When to Plant Amaranth in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide

Sow August to March. Right now in October you can sow.

Planting window
A hardy summer spinach that loves the heat once frosts are over. Keep it well watered and mulched through the hottest weeks.
Days to harvest
40 days
Sunlight
Full sun (minimum 6-8 hours). Will tolerate light afternoon shade in extreme heat.
Water needs
Water deeply 2-3 times per week once established. Drought tolerant once mature but...
Spacing
25cm apart, 45cm between rows
Soil pH
6.0-7.5

Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Amaranth guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Amaranth

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Amaranth is a heat-loving leafy green and grain crop originating from Central America, now widely grown across tropical and subtropical Australia. Leaf amaranth varieties produce abundant, nutritious greens rich in iron, calcium and vitamins A and C. It thrives where lettuce and spinach bolt, making it the go-to summer green for warm climates.

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Planting Calendar for Arid / Semi-Arid

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
S/T/D S/T/D T/D - - - - S S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 23.9°C (optimal range: 18–35°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Alice Springs), not a live sensor.

What this month normally looks like

In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.

How to Grow Amaranth in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia

When to Plant

A hardy summer spinach that loves the heat once frosts are over. Keep it well watered and mulched through the hottest weeks.

Soil
Well-drained, fertile loam enriched with compost. Tolerates a wide range of soils including sandy and clay, provided drainage is adequate.
pH Range
6.0-7.5
Sunlight
Full sun (minimum 6-8 hours). Will tolerate light afternoon shade in extreme heat.
Spacing
25cm apart, 45cm between rows
Watering
Water deeply 2-3 times per week once established. Drought tolerant once mature but produces best leaf quality with consistent moisture. Avoid waterlogging. Drip irrigation preferred.

Companion plants: Corn, Tomato, Eggplant, Lettuce (amaranth provides shade), Marigold

Avoid planting near: Brassicas (nutrient competition), Fennel

Grow before, grow after

Amaranth belongs with the leafy greens, the leafy greens and brassicas turn of a four turn bed rotation.

Grow before it
Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
Grow after it
Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)

Give the bed 3 turns before leafy greens go back in. Leaf crops want the nitrogen the legumes left behind.

Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Amaranth

Recommended Varieties

  • Golden Giant
  • Red Leaf
  • Plainsman (grain, drought tolerant)

Key Challenges

  • Extreme heat above 40C can stress even amaranth
  • Water availability critical
  • Hot dry winds desiccate young plants

Pro Tips

  • Amaranth is one of the most heat-tolerant leafy greens and genuinely suited to arid conditions
  • Provide afternoon shade cloth (30%) during peak summer
  • Deep mulching essential to conserve soil moisture

Harvesting Amaranth

When ready: Leaf amaranth: harvest when leaves are 10-15cm long for baby greens, or let plants reach 30-40cm for full-size leaves. Grain amaranth: harvest when seed heads droop and seeds fall easily when rubbed.

How to harvest: Cut-and-come-again: cut leaves or tops 10cm above ground level and plants will reshoot. For grain: cut entire seed heads, dry in paper bags, thresh by rubbing between hands.

Common Amaranth Pests in Arid / Semi-Arid Zones

Aphids and Whiteflies, risk: MODERATE (score: 46/100)

Organic prevention (Aphids): Avoid excessive nitrogen fertiliser. Encourage beneficial insects with flowering companion plants. Check new seedlings before planting.

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Where to next

Also worth sowing in the arid and semi-arid zone this October: Lemongrass, Chilli Peppers, Basil and Capsicum (Bell Pepper).

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Common Questions About Amaranth

When do you plant amaranth in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does amaranth grow all year round in Alice Springs?

No. In the Arid / Semi-Arid zone the planting months are Jan to Mar, Aug to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.