Content
- 1 Description of tricolor amaranth Illumination
- 2 Advantages and disadvantages
- 3 Growing tricolor amaranth Illumination from seeds
- 4 Caring for tricolor amaranth Illumination
- 5 Disease and pest control
- 6 Amaranth tricolor Illumination in landscape design
- 7 Conclusion
- 8 Reviews of tricolor amaranth Illumination
A large number of plants are used to decorate gardens. Amaranth tricolor Illumination is a flower with an unusual color. It can be grown not only as an ornamental crop, but also as a vegetable crop.
Description of tricolor amaranth Illumination
Tricolor amaranth Illumination is an annual herbaceous plant from the Amaranthaceae family. Its homeland is Asia.
The three-color variety Illumination is a tall plant, growing up to 1 m, with a strong stem. It has a pyramidal shape. It has a large number of large leaves. They have an elongated shape. They have slightly wavy edges. The leaves have an interesting tricolor color. The lower part is green, the upper part is dominated by yellow and red colors.
The shades blend smoothly into each other, resulting in interesting and unique tricolor patterns on the leaves.
Flowers form on the upper part of the plant. They are colored in orange-yellow, red-yellow and green-burgundy shades. They look like small panicles hanging down. The plant blooms throughout the summer.
The three-color variety Illumination is not only an ornamental crop. It can be used for food as it is very healthy. Amaranth is considered a dietary product with a high protein content. It has great benefits for the body. Its use removes heavy toxins and helps strengthen the immune system.
The riot of colors in the upper part makes the crown of the stem look like a blazing flame
Flowering and ripening
Tricolor amaranth Illumination has a long flowering period. It begins to bloom in June. This process continues until the first frost appears. When pinching the tops, the plant will bear fruit more actively.
Taste qualities
Tricolor amaranth is actively added to food in Asian and European countries. For these purposes, the tricolor leaves of the plant are used. They are added to salads. The leaves can be fried and stewed. They pair well with other greens and a creamy or cheese sauce.
Tricolor amaranth quickly grows green mass. Therefore, the cut parts grow back in a short time. You should refrain from eating Illumination amaranth seeds.
Advantages and disadvantages
Tricolor amaranth is characterized by its adaptability to different weather conditions. Therefore, it can be grown almost throughout the entire territory of Russia.
The flowers of the plant can be dried and used as dried flowers.
Pros:
- unusual three-color color;
- quickly increases green mass;
- it is easy to care for;
- versatility of use;
- resistance to adverse weather conditions.
Minuses:
- Grows best in sunny areas;
- For greater decorative value, it is recommended to plant in fertile soil.
Growing tricolor amaranth Illumination from seeds
Planting and caring for tricolor amaranth Illumination is not difficult. For growing, you should choose well-lit areas, protected from sharp gusts of wind. The soil must be nutritious and fertile. Tricolor amaranth does well in sandy or slightly rocky soil. Wetlands and places where there is groundwater nearby are not suitable for planting.
The plant is heat-loving, so you should start planting seeds only after the likelihood of return frosts has passed. Spring cold snaps will lead to death. In this case, the air temperature should warm up to at least +10 OWITH.
The place to grow Illumination amaranth needs to start preparing in the fall. To do this, you should dig up the area and apply organic fertilizer. In spring you can start planting. This process consists of the following steps:
- Dig up and level the area intended for growing tricolor amaranths.
- To make planting easier, it is recommended to mix the seeds with ash or sand. The proportion should be 1:15.
- Plant the prepared seeds 1 cm deep into the soil.
- Pour an even layer of soil on top and thoroughly level the surface.
Seeds cannot be planted immediately in open ground. Growing seedlings is allowed.The best time for this is the end of winter or the beginning of spring. You need to prepare special containers with soil where you want to plant the seeds. After this, they should be covered with glass or film and put in a dark and warm place.
After 10-15 days, the first shoots should appear. After this planting, you need to place it in the light and periodically moisten the soil. After the formation of the first leaf, it is recommended to move the seedlings into individual containers so that they have more space.
Seedlings can be transferred to open ground in mid-to-late May.
Illumination amaranth seedlings should be planted in rows. It is recommended to leave a distance of 10-13 cm between them.
Caring for tricolor amaranth Illumination
Amaranth Illumination is not difficult to care for; even a novice gardener can cope with its cultivation. For seedlings to actively grow, they need clean soil. Therefore, at first it is necessary to carefully and regularly weed the plantings.
Tricolor amaranth responds well to watering. However, do not flood the bush too much, as this will lead to rotting of the roots. Amaranth is considered a drought-resistant plant. Therefore, nothing bad will happen if you don’t water it on time.
When creating good conditions, amaranth can add up to 7 cm in height per day
The variety is undemanding to fertilizers. It will be enough to feed the plant a couple of times during the season. Ash and manure are well suited for these purposes. They can be replaced with any mineral fertilizers. Feeding should be done in the evening hours, when there is no scorching sun. The day should be dry, but not too hot. It is important to do this when rain is not expected.
Disease and pest control
Amaranth tricolor Illumination has strong immunity.This makes it resistant to many diseases and pests that affect flower and vegetable crops. Improper care and bad weather conditions can weaken the plant's immunity. In this case, the likelihood of infection will be higher.
If amaranth grows in soil that is too wet, it may become susceptible to fungal infections. In case of disease, it is worth treating the plant with any fungicidal preparation. Copper sulfate, colloidal sulfur, copper oxychloride, etc. have a good effect.
Among the pests that most often attack are amaranth tricolor Illumination, aphids and weevils. In most cases, this is due to constant rain during the summer. At the same time, aphids only harm young plants. In case of insect damage, it is recommended to use fungicidal agents. They are effective in combating both aphids and weevils. The drugs Actellik and Fufanon have a good effect.
When working with chemicals, you must carefully read the instructions. Otherwise, you can easily harm the plant.
Amaranth tricolor Illumination in landscape design
Photos of amaranth Illumination in the garden indicate that this is a universal plant that is widely used in landscape design.
The variety is suitable for both single and group plantings
Due to its height, amaranth tricolor Illumination can be used to create a hedge. The inflorescences make beautiful bouquets. They can be created from both fresh and dried branches.
Conclusion
Amaranth tricolor Illumination is an unpretentious plant that can be grown almost throughout the country. It pleases with its variegated color throughout the summer and quickly gains green mass.
Reviews of tricolor amaranth Illumination
