Red Amaranth Seeds – Chinese Spinach / Red Calaloo (Amaranthus tricolor), 30–40 Days

A Vivid, Nutritious Green Prized Across Asia and the Caribbean

Red Amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) — known as Chinese Spinach, Red Calaloo, and Een Choy in Cantonese — is a heat-tolerant, fast-growing leafy green that brings deep purple-red color to the garden within its first 2–3 weeks of growth. Broad, tender leaves on 16" semi-upright plants are exceptionally nutritious — rich in protein, iron, calcium, and vitamins A and C — and delicious stir-fried, steamed, or added to soups. Open-pollinated heirloom. Ready in just 30–40 days. When plants go to seed, the seeds can be ground into a high-protein flour.

Highlights

• 100% open-pollinated heirloom — non-GMO
• Deep purple-red leaves appear within 2–3 weeks of growth
• Rich in protein, iron, calcium, vitamins A and C
• Matures in approx. 30–40 days (microgreens ready sooner)
• Heat and drought tolerant; warm season annual
• ~1,485 seeds/gram | ~41,600 seeds/oz

Asian Names

• China: een choy, yin choy, xian cai | India: lal sag, rajgira, chaulai sag
• Japan: Java horenso | Korea: chambirum | Vietnam: rau den do | Thailand: phak khom

In the Kitchen

Prepare exactly like spinach — stir-fry lightly with garlic and sesame oil, steam, or add to soups. Chinese cuisine prefers the red-leaf varieties in soups and as a cooked side vegetable. In India, Taiwan, and Japan the lighter varieties are more popular. Young leaves are beautiful and flavorful raw in salads. Amaranth seeds can be ground into a high-protein flour for baking.

Growing Guide

• Sow: Late spring/early summer after last frost in a warm, sunny location
• Soil: Fertile, well-drained; broadcast seeds and thin during growth
• Germination: 10–14 days (faster above 70°F); keep soil moist during germination
• Water: Keep moist to 1" depth throughout the season
• Fertilizer: Do not use nitrogen fertilizer — excess nitrogen causes nitrate accumulation in leaves
• Harvest: Leaves and stems when young for best flavor and nutrition