Amaranth exists on Earth for more than 6000 years. He was worshiped in ancient times by the Incas and Aztecs, using in ritual ceremonies. In Europe, imported in 1653 from Sweden. Amaranth - an unpretentious plant in the care, loves watering and sun. In the world flora there are more than 60 species of various varieties of amaranth. Amaranth as animal feed has been used for a long time both on an industrial scale and for feeding domestic animals. Everything is edible in it: from leaves to roots.
Choosing a variety of amaranth, specify its type: fodder, grain, food or decorative. The value of this plant is that its leaves contain 17% of beneficial protein.
Important! All types of amaranth are very depleted soil. Therefore, carefully plan the crop rotation on the site, because amaranth can be planted in one place only after four years.Amaranth is a light-loving plant that also needs timely irrigation. If you do not have time to collect the seeds, do not be upset: those that remained on the plants in the spring, will grow into a green oasis, and you just need to plant them. Food varieties are annual crops that are propagated by seeds.
Valentine amaranth variety
This is an early ripe food variety, but you can harvest the first crop of greens no sooner than in 1.5 - 2 months. It is valued in everyday life because of the wealth of useful substances. The plant has a height of 100-170 cm. The seeds of the Valentine amaranth variety have a light red rim around the edges. The leaves contain vitamins C, E, carotene. There is also a whole storehouse of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron. Perhaps that is why the Valentine amaranth variety is necessarily present in vegetable gardens — its stems and leaves are added to salads, soups, etc.
Valentina variety belongs to the earliest, he needs 45 days to give a ripe culture. Full maturity takes 110-120 days. Plants reach a height of 100-170 cm and have shoots on the sides, which are evenly distributed throughout the stem. The leaves resemble in appearance an ellipse, which has a red-purple color. Panicle straight, medium density. The yield is low, only 0.6 - 0.7 kg per square meter of seed.
Did you know? Edible varieties of amaranth - a real storehouse of nutrients and trace elements. Their foliage and stems contain just a colossal amount of protein - 18%.
Amaranth Aztec variety
Amaranth food grade, mid-season. Ripening period - 120 days. This variety is characterized by high yields of both grain and green mass. Stems are red, up to 150 cm high. Seeds are dark brown. Variety refers to mid-season. If this variety of amaranth is sown late, then you can increase the number of leaves on each plant, which makes it popular in animal husbandry. Aztec grain of amaranth is used in cooking for the preparation of amaranth oil.
Amaranth variety Giant
The giant belongs to the food varieties of amaranth. From shoots to maturity, 115-127 days pass. Distinctive features of this variety are juiciness and abundance of foliage. Its size is impressive: height is 165-190 cm. The stems are distinguished by a large number of juicy green leaves, which makes this species indispensable in agriculture. Amaranth varieties Giant well processed and used in the same way as silage. Amaranth variety Giant has a fairly high fat content in seeds -7.9%.
Variety Amaranth Helios
The variety of amaranth Helios has an orange panicle, the stem is 150-170 cm. Its leaves are light green with orange veins. The vegetation period is 105 days, i.e. he is early maturing. The grain is white. It has a high yield, 6-7 plants are located on a plot of one square meter, which makes it possible to obtain 1.5 tons of biomass per hectare and 15-30 centners of grain per hectare. Such indicators provide this variety popularity among plant growers.
Did you know? The amaranth variety was recorded in the variety registry of Ukraine (2010). Its creator is the National Botanical Garden named after. M. M. Grishka NAS of Ukraine.
Amaranth variety Kharkov-1
This variety of amaranth is considered to be universal and gives high yields. In addition to valuable grains, it is actively used and its greens for animal feed. This species ripens in 110 days. The Kharkov variety amaranth belongs to food varieties, grain and fodder, and is also considered to be curative. He needs 90 days to mature. The yield is up to 200 tons of green biomass and 50 centners of grain per hectare. This food ingredient amaranth has a high level of squalene - an important biopolymer. Widely used for medicinal purposes, and in cosmetology.
Amaranth variety White leaf
Amaranth white - undersized variety of food amaranth. Its height is only 20 cm. It can be grown all year round, even in a pot on the windowsill. Now you can treat your family with healthy herbs all year. The stems and leaves of edible amaranth are characterized by a pleasant taste and appearance. Due to the fact that the leaves and stems of the plant are light, the variety is called the White Leaf. The stem is juicy and tasty, so amaranth The white sheet refers to edible varieties of amaranth. These plants are cut at a height of only 18-20 cm.
Amaranth variety Voronezh
This is an early variety of grain amaranth. Ripens over 95-100 days, and therefore it belongs to the early maturing varieties. It is low - 80-120 cm and gives less green mass than other species.
Amaranth variety Kizlyarets
This is a universal variety. The period from germination to harvesting for feeding is 60-70 days, for seeds - 80-120 days. Not prone to the formation of bushes. The stems reach a height of 120-160 cm. A distinctive feature is the roughness on the surface of the stem. Inflorescences - yellow-green, and when ripe - red, not very dense. Leaves - pale green, ellipsoid. Characterized by weak bushiness. Noteworthy in this variety of amaranth is its yield on green mass - 77 c / ha. This is higher than the average yield for amaranths at 31 centners per hectare. And for grain - 20-30 centner ha.
Did you know? Variety amaranth Voronezh grows only for grain. The grain yield of 15-35 c / ha.
Variety amaranth Lera
This variety is fodder. It has a high yield - up to 22 centner ha. Seeds contain 7% oil, and protein 20.6%. Description of a grade: high - 170 - 220 cm, mid-season, food. The bush of this species has green leaves with red veins, crimson color of inflorescences. The vegetation period is 105 days. It is characterized by a high protein content - 20, 6%. Resistant to shattering. Actively used for silage harvesting. On the running meter in the same row, 5-6 plants. Oil and flour are obtained from the grain.
Amaranth Variety Fortress
This is an edible variety of amaranth. It ripens quickly: ripe leaves can be collected already in 40-80 days, the height of the plant is 110-150 cm. The inflorescence is brown-green, with red spots. The seeds are bright, yellow-brown shade. The leaves have a delicate bright green tint. Amaranth green has a high juiciness and excellent taste. It is used fresh for first courses, salads, subjected to heat treatment.
Prized for abundant foliage and red-brown beautiful panicles of inflorescences. It is difficult not to get lost in such a variety of amaranth varieties. What to grow on your site and which varieties to prefer - choose you. But do not doubt one thing: whatever sort of amaranth you choose, it will be a wonderful decoration of your manor.
Did you know? Fortified leaves contain 14-15% protein.
