Variety field guide
What to expect from Red Army
Red Army is an annual grain and dye amaranth selection grown for ornamental heads, edible leaves or grain where appropriate, dye types, and seed saving.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Unveil the striking beauty of Amaranth Seeds - Red Army in your garden. Known for its vibrant red foliage and flowers, it adds a dramatic splash of color that intensifies as the season progresses. Red Army amaranth offers a versatile harvest.
About Red Army
Red Army is an annual selection of grain and dye amaranth, with an upright/erect habit and an expected height or spread of 49–60 in. It is best suited to ornamental heads, edible leaves or grain where appropriate, dye types, and seed saving. Notable traits include red coloring; harvest flower heads when seed is mature and begins to release with rubbing; young leaves are mild; mature seed has a nutty grain character.
Red Army deserves a separate record because cultivar names can carry differences in harvest stage, plant form, flavor, or regional performance.
History and provenance
Amaranths were domesticated and diversified in more than one region for grain, leafy greens, ornament, and dye. Species and seed-lot identity matter: Amaranthus tricolor leafy types should not inherit Mesoamerican grain-amaranth history, and culturally named dye lines require provenance beyond the name alone. Plant History – Red Army Amaranth Red Army Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) carries within its scarlet plumes the ancient pulse of a lineage that predates nations, religions, and conquest. Long before it was given a modern name evoking vigor and endurance, this species was among the foundational grains of pre-Columbian civilization-cultivated by the Aztec, Maya, and Inca alike. It grew alongside maize and beans, a sacred triad symbolizing the harmony between nourishment, the soil, and the divine. In Aztec society, amaranth was regarded as both sustenance and spirit. Its seeds, rich in protein and vitality, were used to create sacred effigies of deities-particularly Huitzilopochtli, god of the sun and war. These effigies were later ceremonially broken and consumed by the people, a ritual signifying the unity between human life and cosmic power.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Amaranthus cruentus L. |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity | 70-79 Days |
| Germination | 5-10 Days at 70–85 °F |
| Seed depth | 1/4 in |
| Plant height / spread | 49–60 in |
| Growth habit | Upright/Erect |
| Spacing | 12 in between plants; 24 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Loamy; pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Support | No-Support |
Starting Red Army from seed
Sow 1/4 in deep and keep the seed zone evenly moist. Expect emergence in 5-10 Days when the seed-zone temperature is near 70–85 °F. Germination preparation: Use a fine, evenly moist seed-starting mix or prepared seedbed. Light requirement: Cover evenly to 1/4 in. Soaking: None required. Stratification: None required. Scarification: None required.
Planting and care
Plant during late Spring and provide full sun. Space plants 12 in apart with 24 in between rows. Use loamy with a pH near 6.0–6.5, and follow a moderate watering plan. Support requirement: No-Support. Frost response: Tender. Medium to large container or in-ground bed; avoid crowding
Harvest and use
Approximately 70-79 Days, from warm direct sowing to mature flower heads or dry seed. Weather, soil temperature, and planting method can shift the actual harvest date. Harvest: Harvest flower heads when seed is mature and begins to release with rubbing. Uses: Ornamental heads, edible leaves or grain where appropriate, dye types, and seed saving. Flavor: young leaves are mild; mature seed has a nutty grain character. Seed saving: Wind and insect-pollinated annual. Best uses include ornamental heads, edible leaves or grain where appropriate, dye types, and seed saving. Flavor and eating quality: young leaves are mild; mature seed has a nutty grain character.
Saving seed
Select several healthy, true-to-type Red Army plants that match the expected upright/erect habit and overall plant form. Avoid saving seed only from the earliest or largest individual unless that is your deliberate selection goal. Pollination system: Wind and insect-pollinated annual. Amaranth can cross within compatible species and populations. Separate compatible varieties that may flower together, or use cages, barriers, hand pollination, or another documented control appropriate to the crop. Allow selected plants to pass the eating stage and reach full botanical seed maturity. Harvest only when seed heads, pods, or fruits have matured enough for sound seed development. Clean the seed carefully, dry it thoroughly away from direct heat, label the lot with variety and year, and store it cool, dark, and dry. Test germination before an important planting or distribution season.
Common problems
Common concerns: Leaf miners, aphids, flea beetles, damping-off, Cercospora or other leaf spots, and root problems in waterlogged soil. Management: Rotate crop families, remove badly affected leaves, improve airflow, and keep the root zone moist but not saturated. Diagnosis note: Similar symptoms can have different causes. Compare plants of the same age, record weather and irrigation, and use local Extension or diagnostic support before applying a control.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions - Red Army
When is Red Army ready? Use 70-79 Days. Approximately 70-79 Days, from warm direct sowing to mature flower heads or dry seed. Weather, soil temperature, and planting method can shift the actual harvest date.
How long does germination take? Expect 5-10 Days at about 70–85 °F. Cooler, hotter, crusted, saturated, or dry seedbeds can slow emergence.
How large does it grow? Expect about 49–60 in with an upright/erect habit. Space plants 12 in apart and rows 24 in apart. Support: No-Support.
Can it grow in a container? Medium to large container or in-ground bed; avoid crowding Use a container with drainage and enough volume to maintain the listed spacing and steady moisture.
Can I save seed? Wind and insect-pollinated annual. Keep compatible varieties isolated and allow selected plants to reach full seed maturity.
