How to grow amaranth (leaf)
Amaranthus tricolor · Amaranthaceae · Vegetable
When to plant amaranth (leaf): the short answer
Sow outdoors about 1 week after the last frost. Wait until the soil is at least 65°F; amaranth (leaf) sprout fastest near 78°F.
Zone 5: sow May 2 – May 21. Zone 7: sow Apr 7 – Apr 26. Zone 9: sow Feb 22 – Mar 13. See every zone.
Amaranth (Leaf) is a warm-season vegetable in the Amaranthaceae family, almost always sown straight into the ground where it will grow. It wants full sun (six or more hours of direct light) and modest, occasional watering. From sowing to first pick is about 30–50 days. It is killed by frost, so nothing goes outside until the danger has passed and the soil has warmed.
Grower’s note: A fast, heat-loving leafy green (also called callaloo) that thrives when it is too hot for other greens. Barely cover the tiny seed. Cut young leaves or whole plants at 8-12 inches; grain types are left to form large seed heads.
Sowing
Sow about 0.25″ deep, into soil between 65–90°F — germination is quickest near 78°F. Germination takes a week or two (7–14 days). It does not transplant well, so sow it in its final position rather than starting it in pots.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 6″ along the row with roughly 18″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 4 per square foot. Allow at least 12″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 10″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
Amaranth (Leaf) needs roughly 30–50 frost-free days to crop. Where the season is shorter than that, start it indoors and choose the earliest-maturing varieties, or grow it in a container you can move under cover on cold nights. In long, hot-summer regions it can often be planted twice — once in spring and again in mid-to-late summer for a fall harvest.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long amaranth (leaf) takes to grow
From sowing to first harvest takes roughly 30-50 days (4-7 weeks), with seedlings appearing after 7-14 days in soil around 78°F.
When to plant amaranth (leaf)
When to plant amaranth (leaf) by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | - | May 17 – Jun 5 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | - | May 12 – May 31 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | - | May 2 – May 21 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | - | Apr 17 – May 6 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | - | Apr 7 – Apr 26 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | - | Mar 22 – Apr 10 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | - | Feb 22 – Mar 13 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | - | Feb 1 – Feb 20 |
Companions
Sweet Corn
No strong antagonists recorded.
Common problems
Pests: flea beetle, aphids.
Diseases & disorders: damping off.
Same family (Amaranthaceae)
Rotate these so they don’t follow each other in the same bed year to year.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant amaranth (leaf)?
Sow outdoors about 1 week after the last frost. Wait until the soil is at least 65°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long does amaranth (leaf) take to grow?
About 30-50 days from sowing to the first harvest. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days, fastest in soil around 78°F.
How much sun does amaranth (leaf) need?
It needs at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day.
What soil pH does amaranth (leaf) need?
A soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant amaranth (leaf)?
Space plants about 6 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart, or 4 per square foot in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about ¼ inch deep.
Can I grow amaranth (leaf) in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 10 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.