<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>337365</docID> <postdate>2025-02-15 04:00:18</postdate> <headline>The herb plant that’s putting on a show</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-336837" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/250213-Amaranth-resized-e1737586915472.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Amaranth caudatus… its vibrant colour and branched inflorescence is really putting on a show. Photo: Jackie Warburton</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">Gardening writer <strong>JACKIE WARBURTON</strong> is enjoying the colour from a new annual herb plant that she reckons is easy to grow.</span></p> <p><b>The fast-growing annual </b><b><i>Amaranth caudatus</i></b><b> is a new herb plant I'm trying this year.</b></p> <p><img class=" wp-image-239617" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Jackie-Warburton-3-e1631074070139.jpeg" alt="" width="253" height="349" /></p> <caption>Jackie Warburton.</caption> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It's coming into flower now and its vibrant colour and branched inflorescence is really putting on a show. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It's easy to grow, but must be direct sown in spring next year for a summer display. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Amaranthus can be ornamental or edible. If using them ornamentally in the garden, the colour deepens throughout summer. It makes a terrific cut flower. It's also popular in dried flower arrangements. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The most common variety is red but having looked at a few new seed catalogues, there are yellow flowering Amaranthus with wonderful names such as Hot Biscuit and common names as Love Lies Bleeding. Amaranth in the kitchen is a seed not a grain and, when cooked, it can have a porridge consistency. It can be eaten raw or cooked. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Amaranth likes to grow with corn and plants of the Solanaceae family such as potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The roots of amaranth plants are also a terrific soil breaker and a cover crop before root vegetables get planted and can be easily added to a crop-rotation program. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once the autumn frost arrives, the plants will die. To save seed, cut dried seedheads and place them in a paper bag or envelope and sow in late October, early November or when the soil has warmed to more than 25C. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Direct sow where they will enjoy a hot summer and water when they need it, The flowers will put on a show right through summer and autumn. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is the cousin of </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">A. caudatus</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and that is </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">A. retroflexus</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, commonly known as redroot amaranth. It is a weed in our region, so be sure to plant the correct plant each year. </span></p> <p><img class=" wp-image-336838" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/250213-Myoporum-resized-e1737586887686.jpg" alt="" width="749" height="499" /></p> <caption>Myoporum parvifolium… does a terrific job at covering the ground and flowering in the heat. Photo: Jackie Warburton</caption> <p><strong>LOTS of summer ground covers are flowering well now and some of the grevilleas, straw flowers and Myoporums in my garden are in full white bloom and look spectacular. </strong></p> <p><strong>They're popular plants that grow well in our region and survive our frosts. They grow fast and are great to fill a dry spot as well. <i>Myoporum parvifolium</i> is a fine leaf form and does a terrific job at covering the ground and flowering in the heat. </strong></p> <p><strong>Their flowers are either pink or white, star shaped and a magnet for bees. They need to be planted two metres apart and will cover a large area if required. Keep them watered and ensure the area is weed free and mulched to keep the roots moist. Once established, they will require little care. </strong></p> <p><strong>They are easy to propagate from stems about 10 centimetres long, stripped of leaves on the lower end of the stem and planted in seed-raising mix. </strong></p> <p><strong>Kept moist, they'll strike quite easily and if they get growing fast now, they can be ready for planting in autumn, before the cold weather sets in. </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">FEBRUARY is the hottest month, and very little planting should be added unless there is some extra TLC. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The whole garden will benefit from a foliar feed done in the cool of the day. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A seaweed solution can be used, but also steeped manure and weeds can be an alternative. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Deadheading of roses and summer flowers can be done and a trim of citrus trees, if needed. Remove dead, damaged or diseases branches and shorten branches where needed. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fertilise now and keep watering and they'll flower and fruit through winter. </span></p> <h3><span style="color: #800000;"><b>Jottings…</b></span></h3> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Keep picking beans to induce more flowering. </span></i></li> </ul> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cut excess foliage from pumpkin vines.</span></i></li> </ul> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Summer pruning of stone fruit. </span></i></li> </ul> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Propagate lemongrass and tarragon in pots for winter. </span></i></li> </ul> <p><a href="mailto:jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au</span></i></a></p> </body>