A selection of the best varieties of amaranth

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 a feed for animals 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.

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. Seeds of Valentine amaranth variety have a light red rim around the edges. The leaves contain vitamins C, E, carotene. Also here is 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.

Amaranth Aztec variety

Amaranth food grade, mid-season. The ripening period is 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 Grade 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 succulent 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%.

Amaranth variety Helios

The variety of amaranth Helios has a panicle of orange color, a stem of 150-170 cm. Its leaves are light green with orange veins. The growing season 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.

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 a windowsill. Now you can treat your family with healthy herbs all year round. 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, then 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 are yellow-green, and when ripe they are 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 c ha.

Amaranth variety 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. From grain get butter and flour.

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 varieties of amaranth.What to grow on your site and which varieties to prefer - choose you. But do not doubt one thing: no matter what sort of amaranth you choose, it will be a wonderful decoration of your manor.