How to Grow Amaranth? Detailed Explanation of Key Amaranth Cultivation Techniques

Amaranth is a warmth-loving vegetable, so it is commonly seen in summer. At present, it is very widely distributed in our country. Amaranth has a very good taste, so many people buy it. Many people also want to grow it. There are many methods for growing it. To achieve good amaranth growth, technique is very important.

How to Grow Amaranth

1. Seed soaking and germination: Soak amaranth seeds in cold water for 24 hours. During soaking, rub and wash them several times to facilitate water absorption. In winter and early spring, remove the soaked seeds, rub and wash them clean with clear water, take them out and drain off the water, wrap them well in gauze with good air permeability, then cover with a wet towel, and place them under conditions of 15-20°C for germination. When 30-50% of the seeds show white sprouts, they can be sown. In other seasons, direct sowing is used for cultivation.

2. Land preparation and fertilization: For amaranth cultivation, choose a plot with few weeds. Although amaranth is not strict about soil requirements, soil that is loose, fertile, and good at retaining fertilizer and water is best, and amaranth likes slightly alkaline soil. Apply 5000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer per mu and 50 kg of 25% compound fertilizer, then plough and harrow carefully, and make high beds with a bed width of 1-1.2 m, a ditch width of 0.3 m, and a ditch depth of 0.15-0.2 m.

3. Sowing method: Amaranth seeds are relatively small. Mixing in some fine sand or fine soil when sowing can make sowing more uniform. The seeding rate is 0.25-0.5 kg per mu. Flat beds can be broadcast or drilled. For broadcast sowing, a four-tooth rake can be used to shallowly scratch the surface or not. For drilling, it can be slightly deeper in spring and should be shallow in summer. Cover with shallow soil, then press, and water immediately, then wait for emergence. In winter and early spring, cover with a thin layer of rice straw to retain moisture, then cover with a layer of plastic film for insulation. In summer, cover with a sunshade net.

Amaranth Cultivation Techniques

1. Cultivation season and methods: Amaranth is a warmth-loving and heat-tolerant vegetable. It can be cultivated during the frost-free period from spring to autumn. Spring sowing bolts and flowers relatively late, and the quality is tender. Summer and autumn sowing more easily bolts and flowers, and the quality is coarse and old. In North China and Northwest China, sowing is from late April to early September in open fields, harvesting is from late May to early October, and the growth period is 30-60 days.

2. Cultivation techniques: Land preparation and bed making: For amaranth cultivation, choose a plot with flat terrain, convenient drainage and irrigation, and few weeds. For harvesting seedlings, tender stems, and leaves, broadcast sowing is generally used. Before sowing, plough to a depth of 15 cm and apply 1500-2000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer per mu. The quality requirements for land preparation and bed making are relatively high. The soil surface of the bed must be fine and level, otherwise it will affect the emergence rate and the uniformity of emergence.

Fertilizer and Water Management for Amaranth

Amaranth sown in early spring emerges relatively late, taking about 7-12 days. Amaranth sown in late spring and summer-autumn, due to high temperatures, only needs 3-5 days to emerge. After sowing and before emergence, if the weather is dry, water frequently to keep the bed surface moist. During the growth period of amaranth, in addition to applying base fertilizer, timely topdressing is also needed to obtain high yield. When the seedlings have two true leaves, carry out the first topdressing, applying 10-15 kg of ammonium sulfate per mu. After 10-20 days, carry out the second topdressing. The fertilizer type and amount are the same as the first topdressing. After each harvest, topdressing should be carried out in time, and quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer is preferable for topdressing. After each topdressing, water should be applied. For amaranth sown in early spring, appropriately control water in the early stage, while in the later stage sufficient fertilizer and water are required. Regardless of when amaranth is sown, under conditions of sufficient fertilizer and water, it shows vigorous vegetative growth.

Pest Control for Amaranth

1. Amaranth white rust: The main disease of amaranth is white rust. During the seedling stage, 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at 1000 times dilution or 77% Telike Keshaode at 1500 times dilution can be sprayed on leaves for prevention. In the early stage of disease occurrence, combine manual leaf removal with chemical control, but do not spray immediately on the same day after each harvest, so as not to affect commodity quality.

2. Root-knot nematode disease: In severely affected areas, promptly remove diseased residues after harvest, and rotation with Liliaceae vegetables or paddy-upland rotation can also be used. When sowing or transplanting, apply 10% Limanku granules in furrows or holes at 75 kg per hectare. During the growth period, 200 times dilution of methyl isofenphos emulsion can also be used to drench the roots 1-2 times.

When growing amaranth, seed selection must be done well, and then an appropriate time should be chosen for sowing. Amaranth is heat-tolerant but not waterlogging-tolerant, so field drainage techniques must be done well during cultivation to avoid death caused by water accumulation. Later fertilizer and water management and pest control must also be done properly.