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Post by chrysanthemum on Jul 14, 2022 15:20:36 GMT -6
I just transplanted a little bit of amaranth this morning (six starts). I know it’s supposed to be able to take heat and drought, but it’s been so far over 100 degrees the last several days that I didn’t want to put it out. At the same time I wasn’t prepared to pot it up. The forecast was for slightly lower temperatures in the 100’s (like 102) today, so out some went this morning. I’ve thought about trying in the evening, but even though the sun is down, it’s so much hotter then, it’s hard to be outside. After transplanting this morning I gave the raised bed five watering cans of water (10 + gallons), and the amaranth was looking good when I checked on it in the early afternoon. I have more inside that I’ll be hardening off again after I see how the transplants do. I’ve eaten amaranth as a grain but not as greens, but I’m really growing this bunch for leaves. I’ve been impressed by the beautiful seedlings. I hope it will do well for me, and I hope we like it if it does.
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Post by woodeye on Jul 14, 2022 15:46:38 GMT -6
The plants are sure pretty! I sure hope they make it through this heat.
All I have ever done is read about it, it will be nice to see how it performs in your garden.
It might be something I can think about for next year, Good Luck!
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Post by hmoosek on Jul 14, 2022 16:26:54 GMT -6
I hope it does well. I did a few stalks of love lies bleeding a year or so back. Unfortunately, mine got lost in the Johnson grass. Had I kept it weeded, I’m sure it would have done well.
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Post by chrysanthemum on Jul 17, 2022 16:10:34 GMT -6
Yesterday our forecast was lower than it has been (it only went up to 96), and I was planning to give the garden a good watering, so I took the opportunity to plant out the rest of the amaranth as well as some tomatoes, peppers, and an eggplant. I discovered when I was working in the bed that one of the amaranth seedlings had been cut off, probably by a cutworm. These leaves were still lying there and hadn’t even wilted all that much. I decided to pop them in my mouth for a taste test, and they were good! I could taste the oxalic acid, I think, but I love eating yellow wood sorrel that grows in my pots, and my kids eat it, too. I hope that bodes well for us enjoying the amaranth. I’m not sure that my husband will be quite as keen on it, but we’ll see. He surprises me sometimes.
The five other starts that hadn’t been cut off looked really good. I’m excited that I may have found a good summer green for us.
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Post by chrysanthemum on Jul 20, 2022 12:51:14 GMT -6
I went out just a bit ago to pick a cucumber and some peppers for our lunchtime salad. As I was opening the gate to our “new garden,” I looked toward the “main garden” just across, and I caught sight of the amaranth leaves above the sides of the raised bed right by the gate. The sun was shining on them through the shade cloth, and they were glowing. It was such a pretty sight. The plants seem to have settled in just fine from their transplanting, and it’s exciting to see something actually growing happily. No picture because I hadn’t taken a camera, and it’s too hot to go back out just for that.
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Post by chrysanthemum on Jul 23, 2022 10:17:01 GMT -6
I found another amaranth seedling cut off this morning. The rest are doing well. I hope they get too thick for cutworms soon.
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Post by chrysanthemum on Jul 24, 2022 15:04:30 GMT -6
Two more cut down this morning. I hope to go out later and put some cardboard tubes around the stems. Sometimes I put sticks in when I plant, but I don’t want to hurt the roots by doing that now, so hopefully the cardboard will keep them out if I can make a tight enough circle. The surviving plants are doing well.
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Post by chrysanthemum on Jul 27, 2022 13:35:51 GMT -6
The cardboard may have helped. I haven’t had more cut off the past few days (except for a few leaves that I took in order to fill out a cucumber salad the other night). I’m excited that something is growing.
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Post by hmoosek on Aug 1, 2022 20:44:39 GMT -6
chrysanthemum I was watching Khang Starr on YouTube, he really likes growing and eating red amaranth and Malabar spinach. I think he lives in Texas if I’m not mistaken. I like his channel as he grows lots of different ways.
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Post by chrysanthemum on Aug 2, 2022 13:35:14 GMT -6
Thanks for that video, hmoosek . I enjoyed it. He did mention at the beginning that it’s been really hot in Texas for months, so I’d guess that is where he lives. We had some Ramen Noodle soup for lunch (not all that common in our house, but since we’ve been sick, we bought some), and I added bunches of amaranth to it for a vegetable. I’m not sure my kids all loved it, but I don’t think anybody hated it either. My six year old did say he prefers it raw, though. He often asks to eat a leaf when we’re are out in the garden. I am very pleased with how it’s coming along in my garden, especially for getting it’s start during heat and drought. I have been giving it plenty of water, though. It’s in the same bed as the Yardlong beans, so it’s getting more water than the rest of the garden right now since it’s easy. I took this picture yesterday morning.
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Post by hmoosek on Aug 2, 2022 13:53:19 GMT -6
chrysanthemumYes, that’s coming along nicely! Khang Starr grows hydroponics, in ground, aero garden, pop bottles, etc. he has a real good gardening channel. I was watching him last night growing romaine lettuce in an aero garden.
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Post by hmoosek on Aug 6, 2022 20:21:47 GMT -6
chrysanthemumI just ordered some red leaf Amaranth Well, I ordered a buggy full of greens from mustard to kale. Shhhhhh don’t tell nobody, but I ordered some turnip seeds to have some greens too. Winter time pinto beans, turnip greens and cornbread.
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Post by chrysanthemum on Aug 6, 2022 20:57:00 GMT -6
Mmm, mmm, good. I love turnip greens, and a winter meal of greens and beans and cornbread sounds great.
I still remember the meal that my mom cooked for the first night I was home after finishing my first semester of college. It was also a birthday celebration for me, so I got to choose the menu: chili and cornbread and collards. Yum!
The funny thing is I don’t even remember if there was a cake. If there was, it was probably lemon, but that’s just a guess. I do remember the chili, and cornbread, and collards, though.
Our amaranth is growing nicely. I’m planning to pick a mess, perhaps as early as tomorrow, and try it out for a meal. I’ll report how it goes.
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Post by hmoosek on Aug 6, 2022 22:39:12 GMT -6
chrysanthemumI ordered something called Ethiopian kale too. Supposed to be better in hotter climates than regular kale. I don’t know, I’m just trying some different things. I’ll also be trying to grow sorrel. I’ve never tried that either .
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Post by chrysanthemum on Aug 7, 2022 13:48:22 GMT -6
I’ve read about an Ethiopian Blue Mustard sold by Artisan Seeds, and they also call it “Highland Kale.” I’ve never bought it, but it catches my eye every time I’m on their site. Does this look like what you bought? store.growartisan.com/product/highland-kaleI’m always interested to hear about good greens for Texas. The only sorrel I’ve ever grown is the wild weed “common yellow woodsorrel” and maybe a little pink oxalis, too. I love the flavor. I’ve never actually tried cultivating any varieties on purpose. I’ll be interested in hearing about yours.
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