What are the latest common cultivated varieties of amaranth

Amaranth is mainly divided into three major types: green amaranth1, red amaranth, and multicolored amaranth, among which there are many high-quality varieties. When planting, you generally need to choose varieties suited to the local area and with good traits themselves. At present, because amaranth tastes good and is highly adaptable, many people like it. Some people want to grow amaranth, but they also need to consider which variety to plant. It is hoped that this introduction can help everyone understand amaranth varieties.

I. Green amaranth

1. Green rice amaranth

A Shanghai variety. Its advantages are vigorous growth, strong branching ability, and fast growth speed. It can be directly broadcast sown. The leaves are generally oval, the leaf color is relatively light, appearing yellow-green, and the leaves are somewhat wrinkled. The taste is relatively tender, and the flesh is relatively thick. It is relatively heat tolerant and is a high-quality mid-season variety with very high yield, about 1,800 kg per mu. In the Yangtze River basin, it is sown in spring and autumn.

2. Willow-leaf amaranth

A Guangzhou variety. Its characteristics are lanceolate leaves, slightly curled edges, pointed leaves, and white petioles. Unlike green rice amaranth, which is all green, it is both heat tolerant and cold tolerant. Besides open-field cultivation, it is very suitable for protected cultivation.

II. Multicolored amaranth

1. Pointed-leaf red rice amaranth

A Changhai variety. The leaves are also long oval and relatively long, and the leaves are also pointed. The main features are purple-red leaf veins and green leaf edges. The petioles are also red. It is generally an early-maturing variety and is not very heat tolerant, and the leaves are not very cold tolerant.

2. Round-leaf pink-red amaranth

Its characteristics are relatively round leaves and slight wrinkles. Like pointed-leaf red rice amaranth, the leaf edges are green, but the area near the leaf veins is completely red. It is relatively heat tolerant, more heat tolerant than red rice amaranth, but its quality is not the best. It is generally sown in March and August. Its advantage is that bolting is relatively late, so it can be harvested more times, and the yield is medium, about 1,500 kg per mu.

III. Red amaranth

1. Round-leaf red amaranth

Its growth vigor is as vigorous as green rice amaranth. Its advantages are relatively thick stems and good branching ability. It is not only heat tolerant and cold tolerant, but also moisture tolerant, and can be planted in relatively moist soil. Its characteristics are that there is more green at the leaf edges, and the purple-red color is near the petiole part.

2. Large round red amaranth

Its characteristics are bright red color, very little green at the edges, and not many leaf wrinkles. Its advantages are that it is tender, has no old fibers, and tastes relatively soft. It is mainly cultivated in summer and autumn. It is very heat tolerant and also cold tolerant. Like round-leaf pink-red amaranth, it bolts relatively late. Its growth time is extremely short; in summer it can also be harvested in 20 days. It is high yielding, about 4,000 kg per mu.

It should be noted that the main types of amaranth are green amaranth, red amaranth, and multicolored amaranth, which are not varieties. There are many varieties, and each type has different varieties in different regions. The above introduces some representative varieties for everyone to know and understand.