chilterns said that they grew to 3.5 to 4 feet, but mine never reached 1.5 feet tall. The tassles were good though and were longer than the plant was tall, so they lay on the compost surface or hung over the edge of the pot. But then it has been a poor year for many late flowering and tender plants such as many Salvias, Cosmos, Cleome etc.

How tall were yours originally?

 

Thanks Peter,they are a facsinating plant.
I think they were over 3" plus the height of the pot which made them look even higher.

 

Thankd Roders. I will have another go next year. I suspect the temperatures this year played a big part in how well some plants grew.

 

Great photo Roders, I absolutely love mine but sadly they didn't reach the same heights as yours, I'm not good with feet but they're about 70-80 centimetres tall. I don't have any pics on this computer but I'll post one soon. The tassles are great & I'm keeping cutting off some to dry & hopefully use as part of a christmas wreath or something. Fantastic plant! Do you just leave your seedlings in the pots over the winter?

 

Hi Freedom,my seedlings have come up on nearby open ground the following year as if by magic lol..........
I hadn't thought of using the flowers as you are ,be interesting to see how they last..

 

Hi Freedom - at 70 to 80 cms yours have beaten mine hands down.

I would be interested to know if the tassles last until Christmas. They are really lovely, but mine are already going raggedy as seeds start falling off. Still - no shortage of seeds for next year - perhaps I should sow some now for an early start to next year.