Amaranth, Hopi Red Dye (Amaranthus cruentus), packet of 100 seeds, organic

Family: Amaranth (Amaranthaceae) Annual.  40 days to edible greens Traditionally, the highly colored (edible) flower bracts are used to color cornbread and piki bread.  For dying wool, the “sun tea” cold process works well.  No mordant produces tan.  Adding alum as a mordant produces light purple.  Adding tin as a mordant produces brown.  The Hopi red dye plant produces showy, thickly flowered tops that contain the black seeds.  It may be noted here that the black-seeded amaranths such as this one tend to have the tastiest leaves (steam until tender).  The white-seeded amaranths (which this is not) are considered best for using as a grain (make gruel, 1 cup amaranth to 5 cups water).    If the gardener is after a grain amaranth, either “Golden Giant or Orange Amaranth are recommended.  As for growing the Hopi Red Dye Amaranth, direct seed in summer garden and keep warm until germination, which is fast and reliable.   Thin to 1 to 2 feet apart. 100 seeds/pkt Certified Organically Grown