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Grain Full Sun Moderate water

Amaranth

Written by the GrowByCity Editorial Team · Updated April 2026
2 min read

Ancient grain with nutritious seeds and edible leaves. A warmth-loving plant that does best between 20°C and 30°C, amaranth adapts well to tropical and subtropical conditions but cannot tolerate frost. Requires full sun (6-8 hours of direct light daily) with moderate, even watering throughout the growing season. Plan for about 90-120 days from planting to maturity. An adaptable plant that performs well across a wide range of garden settings and growing conditions.

Harvest 90-120 days
Temp Range 10°C — 38°C

Quick Answer: How to Grow Amaranth

Amaranth takes 90-120 days to harvest. It grows best in 20–30°C with full sun and moderate watering. Amaranth is not frost tolerant — wait until after the last frost to plant. It can be grown in 350 cities worldwide.

Find the best time to plant Amaranth in your city →

Growing Requirements

☀️
Sun
Full Sun
💧
Water
Moderate
❄️
Frost
Sensitive
📅
Harvest
90-120 days

Temperature Range

20-30°C
-10°C 45°C
Optimal: 20–30°C Tolerates: 10–38°C
Tropical suitable: Yes
Cities growing: 350 of 350

Growing Tips

💡

Expert Tips

Direct sow after last frost. Drought-tolerant once established. Wait until soil warms to at least 20°C before transplanting outdoors — cold soil stunts growth and can invite root rot. Water steadily but avoid soggy soil. A 5-cm layer of organic mulch helps balance moisture and suppress weeds.

Quick Facts

  • Grows in 350 of 350 cities
  • Available in 7 regions worldwide
  • Temperature range: 10°C to 38°C
  • Optimal growing: 20°C to 30°C
  • Harvest in 90-120 days

Did You Know?

  • 🌱 Amaranth loves the heat! It thrives in tropical and subtropical climates year-round.
  • 🌱 Amaranth needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth.

Step-by-Step Growing Guide

Amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus and A. cruentus) thrives in warm conditions with well-drained, moderately fertile soil and a pH of 6.0–7.5. It tolerates poor soil remarkably well but produces the largest seed heads in reasonably fertile ground. Direct sow seeds after the last frost when soil has warmed to at least 65°F — seeds are tiny and should be pressed onto the soil surface and covered with no more than 1/8 inch of fine soil. Thin seedlings to 18 inches for grain production, 12 inches for ornamental or leaf use. Water moderately during establishment, then reduce — amaranth is surprisingly drought-tolerant once established, 1 inch of water per week is sufficient. Fertilize with balanced fertilizer at planting and once at midsummer for grain types. Leaf amaranth (used as a vegetable) benefits from more nitrogen for lush foliage. Plants can reach 5–8 feet and may need staking in windy locations.

Common Pests & Problems

Tarnished plant bugs cause distorted seed heads and reduced grain fill — the nymphs and adults suck sap from developing seeds; treat with spinosad or kaolin clay barrier application. Damping off kills seedlings suddenly at soil level in cool, wet conditions — ensure good drainage and warm soil before sowing, and thin to improve airflow. Cercospora leaf spot creates brown circular spots with purple borders in humid conditions — remove affected lower leaves and maintain good airflow; usually cosmetic only. Root knot nematodes cause stunting and swollen roots in warm, sandy soils — rotate crops and use beneficial nematodes. Amaranth is generally remarkably pest and disease-resistant, part of what made it such a reliable ancient staple crop.

Harvest & Storage

Amaranth grain is ready to harvest when seeds begin to fall freely from the seed heads when rubbed — typically when 75–80% of the seed head has dried and turned the characteristic color of the variety. Cut entire seed heads when dry but before heavy rains cause shattering. Hang heads upside down in paper bags in a warm, ventilated space for 1–2 weeks to finish drying. Thresh by rubbing seed heads between your hands over a sheet, then winnow in a gentle breeze to remove chaff. Store cleaned grain in airtight containers in a cool, dark location; viability is 5–7 years. Young amaranth leaves can be harvested continuously from 4–6 inch-tall plants throughout the season.

Popular Varieties

'Golden Giant' produces enormous golden seed heads up to 3 feet long packed with light-colored grain — one of the highest-yielding grain types for home gardens. 'Burgundy' is grown primarily for its stunning deep red-purple foliage and seed heads — ornamental value is high, but grain is also edible. 'Plainsman' is a short-season grain type (90 days) with compact, upright habit ideal for shorter-summer climates. 'Green Tails' (A. caudatus type) has trailing, rope-like chartreuse seed tassels up to 18 inches long — grown primarily as an ornamental but historically cultivated for grain.

Where to Grow Amaranth

Amaranth can be grown in 350 cities across 7 regions worldwide

🌍 Europe (80 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Aarhus, DK medium
Amsterdam, NL medium
Ankara, TR medium
Antalya, TR medium
Athens, GR medium
Barcelona, ES medium
Bari, IT medium
Belgrade, RS medium
Bergen, NO medium
Berlin, DE medium
Bilbao, ES medium
Bologna, IT medium
Bordeaux, FR medium
Bratislava, SK medium
Brussels, BE medium
Bucharest, RO medium
Budapest, HU medium
Catania, IT medium
Cologne, DE medium
Copenhagen, DK medium
Corfu, GR medium
Cork, IE medium
Dublin, IE medium
Dubrovnik, HR medium
Edinburgh, GB medium
Florence, IT medium
Frankfurt, DE medium
Gdansk, PL medium
Genoa, IT medium
Glasgow, GB medium
Gothenburg, SE medium
Hamburg, DE medium
Helsinki, FI medium
Heraklion, GR medium
Istanbul, TR medium
Izmir, TR medium
Krakow, PL medium
Kyiv, UA medium
Limassol, CY medium
Lisbon, PT medium
Ljubljana, SI medium
London, GB medium
Lyon, FR medium
Madrid, ES medium
Malaga, ES medium
Marseille, FR medium
Milan, IT medium
Munich, DE medium
Naples, IT medium
Nice, FR medium
Nicosia, CY medium
Oslo, NO medium
Palermo, IT medium
Paris, FR medium
Porto, PT medium
Poznan, PL medium
Prague, CZ medium
Reykjavik, IS medium
Riga, LV medium
Rome, IT medium
Seville, ES medium
Sofia, BG medium
Split, HR medium
Stockholm, SE medium
Strasbourg, FR medium
Stuttgart, DE medium
Tallinn, EE medium
Thessaloniki, GR medium
Tirana, AL medium
Toulouse, FR medium
Turin, IT medium
Turku, FI medium
Valencia, ES medium
Valletta, MT medium
Verona, IT medium
Vienna, AT medium
Vilnius, LT medium
Warsaw, PL medium
Zagreb, HR medium
Zurich, CH medium

🌏 Asia (79 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Ahmedabad, IN medium
Almaty, KZ medium
Bali, ID medium
Bandung, ID medium
Bangalore, IN medium
Bangkok, TH medium
Beijing, CN medium
Busan, KR medium
Cebu, PH medium
Chandigarh, IN medium
Chengdu, CN medium
Chennai, IN medium
Chiang Mai, TH medium
Chittagong, BD medium
Chongqing, CN medium
Coimbatore, IN medium
Colombo, LK medium
Da Nang, VN medium
Dalian, CN medium
Davao, PH medium
Delhi, IN medium
Dhaka, BD medium
Dharan, NP medium
Fukuoka, JP medium
Galle, LK medium
Guangzhou, CN medium
Hangzhou, CN medium
Hanoi, VN medium
Harbin, CN medium
Ho Chi Minh City, VN medium
Hong Kong, HK medium
Hyderabad, IN medium
Incheon, KR medium
Indore, IN medium
Islamabad, PK medium
Jaipur, IN medium
Jakarta, ID medium
Jeju, KR medium
Johor Bahru, MY medium
Karachi, PK medium
Kathmandu, NP medium
Kochi, IN medium
Kolkata, IN medium
Kuala Lumpur, MY medium
Kunming, CN medium
Kyoto, JP medium
Lahore, PK medium
Lucknow, IN medium
Manila, PH medium
Mumbai, IN medium
Nagoya, JP medium
Nanjing, CN medium
Nha Trang, VN medium
Okinawa, JP medium
Osaka, JP medium
Pattaya, TH medium
Penang, MY medium
Phnom Penh, KH medium
Pune, IN medium
Sapporo, JP medium
Seoul, KR medium
Shanghai, CN medium
Shenzhen, CN medium
Siem Reap, KH medium
Singapore, SG medium
Surabaya, ID medium
Surat, IN medium
Taipei, TW medium
Tashkent, UZ medium
Tbilisi, GE medium
Tokyo, JP medium
Ulaanbaatar, MN medium
Varanasi, IN medium
Vientiane, LA medium
Visakhapatnam, IN medium
Wuhan, CN medium
Xi'an, CN medium
Xiamen, CN medium
Yangon, MM medium

🌎 North America (78 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Albuquerque, US medium
Anchorage, US medium
Atlanta, US medium
Austin, US medium
Baltimore, US medium
Baton Rouge, US medium
Boise, US medium
Boston, US medium
Bridgetown, BB medium
Buffalo, US medium
Calgary, CA medium
Cancun, MX medium
Charleston, US medium
Charlotte, US medium
Chattanooga, US medium
Chicago, US medium
Denver, US medium
Des Moines, US medium
Detroit, US medium
Edmonton, CA medium
El Paso, US medium
Fargo, US medium
Fresno, US medium
Guadalajara, MX medium
Halifax, CA medium
Hartford, US medium
Havana, CU medium
Honolulu, US medium
Houston, US medium
Jacksonville, US medium
Kansas City, US medium
Kingston, JM medium
Knoxville, US medium
Las Vegas, US medium
Little Rock, US medium
Los Angeles, US medium
Louisville, US medium
Lubbock, US medium
Madison, US medium
Memphis, US medium
Mexico City, MX medium
Miami, US medium
Milwaukee, US medium
Minneapolis, US medium
Monterrey, MX medium
Montreal, CA medium
Nashville, US medium
New Orleans, US medium
New York, US medium
Oaxaca, MX medium
Oklahoma City, US medium
Omaha, US medium
Ottawa, CA medium
Panama City, PA medium
Phoenix, US medium
Pittsburgh, US medium
Portland, US medium
Puebla, MX medium
Quebec City, CA medium
Raleigh, US medium
Richmond, US medium
Sacramento, US medium
Salt Lake City, US medium
San Diego, US medium
San Francisco, US medium
San Jose, CR medium
Santo Domingo, DO medium
Saskatoon, CA medium
Savannah, US medium
Seattle, US medium
Spokane, US medium
St. Louis, US medium
Tampa, US medium
Toronto, CA medium
Tucson, US medium
Vancouver, CA medium
Victoria, CA medium
Winnipeg, CA medium

🌍 Africa (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abidjan, CI medium
Accra, GH medium
Addis Ababa, ET medium
Algiers, DZ medium
Antananarivo, MG medium
Arusha, TZ medium
Bamako, ML medium
Bloemfontein, ZA medium
Cairo, EG medium
Cape Town, ZA medium
Casablanca, MA medium
Dakar, SN medium
Dar es Salaam, TZ medium
Douala, CM medium
Durban, ZA medium
Entebbe, UG medium
Fez, MA medium
Freetown, SL medium
Harare, ZW medium
Johannesburg, ZA medium
Kampala, UG medium
Kigali, RW medium
Kinshasa, CD medium
Lagos, NG medium
Libreville, GA medium
Lilongwe, MW medium
Lome, TG medium
Luanda, AO medium
Lusaka, ZM medium
Maputo, MZ medium
Marrakech, MA medium
Mombasa, KE medium
Nairobi, KE medium
Ouagadougou, BF medium
Port Louis, MU medium
Pretoria, ZA medium
Tunis, TN medium
Windhoek, NA medium
Zanzibar, TZ medium

🌎 South America (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Arequipa, PE medium
Asuncion, PY medium
Barranquilla, CO medium
Belem, BR medium
Bogota, CO medium
Brasilia, BR medium
Buenos Aires, AR medium
Cali, CO medium
Campinas, BR medium
Caracas, VE medium
Cartagena, CO medium
Concepcion, CL medium
Cordoba, AR medium
Curitiba, BR medium
Cusco, PE medium
Fortaleza, BR medium
Georgetown, GY medium
Goiania, BR medium
Guayaquil, EC medium
La Paz, BO medium
Lima, PE medium
Manaus, BR medium
Medellin, CO medium
Mendoza, AR medium
Montevideo, UY medium
Paramaribo, SR medium
Port of Spain, TT medium
Porto Alegre, BR medium
Quito, EC medium
Recife, BR medium
Rio de Janeiro, BR medium
Rosario, AR medium
Salvador, BR medium
Santa Cruz, BO medium
Santiago, CL medium
Sao Paulo, BR medium
Sucre, BO medium
Trujillo, PE medium
Valparaiso, CL medium

🌊 Oceania (19 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Adelaide, AU medium
Alice Springs, AU medium
Auckland, NZ medium
Brisbane, AU medium
Cairns, AU medium
Canberra, AU medium
Christchurch, NZ medium
Darwin, AU medium
Dunedin, NZ medium
Gold Coast, AU medium
Hamilton, NZ medium
Hobart, AU medium
Melbourne, AU medium
Noumea, NC medium
Perth, AU medium
Suva, FJ medium
Sydney, AU medium
Townsville, AU medium
Wellington, NZ medium

🕌 Middle East (16 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abu Dhabi, AE medium
Amman, JO medium
Baghdad, IQ medium
Beirut, LB medium
Doha, QA medium
Dubai, AE medium
Erbil, IQ medium
Jeddah, SA medium
Kuwait City, KW medium
Manama, BH medium
Muscat, OM medium
Riyadh, SA medium
Sana'a, YE medium
Tabriz, IR medium
Tehran, IR medium
Tel Aviv, IL medium

When should I plant amaranth in my city?

The best time to plant amaranth depends on your local climate zone. It thrives in temperatures between 20°C and 30°C. Wait until after the last frost in your area. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact dates.

Can I grow amaranth in winter?

Amaranth is not frost tolerant and cannot survive winter outdoors in most temperate climates. In tropical areas (USDA Zones 10+), it may grow year-round.

Get Amaranth Seeds & Plants

Ready to start growing? Find Amaranth seeds and starter plants online.

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Similar Growing Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions about Amaranth

When should I plant amaranth?

The best time to plant amaranth depends on your local climate. Amaranth grows best in temperatures between 20°C and 30°C (can tolerate 10°C to 38°C). Amaranth is not frost tolerant, so wait until after the last frost in your area. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact planting months.

Can amaranth grow in tropical climates?

Yes! Amaranth can grow in tropical climates. It's successfully grown in tropical cities like Abidjan, Abu Dhabi, Accra. Amaranth requires full sun and moderate watering.

How long does amaranth take to grow?

Amaranth typically takes 90-120 days from planting to harvest. It requires full sun and moderate watering. Direct sow after last frost. Drought-tolerant once established. Wait until soil warms to at least 20°C before transplanting outdoors — cold soil stunts growth and can invite root rot. Water steadily but avoid soggy soil. A 5-cm layer of organic mulch helps balance moisture and suppress weeds.

Find the Best Time to Plant Amaranth

See the planting calendar for Amaranth in these popular cities:

Last updated: March 2026 · Climate data from NOAA, FAO, USDA

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