Amaranth planting method and timing: when is the most suitable time to sow

Amaranth originated in China and Southeast Asia, and was first eaten as a wild vegetable, but because of its high nutritional value, powerful effects and benefits, plus its strong adaptability, easy growth and tolerance of many environments, it gradually came to be grown as a vegetable, and it is cultivated in many regions of China. Below, Qinnong Web brings you the planting time and method for amaranth.

Planting time

Amaranth is drought-tolerant, moisture-tolerant and heat-tolerant, so it can be planted from spring to autumn, and the best planting time is March to April, when the climate favors seedling emergence. For open-field cultivation, sowing can be done from March to August, while in a greenhouse environment sowing can be done one month earlier, so it can reach the market earlier and seize the market.

Planting method

1. Soil selection and land preparation

Amaranth has strong adaptability, so it is not strict about soil, but it grows well in alkaline soil. Although it is drought-tolerant, it grows poorly in soil with poor drainage, so a plot with flat terrain and good drainage should be chosen. When preparing the land, be sure to do it carefully, turn the soil deeply, break up clumpy soil and keep the soil loose.

2. Sowing and raising seedlings

Amaranth seeds can be sown directly, but to ensure the emergence rate, soak the seeds in warm water for 4-5 hours before sowing. However, its seeds are rather small, so when sowing, mix them with sandy soil, stir evenly and then sow. Scatter them on the ground surface and cover with 0.5cm of soil. After sowing, little is needed; normally they sprout in one week, while treated seeds sprout in 2-3 days. When the seedlings emerge and grow two or three leaves, thinning can be done, and after thinning, apply fertilizer once.

3. Field management

During the amaranth seedling stage, timely cultivating and weeding should be done to avoid affecting seedling growth. During the amaranth growing period, fertilizer should be applied several times: once when two or three leaves have grown, once when 5-6 leaves have grown, and once at harvest. When fertilizing, nitrogen fertilizer should be the main type, appropriately combined with some farmyard manure. Although amaranth is drought-tolerant, to make it grow strong, the soil should often be kept moist in spring and winter; in summer's high temperatures, the amount of watering needs to be increased.

The above is the amaranth planting method and timing brought to you by Qinnong Web. Amaranth has few pests and diseases, and the main harm is white rust; when it is found, deal with it promptly by hand-picking leaves and chemical control.