Love-lies-bleeding, foxtail amaranth, Amaranthus caudatus

[joel]

Does anyone grow this plant.

https://laidbackgardener.blog/2021/05/12/love-lies-bleeding-the-oh-so-edible-annual/

 

[Meerkat]

Wonder if Elton John named that plant,lol.It is unusual plant name though .

 

[winds-of-change]

I have some amaranth seeds. I have not planted them yet.

 

[Weedygarden]

I had talked of planting some Amaranth a while ago and was advised that is becomes almost wild and will self seed and take over areas in your yard where you might really want it. I think it is beautiful and a good alternative to grains with gluten for those who are sensitive.

 

[LadyLocust]

Does anyone grow this plant.

https://laidbackgardener.blog/2021/05/12/love-lies-bleeding-the-oh-so-edible-annual/

My mom has it all over. She gave me some compost and guess what I had coming up in the garden. It is beautiful, but is big if it gets going.

 

[joel]

I have some amaranth seeds. I have not planted them yet.

Tell us how it does.

 

[joel]

I had talked of planting some Amaranth a while ago and was advised that is becomes almost wild and will self seed and take over areas in your yard where you might really want it. I think it is beautiful and a good alternative to grains with gluten for those who are sensitive.

This is true, the wild amaranth grows around pig pens, the soil is rich from waste.
Father called it pig weed & we never knew it was an ancient grain or that the leaf could be eaten like collards.

 

[Weedygarden]

This is true, the wild amaranth grows around pig pens, the soil is rich from waste.
Father called it pig weed & we never knew it was an ancient grain or that the leaf could be eaten like collards.

I wonder if this is one of the weeds my mother and her family ate during the 1930's?

 

[winds-of-change]

Hmmm....I was going to put it in a grow bag. If it gets out of control, can’t you just mow it down to keep it contained in a certain spot?

 

[Spikedriver]

Hmmm....I was going to put it in a grow bag. If it gets out of control, can’t you just now it down to keep it contained in a certain spot?

Mow it, or pull it. Either way, it grows fast and easy and it will make a lot of work for you.

 

[winds-of-change]

*whines*. I don’t want a lot of work.

 

[Bacpacker]

I know it as Amaranth, never heard the other names. I grew some one year and have seed for several varities. It was prolific, was a real pretty plant when the heads come on. The type I used (don't recall the name) grew over 8' tall, reminded me of sunflowers in that regard. I planted maybe 20' of row and it made a pure wall. We had chickens at the time and fed the whole plants to them. They loved it.
Down side, the seed spread easily and has come back to some degree since. But easy enough to contain if you keep it mowed.
The volume of seed produced would make it a good crop for protein and animal feed. It would be very easy to expand your seed supply for the future, or just let it reseed itself.

 

[Meerkat]

everytime I see this thread this song runs thry my head. I don't even like the song.

Fast forwarded to title lyric,

 

[winds-of-change]

I know it as Amaranth, never heard the other names. I grew some one year and have seed for several varities. It was prolific, was a real pretty plant when the heads come on. The type I used (don't recall the name) grew over 8' tall, reminded me of sunflowers in that regard. I planted maybe 20' of row and it made a pure wall. We had chickens at the time and fed the whole plants to them. They loved it.
Down side, the seed spread easily and has come back to some degree since. But easy enough to contain if you keep it mowed.
The volume of seed produced would make it a good crop for protein and animal feed. It would be very easy to expand your seed supply for the future, or just let it reseed itself.

Do you think wild birds would eat the seeds?

 

[joel]

Yes, wild birds will eat them.

 

[Bacpacker]

Do you think wild birds would eat the seeds?

Most assuredly