Amaranth, Rodale Red Leaf Grain (Organic)

Amaranthus sp. Leaf/Flower/Grain. 45 days leaf; 90-100 days grain.

Our renamed selection from variable material that originally came from the Rodale Institute in the early 1980s, and more recently from seed saver and author Suzanne Ashworth in California with the name Red Leaf Grain. Rodale Red Leaf Grain amaranth is strikingly beautiful with deep red color – one might believe they had planted an ornamental instead of a first-rate food crop. We have selected for early maturing, 4-5′ tall deep-red plants that produce a heavy yield of light tan seeds, perfect for edible grain use. Matures well for us even in extra cool summers. Young leaves had the best flavor raw in our amaranth taste test and make a great addition to salad mix.

Amaranth seed occasionally exhibits dormancy when fresh, but this dormancy usually breaks by the time the seed is sown the following season. Total Viability is printed on the seed packet and includes the germination percentage plus the dormant seed percentage as determined by an independent laboratory. Dormant seed is the portion of a seed sample that does not germinate during the short time period of the seed test, but is determined to be alive and respiring. Dormant seed is likely to germinate with longer germination times.