I saw some striking red Opopeo (Amaranthus hybridus) this fall, at least that is my guess :-\, and would like to grow some next year though they can get very tall, maybe too tall. The internet said their seeds can be eaten or popped. Has anyone grown these? It is my guess that is what is in the very colorful Casaloma Flower Bed in Canada ( pix in my "Casaloma" gallery). I wasn't sure if this should have been posted in Non-edible forum or this one.
There was some growing on the allotment we took over quite some time ago. Had to research to find out what they were. "Popped"? tell me more. . . ??? . Cheers, Tony
Quote from: Kleftiwallah on October 26, 2011, 13:21:05
There was some growing on the allotment we took over quite some time ago. Had to research to find out what they were. "Popped"? tell me more. . . ??? . Cheers, Tony
All the article said was it can be popped- I guess like popcorn? Maybe the seeds are huge. Maybe the popping people are nuts or desperate? I tried a roasted veg recipe last night that said to include chickpeas with the potatoes and carrots while roasting- they turned out like hard crunchy not-tasty-marbles. Guess not everything written is worthwhile ::)
I grew some last year, and because they looked so beautiful (stunning red leaves) I just left them to their own devices. And when I finally got round to looking at them, the seed heads had pretty much gone, I think the wind and rain did for them. From memory the seeds didn't seem that big so i can't really help with the popping, sorry. But a beautiful ornamental .....
Amaranth seeds are small.
I grew some from the HSL and the plant can be eaten like spinach and the seeds ground to make a meal (flour)
I've only read this stuff though, I guess you can toast them like mustard or caraway seeds but not done it.
I bought some seed recently. I love baby amaranth leaves as a salad topping and when I saw how much they cost in Waitrose (the only place I can find them) I thought I might as well try growing them. I have absolutely no intention of letting them grow tall and get to the seed stage though!!
(Famous last words. ;))
I grew them a few years ago. They looked beautiful on the allotment and I collected the dried heads but found you have to treat them with alkali or something like that to remove saponins to make them edible so never bothered using them for food. I think wild birds seem to like them though!
(http://)
Quote from: George the Pigman on October 27, 2011, 21:30:52
I grew them a few years ago. They looked beautiful on the allotment and I collected the dried heads but found you have to treat them with alkali or something like that to remove saponins to make them edible so never bothered using them for food. I think wild birds seem to like them though!
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/nonrancher/Casalomabed1.jpg)
HERE'S THE PICTURE OF WHAT I THINK ARE AMARANTH- THE SPIKY RED IN THE RIGHT REAR. IS THAT CORRECT?
I grow amaranth from realseeds. http://www.realseeds.co.uk/grains.html It doesn't say the species name. I eat the seeds. In September, you can just take off the seeds and flowers from the stalks and eat the lot. By October, the flowers start to go tough, and you need to sift the seeds out. In September I also sterilised 30 glass pots in the pressure cooker for the hungry gap.
PS I've never intentionally popped the seeds, but a few weeks ago I put them on and forgot to add water and they did start to make popping sounds. I quickly added some water, so can't say what it would have been like to really pop them.
PPS. The saponins are on quinoa, not amaranth. Just soaking in water will do fine for quinoa.
Ohh, think I'll try that, Martinburo! One small corner of the yard that used to have tomatoes will be a "grainfield."
I like the sound of that ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Especially nice the seed doesn't have to be ground up. Plus you get all the bright color! Sounds like best of two gardening
worlds.
Thank you for all the info. This forum is super for creating new mischief. ;D
Quote from: 1066 on October 27, 2011, 14:17:22
I grew some last year, and because they looked so beautiful (stunning red leaves) I just left them to their own devices. And when I finally got round to looking at them, the seed heads had pretty much gone, I think the wind and rain did for them. From memory the seeds didn't seem that big so i can't really help with the popping, sorry. But a beautiful ornamental .....
Found on internet: "The peoples of the Himalayas pop the seeds that they then mix with honey in order to make delicious pastries called " laddoos " exactly as did the Mayas and Aztecs of old."
Carrying on this conversation with myself ;D, this plant is better than tomatoes and spinach in some regards:
"The leaves of Amaranthus are in fact an excellent source of carotene, iron, calcium, protein, vitamin C and other trace elements. By way of comparison there are for example in the leaves of grain Amaranthus, 3 times more vitamin C, 10 times more carotene, 15 times more iron and 40 times more calcium than in tomatoes. The leaves of Amaranthus contain 3 times more vitamin C, 3 times more calcium and 3 times more niacin than spinach leaves."
How about that?
I'll talk to you GrannieAnnie- though its more of a question!
I assume the big flowery ones in your photo are an ornamental variety. I seems to think that some varieties are grown more for ornament and have lots of long tassely flowers.
I've grown one from the Heritage Seed Library and it was called Tower Hamlets Amaranth. I think someone in the local multicultural area brought them with them from where they were born, so I suspect that they were amybe grown for the seed or leaves as are not a decorative as yours.
Must try and save some seed tomorrow ;)
Quote from: GrannieAnnie on October 28, 2011, 22:08:41
Found on internet: "The peoples of the Himalayas pop the seeds that they then mix with honey in order to make delicious pastries called " laddoos " exactly as did the Mayas and Aztecs of old."
Oooo, now you've got me interested again, I love Ladoos! And had no idea Amaranth seeds were involved
I'll see if I can find a photo, I know I have some somewhere.....
here we are...
[attachment=1]
Quote from: pumpkinlover on October 28, 2011, 22:40:50
I'll talk to you GrannieAnnie- though its more of a question!
I assume the big flowery ones in your photo are an ornamental variety. I seems to think that some varieties are grown more for ornament and have lots of long tassely flowers.
I've grown one from the Heritage Seed Library and it was called Tower Hamlets Amaranth. I think someone in the local multicultural area brought them with them from where they were born, so I suspect that they were amybe grown for the seed or leaves as are not a decorative as yours.
Must try and save some seed tomorrow ;)
Precisely what I've been trying to find out. One internet site said there are a couple edible types.
Love Lies Bleeding is ornamental but edible amongst others.
Red Garnet is "Intensely bright fuchsia-red plants are just much brighter than most Amaranths we think. Red Garnet can be used as a cooked green, allowed to flower for a dramatic display in the garden or grow it for grain! Some folks share the grain with the birds attracting beautiful buntings, goldfinches and other flying jewels. Red Garnet Amaranth will make a stunning addition to your edible flower or vegetable garden." so says the seed advertisement.
Quote from: GrannieAnnie on October 28, 2011, 23:51:56
Quote from: pumpkinlover on October 28, 2011, 22:40:50
I'll talk to you GrannieAnnie- though its more of a question!
I assume the big flowery ones in your photo are an ornamental variety. I seems to think that some varieties are grown more for ornament and have lots of long tassely flowers.
I've grown one from the Heritage Seed Library and it was called Tower Hamlets Amaranth. I think someone in the local multicultural area brought them with them from where they were born, so I suspect that they were amybe grown for the seed or leaves as are not a decorative as yours.
Must try and save some seed tomorrow ;)
Precisely what I've been trying to find out. One internet site said there are a couple edible types. Love Lies Bleeding is ornamental but edible amongst others.
Red Garnet is "Intensely bright fuchsia-red plants are just much brighter than most Amaranths we think. Red Garnet can be used as a cooked green, allowed to flower for a dramatic display in the garden or grow it for grain! Some folks share the grain with the birds attracting beautiful buntings, goldfinches and other flying jewels. Red Garnet Amaranth will make a stunning addition to your edible flower or vegetable garden." so says the seed advertisement.
Also just read that the white seeded varieties are more prolific producing seeds and taste better than black-seeded. Amaranth
'Golden Giant' (Amaranthus cruentus) being white-seeded and seems to be one of the tallest up to 8 feet but is a golden/tannish color.
1066, your plant picture is a real beauty. It must have added a lot of punch to the border. Did it make many seeds?
yes it did, but as I left it too long the wind and rain got to it.....
meant to add I still have some seeds if you would like some ?
Quote from: 1066 on October 29, 2011, 22:49:30
yes it did, but as I left it too long the wind and rain got to it.....
meant to add I still have some seeds if you would like some ?
Thank you for the offer but I've been investigating it locally.
ok, the offer is there if nothing comes good :)