AMARANTH-LOVE LIES BLEEDING

1. Choose a site that receives full sun for most of the day and has well-draining soil.
2. Prepare the soil to be fertile and loose to a depth of at least 12 inches. Add compost or aged manure to enrich the soil.
3. Sow the seeds directly into the soil after the last frost in your area. Plant the seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep and 1 to 2 inches apart. Cover the seeds with a light layer of soil.
4. Water regularly keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged. Amaranth loves well-drained soil, so be sure not to overwater.
5. Fertilize the plants with a balanced fertilizer every four to six weeks throughout the growing season.
6. Control weeds in the area around the plants. Keep weed-free by pulling or hoeing them regularly.
7. Thin the seedlings when they reach 2 to 3 inches tall, leaving 6 to 12 inches between plants.
8. Harvest Love Lies Bleeding flowers when they are fully mature and the seed heads have turned brown. Cut the flowers at the base of the stem.  Hang them upside down in a dry, well-ventilated area to dry.

Heritage of Amaranth

Love Lies Bleeding, also known as Amaranthus caudatus, is an ornamental plant that is native to the Americas, specifically to the Andes region of South America. The Incas and Aztecs cultivated Amaranth for thousands of years, using it for its medicinal and nutritional properties. Considered sacred by these cultures it was also used in religious ceremonies. Love Lies Bleeding was brought to Europe by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, and it became popular as an ornamental plant in European gardens during the 17th and 18th centuries. Its popularity spread to other parts of the world, and it is now grown as an ornamental plant in many countries. The plant is known for its striking, long-lasting, red-pink inflorescences, which hang down like tassels and can grow up to 60 cm (2 feet) in length.