CenterCenter forfor CropCrop DiversificationDiversification CropCrop ProfileProfile CCD-CP-138CCD-CP-139

GingerLeaf and Amaranth Turmeric Matt ErnstMatt1 and Ernst Kristi1 Durbin2 IntroductionIntroduction GingerAmaranth (Zingiber is a versatile officinale warm-season, Roscoe) broadleafand turmeric plant (thatCurcuma can be longa grown) both as ahave leafy a vegetable,long history ornamental, of use in Asian,grain or African forage and crop. Caribbean Until recently, cuisines. amaranth Fresh ginger in the is availableU.S. was grownyear-round almost in theexclusively U.S. and for Canada its grain, from which pro- duceis produced wholesalers on large,sourcing brightly from globalcolored suppliers, seed heads. and bothMost are grain widely amaranth available grown in intheir the dried,U.S. is ground Amaranthus form thathypochondriacus is produced from; however, their underground A. cruentus rhizomes.is grown to a lesser extent. Leaf amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) is Thea popular U.S. ginger vegetable crop in is ethnic mainly cuisines grown inof Hawaii.Asia, Africa Re- cently,and the some Caribbean. U.S. vegetable Cultivation and ofgreenhouse leaf amaranth growers has haveincreased added in ginger the U.S. and to turmeric supply ethnic as high-value markets, special as well- tyas cropsconsumers to meet open consumer to new demands or novel for leafy locally greens grown and ingredients.salad mixes. Producers This profile in the focusesnortheast onhave leaf success amaranth;- fullyinformation produced on ginger grain inamaranth high tunnels, is available and experience from the with ginger and turmeric production (through the 2018 Center for Crop Diversificationhere . Amaranthus tricolor ‘Elena’s Rojo” season) indicates both crops may be adaptable to high tunnelMarketing production in Kentucky. traditional consumers. Consumer interest in leaf amaranth has increased with BaBy ginger Marketingdemand for new or novel salad greens, especially as atProduction grocery stores. Considerations Turmeric producers should also pro- Kentuckyconsumers producers are more haveopen focusedto greens on that selling can directlybe pro- videCultivar use guidelines,selection as fresh turmeric is not commonly toduced consumers, earlier usingor later local than market traditional channels varieties. like farmers Mar- foundMany inleaf the amaranth marketplace. cultivars Common are available, uses include including using marketsket outlets and for community locally grown supported foods, agriculture. like community A few thered vegetativeleaf varieties tops for of baby both amaranth plants to and make salad teas, mixes. and producersfarmers markets also sell and these community specialty supported crops via agriculture wholesale both‘Garnet’ crops is area red used leaf in variety juicing. available Both rhizomes from numerous can also marketing(CSA), are forlikely restaurant to be more chefs. open Some for vegetable food retailers ama- beseed dehydrated, sources. Green pickled leaf or varieties candied. are typically cooked focusedranth. Restaurants on offering and organic local grocers,and local especially produce thosehave in ethnic cuisines, and green leaf amaranth cultivars reportedspecializing sourcing in ethnic ginger items, locally. may also be more likely Gingertend to andbe bittererturmeric in have taste received than red attention leaf amaranth. in the to look at new types of leafy greens and other salad healthSome selectionsand wellness may product also have market, a mix with of green turmeric and redat- Localvegetables. farmers market customers and CSA members tractingleaves, withmuch varying recent interest.eating qualities. The FDA Select regulates cultivars how will benefit from recipes and preparation suggestions productsbased on maysuitability be marketed for growing with zone;respect experiences to claims ofof forMarket fresh ginger.Outlook Shelf life and storage other producerspotential may also health be a benefits. good source Farm of informamarketers- considerationsBroader food shouldmarketing be conveyedtrends favor to musttion on understand lesser-known the potentialcultivars. ramifica- customers,more diversity as thein saladfresh greens, “baby” and ginger leaf tions of making health claims when sell- inamaranth its immature positions stage well produced within in thosehigh ingSite freshselection produce and plantingcrops, as associating tunnelstrends. will Leaf have amaranth different also requirements fits into theseAmaranth specific prefers crops fertile, with healthwell-drained benefits thanstrong the consumer mature ginger interest that in isethnic available cui- www.uky.edu/CCD violatessoils and food will marketingnot tolerate regulations. poorly drained sines, which continue to grow beyond www.uky.edu/CCD soils. Ideal soils include well-drained, 1Matt Ernst is an independent contractor with the Center for Crop Diversification. 21KristiMatt ErnstDurbin is isan a independentsenior horticulturist contractor in the with University the Center of Kforentucky Crop Diversification. Department of Horticulture. Cooperative Extension Service | Agriculture and Natural Resources | Family and Consumer Sciences | 4-H Youth Development | Community and Economic Development slightly acid sandy loams. Since can be used. it is initially a poor competi- tor with weeds due to its slow Weed management can be a growth, amaranth should not challenge since there are no be planted in fields with diffi- herbicides registered for ama- cult-to-manage noxious weeds. ranth. The first step in effec- Amaranth is characterized by a tive weed control is to avoid sparse root system and intoler- planting into fields with heavy ance to frost. Amaranth is re- weed populations, particularly lated to pigweeds, waterhemp, pigweed and lambsquarters. and Palmer amaranth, so herbi- Along with site selection, site cides that control those weeds preparation should be aimed at may injure amaranth. Amaranth making sure existing weeds are produced on a larger scale, for under control prior to planting. seed, works well in a rotation Adjusting the planting date may with corn and soybeans. Amaranthus tricolor ‘Aurelia’s Verde’ aid in weed management. Once amaranth reaches a height of 10 Due to the small seed size, amaranth can be difficult to 12 inches, plants will be able to out-compete later to establish in a uniform stand. Plant into a tilled, fine, emerging weeds. Cultivation and hand weeding are firm seed bed where there will be good seed-to-soil the primary methods for reducing weed problems dur- contact. Adequate moisture is essential for rapid ger- ing the growing season. mination, emergence, and early growth of the small, fragile seedlings. Crusting soil can result in reduced The lack of synthetic pesticides registered for ama- emergence. Once established, amaranth is drought- ranth coupled with the low disease and insect pressure tolerant. Follow seed company recommendations for could make amaranth a good candidate for organic seeding and spacing. Leaf amaranth variety trials con- production. ducted in 2016 at Washington State University seeded three grams of leaf amaranth seed per 10 feet, evenly Harvest and storage spread into six seeding holes. Amaranth for greens is traditionally harvested when it reaches a height of 6 inches or more. Early variet- Pest management ies can be harvested as soon as one month after plant- Few diseases are known to cause serious crop losses ing. Harvest methods vary: Plants may be cut about 3 in amaranth production. The most commonly reported inches above the ground to allow regrowth; or, the en- diseases include damping-off and seedling blights due tire plant may be pulled with roots. Cooling the leaves to Pythium, Aphanomyces and Rhizoctonia. White rust (45 to 55 degrees according to University of Maryland due to Cercospora and stem cankers due to Rhizocto- guidelines) before market delivery will improve qual- nia and Phoma have also been reported. Diseases are ity. managed through proper site selection and by follow- ing good cultural practices; there are no fungicides la- Labor requirements beled for use on amaranth. Labor needs are approximately four hours per acre. This may vary considerably according to the scale of Leaf amaranth is susceptible to foliage damage production and handling time incurred by the produc- from chewing insects like striped amaranth beetle, er. tarnished plant bug (Lygus), flea beetle, and amaranth weevil.When produced for grain (seeds), amaranth Economic Considerations can tolerate considerable insect leaf feeding without Initial investments will depend on the production affecting yields; however, blister beetles and alfalfa system used: bare ground, plasticulture or protected webworm have been known to cause economic losses culture, like high tunnels. Startup costs could then in Missouri. Although there are no synthetic insecti- include tillage equipment, bed shapers, plastic layers cides labeled for this crop, various organic compounds and installation of an irrigation system. Bed prepara- tion and purchase of seed and fertilizer are the major • “Variety Trials and Production Methods for preharvest expenses. Vegetable Amaranth in the Northeast” (University of Rhode Island, 2017) Because of the significant variations between possi- https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/cgi/viewcontent. ble market prices and production systems, a producer cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1& should estimate potential production costs based on article=2073&context=theses the individual situation. Production budget templates • Amaranth (New Entry Sustainable Farming for lettuce can be modified for leaf amaranth produc- Project, Tufts University) tion. https://nesfp.nutrition.tufts.edu/world-peas-food-hub/ world-peas-csa/produce-recipes/amaranth Selected Resources • Amaranth (University of Kentucky) https://afs. Suggested Citation: ca.uky.edu/poultry/using-amaranth-poultry-diets • Leaf Amaranth Variety Trial (Washington Ernst, M. (2020). Leaf Amaranth. CCD-CP-139. Lexington, KY: Center for Crop Diversification, University of Kentucky State University, 2016) http://agsyst.wsu.edu/ College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Available: LeafAmaranth.html http://www.uky.edu/ccd/sites/www.uky.edu.ccd/files/ • Amaranth (Page 10 in Ethnic and Specialty leafamaranth.pdf Vegetables, University of Maryland, 2008) https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/ files/_docs/EthnicVegHandbook2008.pdf

Reviewed by Tim Phillips, Associate Professor, UK Plant and Soil Sciences, and Josh Knight, UK Senior Extension Associate Photos courtesy of Carol Miles, Washington State University November 2020 For additional information, contact your local County Extension agent Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.