Callaloo

SKU: MU569
Callaloo amaranth is grown all over the Caribbean to cultivate baby leaves for the dish known as Callaloo. There are many regional variations to this dish of cooked greens, some with spicy peppers added, some with meat or fish. Read More

Exposure Full-sun

Matures in 40-60 days

Season Warm season

Seed type OP ?

Average Seeds Per Gram 1216 ?

Callaloo has a rating of 4.8 stars based on 6 reviews.
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Callaloo

Product Details

Amaranthus tricolor.

Callaloo is grown all over the Caribbean to cultivate leaves for the dish known as Callaloo. There are many regional variations to this dish of cooked greens that may include spicy peppers, meat, or fish. Callaloo makes excellent microgreens but is more often harvested at about 30cm (12") tall, while the leaves are still tender. Left to grow to full maturity, the plants will develop elegant, dangling flower clusters just like our Green Tails. Plants thrive in the heat of summer, with a flavour similar to Swiss chard. The flowers and seeds are also edible.

Quick Facts:

    • Grow for cooked leaves
    • Edible leaves, flowers, and seeds
    • Open-pollinated 
    • Matures in 40-60 days

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All About Callaloo

Latin

Latin
Amaranthus sp. (Many species are edible).
Family: Amaranthaceae

Difficulty

Difficulty
Easy.

We Recommend

We Recommend: Burgundy Grain Amaranth (MU551). This variety has very tasty, nutritious immature leaves, but can also be grown to produce grain – and it is very productive in this respect.

Season

Season: Warm season. Amaranth is very much a summer crop.
Exposure: Full sun. Amaranth needs a nice hot summer for its entire growth period of 40-50 days.

Timing

Timing
Direct sow in late spring, once night time temperatures are steadily above 10°C (50°F). Optimal soil temperature for germination: 18-24°C (65-75°F).

Starting

Starting
Sow seeds 5mm (¼”) deep in well drained soil in full sun. Seeds should germinate in 4 to 10 days. Thin seedlings to 25-35cm (10-14″) apart in rows 50cm (20″) apart.

Days to Maturity

Days to Maturity
From direct sowing.

Growing

Growing
Ideal pH: 6.0-7.5. Keep moist until germinated, and then simply keep the area weeded.

Harvest

Harvest
Pick baby or mature greens as needed. Simply cut them with scissors as one would with mescluns. The leaves have an appealing, nutty flavour. If growing for seed, choose A. hypochondriacus and provide ample spacing. Seed will ripen in late summer or early fall. Watch for birds visiting the plants. Rub the flower heads between your hands over a bucket or tray. Doing this into paper yard waste bags works well. If the seeds do not fall easily, leave the plants for one more week and try again.

Seed Info

Seed Info
In optimum conditions at least 70% of seeds will germinate. Usual seed life: 3 years. Per 100′ row: 1.5M seeds, per acre: 392M seeds.

Diseases & Pests

Diseases & Pests
Watch for slug/snail damage to young plants. Amaranth is not prone to pest damage.

Companion Planting

Companion Planting
Plant with corn to shade the soil and retain water. Amaranth attracts beneficial predatory ground beetles.

More on Companion Planting.

How to Grow Amaranth

Step 1

Timing

Direct sow in late spring, once night time temperatures are steadily above 10°C (50°F). Optimal soil temperature for germination: 18-24°C (65-75°F).

Step 2

Starting

Sow 5mm (1⁄4”) deep in well drained soil in full sun. Thin to 25-35cm (10-14”) apart. Seeds germinate in 4-10 days, depending on conditions.

Step 3

Growing

Ideal pH: 6.0-7.5.

Keep moist until germinated, and then simply keep the area weeded.

Step 4

Germination

Days to maturity: From direct sowing.

In optimum conditions at least 70% of seeds will germinate. Per 100’ row: 1.5M seeds, per acre: 392M seeds.

Step 5

Harvest

Pick baby or mature greens as needed. Simply cut them with scissors as one would with mescluns. The leaves have an appealing, nutty flavour.

If growing for seed, choose A.hypochondriacus and provide ample spacing. Seed will ripen in late summer or early fall. Rub the flower heads between your hands over a bucket or tray. Doing this into paper yard waste bags works well. If the seeds do not fall easily, leave the plants for one more week and try again.

Tips

Pests/Beneficial Insects

Watch for birds visiting the plants and for slug/snail damage to young plants.

Amaranth attracts beneficial predatory ground beetles.

Companion Planting

Plant with corn to shade the soil and retain water.

Customer Reviews & Questions