How to grow amaranth greens (callaloo)
Family Amaranthaceae. Hardy to USDA hardiness zone 4a+ (U.S. Department of Agriculture). Full sun. Ready in 30-45 days.
Sun
Full sun
Spacing
8-12 in
Days to harvest
30-45 days
Hardiness
Zone 4a+
What growers actually recorded
Loading zone 7b results…
When to plant amaranth greens (callaloo)
- Direct sow: ~2 weeks after last frost.
Companion plants for amaranth greens (callaloo)
Plant with: Corn, Bean.
Common pests & problems
Flea beetle, aphid, rarely serious.
Feeding & fertilizer
N-P-K ratio: Balanced 5-5-5, boron matters for beets
Organic options: Compost + wood ash · Kelp meal for micronutrients · Fish emulsion every 3 wks
When to feed: Bed prep with compost + kelp, one side-dress mid-season.
Watch for: Black spot in beet roots = boron deficit; a pinch of borax per gallon foliar-sprayed fixes it.
N = nitrogen (leaves), P = phosphorus (roots and flowers), K = potassium (fruit and disease resistance). How to read a fertilizer label →
Grower's tip
Grows fast in real heat when lettuce won't; cut leaves regularly and the plant resprouts from the base.
When to plant amaranth greens (callaloo) in your zone
Free month-by-month sowing and transplanting lists, built from frost dates for your USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) hardiness zone.
Soil & water for amaranth greens (callaloo)
Soil & pH
6.5-7.5: beets/spinach hate acidic soil
Well-drained loam. Add lime if pH is below 6.5 or roots stall.
Compost + a tablespoon of borax dissolved in a gallon of water per 25 sq ft prevents beet black-spot (boron deficit).
Watering
1 in / week
Consistent moisture. Drought stress makes spinach bolt in a week.
Beets and chard tell the truth with their leaves: if lower leaves are soft and yellow while the top stays green, the soil is staying too wet, not too dry. If leaves are thin and cupped upward, water.
Knowing when to harvest
- Young leaves 3-5 in are the most tender; pinch tips regularly to encourage bushier regrowth.
- Harvest before the plant sets its dense seed head if grown for greens rather than grain.
- Repeated cutting keeps the plant producing tender new growth through the warm season.
Storing & keeping
Refrigerate unwashed in a perforated bag at 32-40°F for a few days; wilts faster than sturdier greens like chard. Blanch and freeze for longer storage.
What to expect
Per plant: 0.5-1 lb over a season of repeated cutting
Troubleshooting amaranth greens (callaloo)
Leaves turn tough and bitter
Likely cause: Plant is allowed to mature toward seed set
What to do: Harvest young leaves continuously and pinch flower spikes to delay maturity if grown for greens.
Flea beetle damage on young leaves
Likely cause: Flea beetles
What to do: Row cover on young transplants; established plants tolerate more damage.
Varieties worth growing
Red Callaloo
The classic Caribbean cooking type, tender and heat-loving.
Tampala (Chinese Spinach)
Fast-growing, mild-flavored green amaranth bred specifically for leaf harvest.
Growing amaranth greens (callaloo) in containers
10-12 in pot; thrives in heat and does well in containers positioned in full summer sun.
Nutrition
Iron, magnesium, folate (spinach); betalains (beet).
Common questions
Is this the same amaranth grown for grain?
It's the same genus and some varieties do double duty, but leaf-type cultivars are selected for tender foliage rather than heavy seed production.
Why does amaranth thrive when my lettuce bolts in summer heat?
Amaranth is a true heat-season crop that grows best above 80°F, the opposite temperature preference of cool-season lettuce and spinach.
Where these numbers come from
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023 revision). Zone assignment and the 30-year normals behind every cold-hardiness figure.
- NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 Climate Normals. Frost dates, growing-season length, and the probability bands on both.
- Cornell, UMN, and UC Davis Cooperative Extension crop guides. Spacing, days to maturity, soil pH targets, and per-plant yield ranges.
- USDA FSIS / FDA Produce Safety guidance. Wash, cure, and cold-storage handling numbers.
Ranges are regional guidance, not a promise for your yard. Your own logged results always override the published range.