Harvesting Amaranth As A Grain

Last week I harvested my amaranth, far too late really but the rain has really stopped me doing this any earlier.
I think if I had got the crop in earlier then it would have been ready a bit sooner and I would have beaten this wet autumn weather.
It was my first year growing this crop so a bit of an experiment. I'll try growing it again and hopefully have more luck next time. This variety is a mixed grain one so grown for the seed.
Let me know if you have any ideas on how to cook and use it!
Thanks for watching!
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[@sruiz310]

You can pop amaranth seeds like popcorn, in Mexico we make granola like bars of popped amaranth with honey or you’re presence of syrupy sweetener to bind them together. You can also add popped amaranth to any batter to add some extra fluff in your baked goods.

[@lucio.martinez]

Yeah? I'm Mexican born and in the US. I understand it's native to our land? I had never heard of this new superfood. Akin to the 'paisana' Chia. Seems to be a good candidate as a contributing solution for the world hunger to come. Saludos Guerrerenses desde Florida!

[@howdydoughty7634]

This sounds amazing!

[@wardrobelion]

Sounds delicious. Like sesame bars too…

[@user-hl6ls8sv4t]

Se llama Alegría

[@MechMan0124]

To maximize yield, we cut our whole flower heads and place them straight into pillow cases. Once full, we chip-clip them closed and hang to dry thoroughly for a few days (indoors if wet weather). It's important to avoid trying to extract seeds from wet flower heads; when the seeds moisture content is still high they are very soft and will smash easily on screens and between fingers, causing them to be lost in the winnowing process. Once crunchy dry, we reach into the pillowcases and strip flowers off the stems, then dump it all onto a screen and push through like at 2:00 in the video. Gently squeezing/rolling the sifted flower material by hand helps liberate more seeds from the individual flowers. Squeeze/roll, shake to stratify, puff air to blow the empty flowers off the top, and repeat a few times. It's all finally winnowed between two big bowls in a steady breeze, and we're left with nice clean amaranth grain. Also, you might try mulching your amaranth bed with a few inches of straw, and inoculating with Wine Cap mushroom spawn. They seem to feed each other and increase yield a lot, and the thrive in the shade under the plants. Wine Caps are very tasty and make for a great beneficial secondary crop for the plot. It's a cheap initial investment and the mycelium can be propagated from year to year by just adding more straw. Cool winnowing machine! Gonna build us one of those. :D

[@theseeker4700]

Thank you!

[@eswaribalan164]

Wow your comment is much appreciated..makes lots of sense.

[@John-lq7hs]

Great info thanks!

[@georgiegardner6794]

Amaranth leaves and seeds are super rich in protein, vitamins (especially Vitamin A), iron and dietary fiber. Amaranth seeds are especially nutritious; they contain high-quality protein that includes lysine, a critical amino acid that is not commonly found in vegetable protein, plus huge amounts of manganese, magnesium and phosphorus, along good amounts of Vitamin B-6, calcium and folate. Consumption of amaranth grain has been linked to improved cardiovascular health, reduction of cholesterol levels, immune system health and possible anti-tumor activity.

[@yardman111100]

l just throw the fresh heads into a fry pan or wok with whatever im cooking and it soaks up all the juices and is just delicious. Awesome plant.

[@serenesongs]

We have chikki made from it all the time. This is the first time I am seeing how it is harvested. thanks for the video. THis is used a lot in the fasting time in India that is on now called Navratri- 9 nights. I have got the flour of this for the first time and there are recipes galore to make all kinds of sweet and savoury dishes out of it. The seeds can be heated and popped and then they are ready to eat mixed with milk sugar or curd.

[@jabohabo3821]

Hot cereal and flour and popped to put in granola or emergency food bars. Expands in water just like rice and is a fantastic cold day poridge!

[@englishhomestead]

How do you pop yours? This is something I need to try!

[@victorybeginsinthegarden]

You can do micro greens with it

[@englishhomestead]

That's a great use of the crop.

[@canadianyoutuber9448]

sprout/microgreen them 10grams of seed into 165grams of food in 4 days

[@MrDanrn999]

Thank you

[@englishhomestead]

It's a great way to have multiple ways of getting food from the crop.

[@Alternativesmallholding]

That seed cleaner is awesome! I think you can use it as a kind of cous cous, or a thickener to stews etc. I’ve grown it as an ornamental, and want to grow it next year for grain, but I’ve never actually cooked it. The phone call did make me giggle! Jaz

[@englishhomestead]

Thanks! It's dead simple to make the seed cleaner, there are plans online and I just copied them. Having a full carpentry workshop helps though! When I have the seed cleaned up properly drop me your address and I'll pop some seed in the post for you!

[@doodlesanddigs7968]

Wow, did you build that seed cleaner? "Not gonna feed the world!" That's how I feel about mine too. haha!

[@englishhomestead]

Yeah the seed cleaner is dead easy to build - check out the real seeds website they have plans for free. Be great to build a thresher as well!

[@josephdupont]

Amaranth is a grain that naturally contains oxalic acid. While oxalic acid is not typically harmful when consumed in moderate amounts, if you're looking to reduce its levels in amaranth, you can try cooking it with a mild alkaline substance. One common alkaline substance used in cooking is baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). Here's a method you can use to cook amaranth with baking soda to potentially reduce oxalic acid levels: 1. Rinse the amaranth: Thoroughly rinse the amaranth grains under running water to remove any impurities. 2. Measure the amaranth and water: Determine the amount of amaranth you want to cook and measure an appropriate amount of water. The ratio is typically 1:2, meaning one part amaranth to two parts water. 3. Add baking soda: For every cup of amaranth, you can add a pinch or a quarter teaspoon of baking soda to the cooking water. This amount is generally sufficient to help neutralize some of the oxalic acid. 4. Cook the amaranth: Place the rinsed amaranth and the water with baking soda in a pot. Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook the amaranth until it's tender and the water is absorbed, following the package instructions or cooking times specific to your recipe. 5. Rinse and drain: Once the amaranth is cooked, you can choose to rinse it with water to remove any residual baking soda or oxalates. This step is optional, and it may affect the texture and flavor of the cooked grain. Please note that while cooking amaranth with baking soda may help reduce oxalic acid levels, it may also affect the taste and texture of the grain. It's always a good idea to experiment with small batches first and adjust the amount of baking soda to suit your taste preferences. Additionally, if you have specific health concerns or dietary restrictions, it's advisable to consult with a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian for personalized advice.

[@englishhomestead]

That's some great information thank you! I have more growing this year but the seeds are the dark type and not for eating the idea was that its grown for leaf then instead.

[@suzannebazeghi5698]

i liked the way you seporate them .thanks foer sharing yor gardening

[@foofoogirlz]

This is so informative. My Love Lies Bleeding is still green and has a ways to go before Im ready to harvest. I didnt think this plant could grow in Phoenix, AZ being its been in the triple digits for a couple month and its still going strong. Thank you for the great video :)

[@englishhomestead]

Thanks, I think it's such a beautiful plant in it's own right - the fact it has edible leaves and seeds are just a huge bonus!

[@lauradanner4073]

Thanks for the video, just discovered your sight. My first year of amaranth, too.

[@englishhomestead]

Ace, let me know how you get on with it!

[@carolynwilliams50]

My first time hearing of Amaranth!!! Sounds quite nutritious!!! 😃😃😃

[@englishhomestead]

The leaves are edible as well!

[@carolbenson6524]

So cool. I planted this for the first time just for the beauty and for something different..didn't know I could use the seeds...I think I'll try these seeds in baking cookies!!

[@SaphsContainerGarden]

The leaves are edible as well! 😄

[@raincoast9010]

I liked your seed cleaner.

[@englishhomestead]

It's great isn't it? I go the plans from an open source place - it's really easy to build as well. Here's the link to the plans www.realseeds.co.uk/seedcleaner.html

[@raincoast9010]

@@englishhomestead Thanks so much.

[@vsharmishtha16]

I love amaranth(rajgira) grain..

[@SouthernLatitudesFL]

Thank you for making this. I looked earlier this year on harvesting amaranth and found the information out there to be a bit lacking. I think I'm wait over-due now for harvesting but it was my 1st year of learning.

[@timmyjacobs0]

What a good video and you seem like a cool guy. Subbed for sure

[@julesmbc]

Hello, and great video! Thank you so much :) ... Did you make your seed cleaner? Do you have a video on how you made it, or where you got it if you didn't?

[@englishhomestead]

Hi, I made it from an open sourced design - you can find it here www.realseeds.co.uk/seedcleaner.html Hope this helps! It didn't take long to make.

[@justinemurray2577]

So interesting to see how it's grown and harvested. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@englishhomestead]

Thank you!

[@ilive4anime.]

Both are correct ways of calling it:D

[@samasonedderman]

😂😂🤦🏽‍♀️. Should have called Mum Before, you started! Brilliant video, been wondering what to do with mine....the best bit was at the end though!

[@englishhomestead]

You think I'd learn to always ask mum first!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Love your seed separator. Is it the one from "back garden seed saving" Kev?

[@englishhomestead]

I made it from some open sources plans from Real Seeds here's a link: www.realseeds.co.uk/seedcleaner.html

[@julesmbc]

@@englishhomestead Just came across your channel, and had left a comment asking about this! Thanks again :)

[@tjcihlar1]

great way to get some seeds at home, but more effort than most will be willing to do to finally get those seeds.

[@englishhomestead]

Yeah, i know it's effort, but compared to what people did in the past it's not so bad. I think it's good to learn these skills when times are good.

[@Urarto]

It would be easier to obtain the seeds if you dry the flower on a table inside for few days.

[@sophielaurenti8846]

I want to see what you end up cooking! 😁

[@kashaijohnson3778]

Sophie Laurenti I agree!

[@gailgarrison2585]

it turns out like polenta

[@somethingsgottagive8282]

Any videos on making your seed separator?

[@englishhomestead]

It's not my design I'm afraid. Check out this link www.realseeds.co.uk/seedcleaner.html

[@slobodankavladimirovic7159]

Mi u Srbiji nemamo ovog semena za setvu 🙏

[@monicaapril1006]

I’m new to your channel. I was interested in your seed/flower sorter. Did you make it yourself? Do you have a video on that??

[@englishhomestead]

You can get the plans from the real seed website, they have them on there for free. Dead easy to make.

[@doodlesanddigs7968]

Very helpful! I grew it for the first time this year here in TN, and I'm coming up on harvest time! --just a few plants in my backyard. Thanks for the tips for harvest! God bless!

[@dawn6954]

Curious if you grew it again? I'm fascinated by this plant. We purchased one last which went to seed and sprouted all over our front garden bed. After doing a bit of research I found it is amaranth. So I've got batches of these awesome plants growing throughout my garden beds. I cant believe my mistake turned out to be a blessing for once. 🤣

[@doodlesanddigs7968]

@@dawn6954 I only grow a few now as ornamentals. Although it was fun getting the seeds out, the process was also quite tedious. If I had some kind of machinery to make it easier, growing for edible grain would be more plausible. They are so pretty though! I love when they just show up on their own like in your garden too! They always remind me of waves in the ocean when they sway in the breeze. 😃😊 ❤️

[@dawn6954]

@@doodlesanddigs7968 did you try eating the leaves like spinach? Still wondering if it's worth it for this reason alone? Thanks for the quick reply. I'm in Georgia so thought you'd be the best one to ask since our zones are similar.

[@doodlesanddigs7968]

@@dawn6954 I did taste them, and they were okay. They got a decent amount of pest holes on the leaves, so I’m ambivalent about growing just for the leaves. 😊❤️

[@dawn6954]

@@doodlesanddigs7968 Great info. Thanks a bunch. Here's to a great year ahead! 🌸🌷🌻🌹 Happy Gardening!

[@philphilphil]

Yikes the harvest is so small. Planted my first seeds today. Let’s see. (I love them popped mixed with a thick smoothie base).

[@englishhomestead]

Yeah, not huge. Think maybe more plants would help but spacing seemed about right. Might try them a bit closer this year. I did leave it a bit late to harvest because of the weather so might have lost some that way.

[@qwatsdat]

Probably lost a lot in the rain.

[@dominic6055]

600grams isn' bad at all considering the little space being used in the garden,also keep in mind amaranth is highly nutricious and 600grams would make 4 rich servings... also u can maximize the amaranth cultivation by doing a 3-sisters crop by adding pole beans(or cucumber) for the amaranth stem and squashes/melons for the ground

[@JustinYawnUnplugged]

Do you have a video on how to build that seed cleaner?

[@englishhomestead]

No, but the plans are open source from the real seed catalogue

[@urbanharvestdfw]

Interesting 🤔

[@englishhomestead]

Thanks! It's fun trying different crops. I like that this one works on a small scale.

[@viperstrike0]

dont worry my dude, Amaranthus is also not its original name. Its name is huāuhtli. So call it what u want.

[@mariadiers7465]

The seed cleaner, where can plans to build one be found?

[@englishhomestead]

From the real seed companies website.

[@fergus247]

why not let them dry for a day or two in the house before getting harvesting the seeds

[@englishhomestead]

Time is always my enemy!

[@raymondjoebarwick8995]

Where did you get the plans for building a seed cleaner

[@englishhomestead]

From the Real Seeds Website - they have the plans on there to be shared and used by everyone.

[@SantiagoPerezartist]

THank you! DO you know the names of the three varieties you showed here?

[@englishhomestead]

No it was just a mix I got from real seeds in Wales

[@blaqfish]

How is this plant used? Can you eat it and if so what parts and how. Thank you

[@englishhomestead]

You can use the seed for adding to things or as a pseudo grain, and the young leaves can be used but should be cooked ideally, a bit like spinach.

[@dawn6954]

I gotta know... did you have seedlings pop up all over the yard where you collected the seed. 🤣

[@englishhomestead]

No, well no more than the usual amount of weeds I have everywhere!

[@PopleBackyardFarm]

New subscriber

[@englishhomestead]

Thank you!

[@CassandraJuliana123]

Do you wait to harvest until later to have bigger grains? Can you eat the flower? What does the flower taste like?

[@englishhomestead]

I've not tried the flowers. I have some growing this year maybe I should! The grains won't get any bigger.

[@JohnSmith-il4wi]

I'm not an only child, I have a sifter

[@conorcroskery6195]

What is that winnowing contraption?

[@englishhomestead]

It's seed cleaner, so winnowing but with a hoover really. The deigns were from the real seed website. Dead easy to build.

[@boatkid888]

I'm curious, do you get just the one harvest, or will it grow back?

[@georgiegardner6794]

Scott Hansen, it self seeds. Comes up every year. 🙂

[@englishhomestead]

You need to replant every year, but it will drop enough to become a little wild with the right conditions.

[@krisqueen5939]

Hello does amaranth taste like dirt? I cooked some this weekend and do not know if I got a bad batch or did something wrong in the cooking. Thanks from North Pole Alaska

[@englishhomestead]

No, it's has a slightly nutty taste. Was it some you grew yourself?

[@krisqueen5939]

@@englishhomestead thanks for the reply. Do you think I did something wrong or is it my seeds? I cooked it in water 1 part seed 2 parts water boiled 15 min.

[@englishhomestead]

@@krisqueen5939 I'm not sure, were they good seeds? Maybe they hadn't been dried properly or gone bad in storage? The black seeds are said to be a bit more bitter than some lighter ones, but I don't know if that's true or not.

[@DJ-uk5mm]

Wash seeds before cooking they are coated with saponins… (soap)

[@englishhomestead]

Same as quinoa! Keeps the birds off them though so at least we get a chance. I sometimes grow heritage grains and once tried with hulless oats and barley. The day before harvest every bird for miles around stripped them bare! Turned out the hulls have a good purpose!

[@DJ-uk5mm]

Oops. I might have mixed up my grains? Lol. Anyway have you tried heating them up like mini pop corn. That’s how I cook them then sprinkle them on salads or stir fries

[@englishhomestead]

@@DJ-uk5mm No I need to try that. I've got three sorts growing here this year but for leaves. Apparently there are chickpeas you can grow for popping as well.

[@alid3424]

I'm wondering why I should go to such effort to remove the flower 'chaff'. Aren't the flowers also edible and therefore simply increase the yield, nutrition content, and flavor?

[@englishhomestead]

Not so nice when they're dry. If you're going for all calories then might be worth it. But I think far better to have a grain to cook with. Try it though,I'd be interested in how you get on. I haven't grown anything year - I've gone for quinoa instead.

[@99thmonkeyresonance66]

May I ask what "type" of amaranth this was? Possibly where/what supplier you got it from? I want to grow my own amaranth- "FOR grains".. myself and am coming across a ton of diff conflicting "info". Think I'll just pop'em into the ground and give it a go- anyways!

[@englishhomestead]

This was from real seeds in Wales I think - they're grain mix.

[@99thmonkeyresonance66]

@@englishhomestead thank you very much for responding! I appreciate YOU! ❤

[@kattackett9087]

It's called 'Love Lies Bleeding'

[@ujelisunar6115]

Wow ,i am suprised coz its leaf we cook it for curry it very good for health. And you are making seeds . If you able to reply me ,i have aquestion ,how to use these seeds? Well , i am from nepal.🙏 namestey from mepal.

[@gedhuffadine5796]

Ujeli let me know how you use it grow for first time

[@gizzelleboccia1806]

How can I cook the leaves? I have about five or six plants now

[@englishhomestead]

Just like you would spinach or spring greens.

[@freakygeak]

I think and I could be wrong you say amaranthus amaranthis not sure of spelling as a multiple/plural and it's Amaranth for single plant ? but so long as your viewers know what your talking about that's what matters :) thanks for sharing

[@englishhomestead]

Yeah, I think I'm okay, it just confused me at the end so I had to ring mum!

[@_AnujaJadhav]

Are amaranthus cool or hot for the body ???

[@rosedolch8637]

You can make breads, muffins or cookies with the grain...and you can saute the leaves like other greens

[@englishhomestead]

No idea I'm Afraid.

[@MaaBrindhavanam]

Wow excellent my friend New friend here Please stay connect

[@englishhomestead]

Thank you 😊

[@trumplostlol3007]

How about harvesting amaranth as a vegetable? LOL

[@romygime5822]

Oh I see need a machine to clean the seeds

[@danielsterling4918]

No it's just a convenience thing like most tech

[@englishhomestead]

You can use a fan, or even just winnow it on a windy day.