A touch of color: how to grow red amaranth microgreens

Red amaranth earns its place in a growing rotation for the striking pink or reddish color that makes it a decorative garnish in its own right. We absolutely love red amaranth in our office because it adds a vibrant splash of color that contrasts beautifully with all the greens. It does require more attention than the lettuce or broccoli microgreens covered in previous articles, and it takes two to three weeks to reach harvest.

What you’ll need

• Red amaranth seeds – You can find them in specialty stores or order them online.
• Trays – Use shallow trays with good drainage.

• Growing medium – High quality potting soil. We use coconut coir mixed with compost.
• Spray bottle or fine mist watering can.
• Light – Red amaranth needs plenty of light, either direct sunlight or LED grow lights if you’re growing indoors.

Step by step: how to grow red amaranth

1. Prepare the tray – Always clean it thoroughly with water and soap.
2. Add the growing medium – Slightly moisten the soil before sowing.
3. Sow the seeds – Spread the seeds evenly. Unlike other varieties, red amaranth germinates best without being covered with soil.
4. Water gently – Use a spray bottle to avoid disturbing the seeds.
5. Cover the tray – For the first few days, you can cover it with another tray to create a blackout effect.
6. Light – Once the seeds have germinated, place the tray in a well lit spot.
7. Consistent watering – Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
8. Harvest – Ready in 2 to 3 weeks. Use scissors to cut just above the soil.

Red amaranth adds a pop of color to your dishes, which makes it well suited to salads, sandwiches, or use as a garnish.

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The science on red amaranth

Studies from our Science Library that concern red amaranth microgreens, in plain language with links to the original research. This list updates automatically as new studies are added.

Red amaranth in the kitchen

Recipes and kitchen ideas from our cookbook team that use red amaranth microgreens.

Growing a different crop next? Every variety has a guide like this one in the Varieties database.

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The science behind this crop

Our research archive holds 28 peer-reviewed studies on amaranth microgreens. They are free to read and download, and each one credits its original authors.

• Sprouts vs. Microgreens as Novel Functional Foods: Variation of Nutritional and Phytochemical Profiles and Their In Vitro Bioactive Properties — Molecules, 2020
• Genotype-Specific Modulatory Effects of Select Spectral Bandwidths on the Nutritive and Phytochemical Composition of Microgreens — Frontiers in Plant Science, 2019
• Continuous lighting can improve yield and reduce energy costs while increasing or maintaining nutritional contents of microgreens — Frontiers in Plant Science, 2022
• Effects of Different Light Spectra on Final Biomass Production and Nutritional Quality of Two Microgreens — Plants, 2021
• Yield performance, mineral profile, and nitrate content in a selection of seventeen microgreen species — Frontiers in Plant Science, 2023
• Light Spectrum Differentially Affects the Yield and Phytochemical Content of Microgreen Vegetables in a Plant Factory — Plants, 2021

Search the archive for every amaranth paper.