Amaranth Microgreen Guide (How To Grow, FAQ & More!)

Have you ever wondered how you can grow your very own Amaranth Microgreens? The process is quite simple. This article will guide you step by step-by-step on how you can grow Amaranth Microgreens in your home.

Amaranth Microgreens are one of the lesser-known Microgreens. However, this plant that commonly has a red and purple hue is packed with nutrients. The Microgreen is also a great source of protein and is frequently used as Mexican snacks.

Equipment Needed to Grow Amaranth Microgreens

You do not need a lot of equipment for growing Microgreens. However, there are multiple growing medium options that you can choose from when it comes to growing Amaranth Microgreens.

Below are some of the equipment you would need in growing your Amaranth Microgreens:

  • Any container or plant growing tray
  • Your preferred growing medium (you could use soil, growing mats, wood shavings, or plain paper towels)
  • Any type of growing light if you are growing it indoors
  • Amaranth Seeds
  • Seed Shaker
  • Sharp Knife
  • Spray Bottle
  • Organic Fungicide or Pesticide for pest control

That is all you need when it comes to starting your Microgreens garden. Even if you do not have an outside garden or are growing it indoors, you only need these equipment pieces.

How to Grow Amaranth Microgreens in Soil?

Using soil in growing your Amaranth Microgreens is the most common growing medium. Even though soil can be messy to clean up compared to other growing mediums, Soil can provide a higher germination rate and yield.

Fill Your Growing Tray with Soil

The first step in growing your Amaranth Microgreens is to fill your container with premium-grade potting soil and press down lightly. You do not need to compact the soil when it comes to Amaranth Microgreens.

The extra space on the soil will allow the Amaranth Microgreens to take root. Use high-quality soil to prevent other pests and illnesses from coming to your plant.

Fill Up Your Shaker Bottle

You do not have to soak the seeds of Amaranth Microgreens overnight, unlike other Microgreens. Just fill up your shaker bottle with Amaranth Seeds and sprinkle it over to the soil in even spaces. There is no specific spacing needed, but they should be packed as densely as possible.

Mist Your Soil

After sprinkling your seeds on top of the soil, fill up your spray bottle. Lightly mist your seeds, making sure that they stay on the soil. Do not overwater your Amaranth seeds as this can cause mold to form and fungi to affect your Microgreens.

Cover Your Planting Container

After misting your soil with enough water, it is time to cover up your planting container. Make sure the cover is opaque and no light passes through. This process allows your seeds to germinate properly.

Observe the Germination Stage

Once you cover up your planting container, you would have to wait two to three days. You can lightly mist the soil to keep the moisture for your seeds. After two to three days, you will see that your seeds have germinated.

What If the Seeds Did Not Germinate?

There are instances where your seeds did not germinate. If after three days you still see no germination, you might have overwatered or underwatered your seeds. No germination could also mean you have a bad seed, or the growing conditions are not right.

Exposure to Light

After germination, you would need to cover them for another one or two days until the Amaranth Microgreens have a light pink hue. You can expose the Amaranth Microgreens to light after they grew by about half-inch to a three-fourth inch tall.

Using Natural and Artificial Light

If you are growing the Microgreens inside your home, you can place them somewhere with natural sunlight. However, if you place your Amaranth Microgreens in direct sunlight, you may need to water them more frequently. You can also use Artificial Lighting like Growing lights. You can use simple LED lights or a CFL array setup.

How to Harvest Your Amaranth Microgreens?

After letting your Amaranth Microgreens grow for ten days, you can harvest them by using a sharp knife. Tilt your container by about 45 degrees and cut just above the soil. Make sure your knife is sharp, so you do not need to pull the greens out.

Storing Your Amaranth Microgreens

Keep your Amaranth Microgreens dry. Avoid any moisture, or it can shorten your Microgreens’ life. Put the Microgreens in a Ziplock bag or sealed container and put them in the refrigerator. Amaranth Microgreens can last up to seven to eight days.

How to Grow Amaranth Microgreens with A Grow Mat?

Hydroponic Grow Mats is another growing medium that you can use for growing Amaranth Microgreens. This growing medium is a lot cleaner to use compared to soil that requires a lot of clean up.

Put Your Growing Mat in Your Container

Amaranth Seeds do not require a lot of water, but you can punch holes underneath your container and put a larger container to catch the water for your Microgreens. Cut up your Growing Mat so it fits your growing container. Put your Growing Mat inside your container to prepare for the sowing.

Load Up Your Seed Shaker

After preparing your Growing Mat and container, load up your Shaker bottle with Amaranth Seeds. Sprinkle the seeds all over the growing Mat. A rule to keep in mind is that they do not need to be so compact that seeds are on top of each other, but they cannot be too loose to see the Hydroponic Mat underneath.

Prepare for Germination

Once you sow the seeds, you can now begin the process of Germination. Very carefully mist your seeds to keep the Growing Mat Moist. Always make sure that the Growing Mat is just moist enough, or else mold may grow.

Keep an Eye Out

After misting your seeds, cover your container for about three days. You can mist the Growing Mat if you see that they are becoming too dry. Keep the seeds in a dry and dark place to promote germination.

Check the Germination Results

After three days, check the seeds for the Germination results. If they still haven’t germinated, there could be a few factors that affected your Germination. You may have a bad seed or an illness that affected your seeds due to overwatering or underwatering.

Provide the Microgreens With Light

Amaranth Microgreens do not need a lot of light. Be careful when placing them under direct sunlight as it can dry the Growing Mats a lot faster compared to artificial lighting. Direct light needs frequent watering. Artificial lights would not dry your Microgreens as much as natural sunlight.

Grow Your Amaranth Microgreens

Amaranth Microgreens would usually take only ten to fifteen days. After ten days, you can harvest your Amaranth Microgreens by cutting them just above the soil. If you plan to use the same container for replanting, remove any plant debris altogether.

Refrigerate Your Amaranth Microgreens

Amaranth Microgreens will last up to a week if stored properly. Keep your Microgreens dry and refrigerate them. Any moisture on your Microgreens can reduce its lifetime. Amaranth Microgreens can be a great addition to other meat dishes as a side salad.

How to Grow Amaranth Microgreens in Wood Shavings?

Amaranth Microgreens actually require quite a deep growing medium. Using a part soil and wood shavings or sawdust is an excellent growing medium for Amaranth Microgreens. Adding coconut fiber can also help your Amaranth Microgreens to take root faster.

Fill Up Your Container with Wood Shavings

Regular pet wood shavings could work well enough for growing Amaranth Microgreens. Mixing soil with coconut fiber also helps improve the germination of Amaranth Microgreens. You can also reuse your coconut fiber for other purposes.

Fill Up Your Shaker Bottle

Fill up your shaker bottle with seeds to prepare it for sowing. Make sure your Wood shavings are deep enough. The growing medium does not need to be completely packed and dense. Having a bit of space allows Amaranth Microgreens to take root.

Sprinkle Your Seeds

After preparing the growing medium, sprinkle your seeds all over the container. Having the seeds densely packed works great, but do not overcrowd them. A typical ten by twenty containers may need about an ounce of seeds. 

Mist Your Seeds

After sowing your seeds, you should carefully mist them using the spray bottle. Always take care not to mist them too much, or it may promote fungi and mold on your Microgreens. After misting your seeds, cover your planting tray with an opaque cover.

Let Them Sit for Three Days

After covering your container, make sure the seeds do not receive direct light or sunlight. You can also put a weight on top to allow the seeds to take root. Mist the seeds only when you feel that the growing medium has grown dry.

Wait for The Seeds to Sprout

After three days, if everything went well, the seeds would have sprouted and germinated. Failed seeds typically mean you overwatered the seeds or did not water them enough. Avoid this by providing great growing conditions and buying high-quality seeds.

Use Some Lighting

After the seeds have sprouted, you may leave them for another two days to let them grow a bit taller. After they have grown to about half an inch, you can provide the seeds with natural or artificial light to promote their growth.

Let Them Grow and Water Them

Aside from providing the seeds with lighting, consistently mist them using the spray bottle. Amaranth Microgreens tend to dry out faster compared to other Microgreens, so you need to check on the growing medium consistently, making sure it is moist.

Harvesting Amaranth Microgreens

Amaranth Microgreens do not grow as tall compared to other Microgreens. However, they are ready to harvest after just ten to fifteen days. Cut the Microgreen just above the soil and store the Microgreens in a dry and cool place.

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How to Grow Amaranth Microgreens on Growing Paper?

Growing Pads or Papers is also effective when it comes to growing Amaranth Microgreens. You can also use a simple paper towel if that is all you have. This technique is excellent for people living in small spaces and would like to grow their own Microgreens.

Cut Up Your Growing Paper

Most growing paper or pads come in larger sizes, and you would need to cut them according to your container size. Check your container size and cut the Growing paper accordingly. You can also make holes at the bottom and put another tray to help absorb and retain more water.

Put Your Paper in the Container

You do not have to mist or soak the growing paper when it comes to Amaranth Microgreens. You can do the misting after you have sown your seeds. Put your paper in the container and prepare your seeds.

Use the Seed Shaker

Use the shaker bottle to sow your seeds. Fill it up with Amaranth seeds and sprinkle your seeds on the container. Amaranth seeds do not have specific spacing requirements, but you should pack the seeds as dense as possible, but do not overdo it.

Mist Your Seeds

At this point, your Growing paper is a little dry. Mist your seeds using the spray bottle but do it gently. Your seeds could fly off the container if you mist the seeds too hard. Ensure that your paper is just moist, not soaking.

Cover Your Planting Tray

After misting your seeds, you are ready to cover your container and let the germination process begin. Cover the container and make sure to put the container with no direct light. Mist the seeds if you find that the growing paper is getting dry.

Check Your Seed’s Growth

Amaranth Microgreens typically take two to three days to germinate. Observe your seeds consistently and check if it has grown after three days. If not, your germination failed, and you may need to re-check your current growing environment.

Let It Grow for Ten Days

After the germination process, your Microgreens only need ten to fifteen days to grow fully. Afterward, you can use a sharp knife to harvest your Amaranth Microgreens. Tilt your container and cut the Microgreens’ stem above the soil.

How Can I Speed Up the Growth Rate of My Microgreens?

Amaranth Microgreens only take ten to fifteen days to grow. Compared to other Microgreens, Amaranth Microgreens grow quickly. However, a failure in germination can cause you to lose your seeds.

Unlike other Microgreens, Amaranth Microgreens do not require a lot of sunlight. Putting your Amaranth Microgreens in direct sunlight can cause your growing medium to dry up quickly and your Microgreens to die.

However, using a heating mat can help increase the growth rate of your Microgreens. If you are using artificial lighting, growing lights can also affect the growth rate of your Microgreens. Just make sure that you consistently mist your Amaranth Microgreens with water.

What Are the Benefits of Eating Amaranth Microgreens?

Amaranth Microgreens Have A Lot of Protein

Amaranth Microgreens is a good source of protein and minerals.  Amaranth Microgreens have thirty percent more protein compared to rice. A cup of amaranth has 9.3 grams of protein and 105% of the RDI for Magnesium.

For every cup, this Microgreen also contains Magnesium, Phosphorus, Iron, Selenium, and Copper. Iron is essential for producing blood, and Magnesium is needed for most body and mind functions.

Help Keep You Feeling Full for Longer

If you have bad eating habits and tend to overeat, you may want to add Amaranth Microgreens to your diet. This microgreen helps keep you feeling full for longer. The microgreen is packed full of protein and other nutrients.

Adding this microgreen to your diet provides you high protein that is helpful for weight loss. The addition of the protein also prevents you from overeating. Not overeating can help reduce the calories you eat per day and promote weight loss.

Naturally Lowers Your Cholesterol Levels

Amaranth Microgreens naturally help lower your cholesterol levels. The protein-packed microgreen help reduce your cholesterol level and prevent any artery blockage. High cholesterol levels can cause a fatal heart illness like a heart attack.

High cholesterol can also block your arteries and can be fatal. Amaranth is an excellent addition to your diet if you are looking to add protein without the risk of fats and increasing your cholesterol levels.

It Helps Lower the Risk of Other Illnesses

Adding Amaranth to your diet can help lower your risk for other illnesses. This microgreen contains a lot of nutrients that help improve your immune system. The microgreen also helps stimulate your immune system.

By keeping your immune system strong and active, you reduce the risk of contracting common illnesses like the cold and flu—a strong immune system also helps combat certain viruses and bacteria.

Amaranth Is Gluten-Free

Amaranth does not contain any gluten. Some people cannot eat gluten as it may affect their body functions. People with celiac disease may have digestive tract inflammation if they eat foods that have gluten.

People who are sensitive to gluten may also experience other side effects like bloating, gas and diarrhea. Amaranth is naturally gluten-free, making it safe and healthy for any person to add to their diet.

Anti-Diabetic and Antioxidant

A study shows that adding Amaranth to your diet helps lower your blood glucose levels. This microgreen helps lower blood sugar levels and prevent you from experiencing spikes. The microgreen also helps reduce the risk of diabetes.

Aside from this, Amaranth is also an antioxidant. An antioxidant helps increase your cell protection against free radicals.  Eating junk foods and smoking tobacco can cause your body to have free radicals that may increase the speed of aging and risk for other illnesses.

What Pests/Diseases Can Damage Microgreens and How to Stop Them?

Amaranth Microgreens are susceptible to some pests and diseases. Below is a list of pests and diseases that can affect your Amaranth Microgreen and how to prevent them.

Anthracnose

Anthracnose is a fungal disease that can affect your Amaranth Microgreens. If you notice necrotic lesions on the leaves or dieback of the leaves and branches, your microgreen may have Anthracnose.

The fungal disease is unlikely to happen if you take careful care of your plant. To prevent this disease, you have to avoid damaging your plant or wounding them. You can also choose to plant varieties that are resistant to this disease.

Pigweed Weevil

The Pigweed Weevil is one of the pests that is attracted to the Amaranth plant. This beetle can cause your plant to wither and collapse. You will notice that the weevils will feed on the leaves and their larvae eat the stems.

The damage done by the Pigweed Weevil can also promote other fungi and mold to form on your plants. Unfortunately, the only way to manage the Pigweed Weevil is to uproot and destroy the affected plants.

Wet Rot

Wet Rot is a plant disease caused by fungus. The fungus thrives on plants that have been damaged by pests and insects. You will notice that your plants have water-soaked lesions and have a hairy texture.

The disease loves warm and moist environments and can be spread via air and other infected seeds. To prevent this disease, always use high-quality seeds and do not overcrowd your seeds. You can also use copper fungicides to manage the disease.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to growing your own Amaranth Microgreens. However, we will try to answer some of the most common questions you may have when growing Amaranth Microgreens.

What Is The Difference Between Amaranth Microgreens And Sprouts?

Sprouts are typically harvested after just a short amount of time. Most sprouts grow in water. Unlike the Amaranth Sprouts, Amaranth Microgreens stem and leaves can be eaten and more flavorful than sprouts.

How Much Light Is Too Much For Amaranth Microgreens?

Amaranth Microgreens do not need much lighting. Putting your Amaranth Microgreens in direct sunlight can cause them to wilt because the growing medium dries up quickly. Make sure to water your Amaranth Microgreens often.

What Is The Most Suitable Temperature For Amaranth Microgreens?

While Amaranth Microgreens cannot survive in too much sunlight, having a too cold temperature can also affect your Amaranth Microgreens. The most suitable temperature for Amaranth Microgreens is above 72 degrees Fahrenheit or 22 degrees celsius.

What Is The Ideal Harvest Time For Amaranth Microgreens?

Most Amaranth Microgreens in suitable growing conditions can be harvested after just ten days. However, a typical harvesting time for Amaranth Microgreens would be ten to fifteen days, depending on your growing environment.

Do Amaranth Microgreens Regrow?

Your Amaranth Microgreens can regrow, but it depends on the yield and conditions of your plant. A second harvest may take more time to regrow compared to the first one. And not all Microgreens will regrow.

Harvesting Amaranth Microgreens

You can harvest your Amaranth Microgreens after ten to fifteen days. Tilt your container and use a sharp knife to cut your Microgreens. Using an extremely sharp knife will prevent you from having to pull the Microgreens out and washing them.

How To Store Amaranth Microgreens?

After harvesting, you should store the Microgreens in a cool and dry place. If you use a sharp knife, you do not need to wash the Microgreens, keeping them dry. If you keep the Amaranth Microgreens dry, it could last over a week.

How Can I Prevent My Amaranth Microgreens From Falling Over And Wilting?

If your Microgreens are falling over and wilting, it may be a sign of a disease or harsh growing environment. If you overwater your Microgreens, it can promote fungi and mold, creating a perfect environment for most fungi.

What Do Amaranth Microgreens Taste Like, And How To Use Them?

Amaranth Microgreens have a mildly sweet and earthy flavor. You can think of the Microgreen tasting like mustard but with less spice. Amaranth Microgreens is a perfect side salad and a great source of protein.

Damping-Off In Microgreens

If you overwater your Microgreens or do not provide enough ventilation, it can be a breeding ground for fungi and mold. If your Microgreen is in a damp and cold environment, it can contract a disease called Damping-off.

Recap

Amaranth Microgreens are one of the lesser-known Microgreens in the market. However, its vibrant colors and nutritional value can be a great addition to your diet. You can plant Amaranth Microgreens using different growing mediums.

Do not put Amaranth Microgreens directly onto sunlight as it may dry your soil or growing medium too fast. You can harvest your Amaranth Microgreens after ten to fifteen days, and it can last up to seven days if you keep it dry and store it in your refrigerator.

Prevent your Amaranth Microgreens from being affected by plant diseases and illnesses by using quality seeds and keeping your growing environment right. Amaranth Microgreens is naturally gluten-free, and it contains numerous health benefits like lowering your cholesterol levels.

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