Seeds - Amaranth, Jamaican Callaloo OG (F)
$4.99
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Description: Easy to grow and impressively self-sufficient, the growers at Fruition Seeds are constantly in awe of the deliciousness, abundance and utter resilience of Callaloo! A favourite green with onions and garlic. Callaloo thrives in containers and raised beds as well as garden soil, and is prolific even in drought and low-fertility conditions. A dish, as well as a plant, Callaloo the dish hails from West Africa while Callaloo, in the amaranth family, co-adapted with humans in both Africa and the Americas, dearly beloved in the Caribbean.
Specifically selected for delectable leafy greens, there is so much diversity in Callaloo (get several different strains, it’s glorious!) and the growers at Fruition are grateful to their friend Zena who shared seed from her Jamaican family for us all to savour. These leaves are deep emerald green, so smooth and so long, on upright plants that resist going to seed too quick. When they finally flower, their creamy seedheads burst dramatically from the foliage and we love to tuck them in bouquets as well as watch the birds delight in their branches. If you’re hoping for a consistent harvest of Jamaican Callaloo throughout the season, sow fresh successions every 4 to 6 weeks to surround yourself with lush, succulent greens.
Pack Size: 400 seeds
Latin Name: Amaranthus cruentus
Alternative Names:
Main Uses: Culinary & Ornamental
Days to Maturity: 30 days
Exposure: Full sun
Height: 4' - 5'
Flower Color: Burgundy
Flowering Time: Summer
Germination: 7 - 10 days at 21°C.
Sowing: Indoors 4 weeks before the local average last frost date, sowing 2 - 3 seeds per cell. For best results, apply Sea Magic™ kelp from the first watering. Apply a seedling-starter fertilizer such as Evolve Seedling once the second set of true leaves has appeared, and then alternate between the kelp and seedling starter until transplant. Not well-suited for direct seeding outdoors until the soil is warm, mid-June onwards.
Planting depth: Lightly cover.
Planting Out: Plant in well-drained fertile soil (garden or container) once seedlings are established and all; risk of frost has passed.
Notes: Tolerates poor soils.
Growing in Containers: Not well-suited to containers due to size.
Fertilizing (Garden): Plant in a garden bed amended with compost. No additional fertilizer is required.
Watering (Garden): Water deeply to establish. Water mature plants weekly during hot weather.
Garden Companions: Plant with sweet corn. The leaves of Love-Lies-Bleeding provide shade giving the corn a rich, moist root run. Host to predatory ground beetles. Young leaves are edible.
Special Requirements for Cold Climate Gardeners: May require staking.
Suitability for Indoors: Not suited for indoors, except as a baby green.
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