Vegetable Amaranth in Zone 5a & 5b
Amaranthus tricolor
When to plant vegetable amaranth in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. Vegetable Amaranth doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 24–May 31 |
| Estimated harvest | Jul 3–Jul 10 (~40 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-2 ft.
Vegetable amaranth is a warm-season leafy green grown for its tender leaves, sometimes streaked in red, pink, or yellow depending on the strain, harvested young rather than left to reach the height of the ornamental amaranths.
How vegetable amaranth fits zone 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Vegetable Amaranth needs about 40 days from sowing to first harvest.
Good companions
No standout companions recorded yet for Vegetable Amaranth.
Where to buy vegetable amaranth seeds
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing vegetable amaranth" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 5b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Vegetable Amaranth in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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