Growing red and green amaranth spinach in pots

Hi, Gardeners! Today I'd like to talk about the amaranth plants (Amaranthus spp) which is locally known as spinach in Indonesia. There are some species of amaranth that we use to cook as vegetables here, but the most common sold in the market place is the green and the red ones. My favorite of those two is the red amaranth. Besides more nutritious than the green one due to its red color (beta carotene), red amaranth is easier to grow and very fast to generate new leaves that can be harvested again in 2 weeks! I grow my amaranth in pots and I grow them from lower stalks that have roots. People here selling amaranth in a bundle and they usually still have roots. I just cut the stalks 10 cm above the root, dipping them in vitamin B12 for 3 hours and plant them in rich soil. Put the pots in shaded place for 3 days and gradually introduce them to the sun. Here are some red amaranth ready to harvest! :)

Below are some green amaranth in various ages that I grow from seeds. You can also grow them from the fresh stalks like I do with the red ones above. :)

Here's a close up look on a bunch of amaranth that I have just harvested for quick cooking with instant noodle. :D Eating instant noodle can be more nutritious if you throw an egg and some vegetables in it. Amaranth leaves are nutritionally similar to beets, Swiss chard and spinach, but are much superior. For example amaranth leaves contain three times more calcium and three times more niacin (vitamin B3) than the usual spinach leaves you eat. Amaranth is my favorite choice, besides the mustard green! :D

Harvested some more red amaranth, clean them and put them inside a tight closed plastic container and put it in a refrigerator. They can stay fresh for a few days. :)

And these yummy looking snack are green amaranth leaves that I fried with flour and spices. They are very crispy, and maybe more healthy than potato chips? :D They are still very greasy though. Have you had any experiences growing some spinach? What kind of spinach do you grow? Please comment below! Thanks. :)