[Deborah1]

I’ve heard that Amaranthus caudatus ‘Love lies Bleeding’ is edible. By chance I’ve grown it for the first time as a decorative and it’s got those lovely red tassels... Does anyone/has anyone eaten the grain? If you have how do you know if they’re ready? And is it worth the bother? Thanks for any info.

[Russell Atterbury]

I have eaten it quite often, and for the last two years have grown and harvested the plant, leaf and seed. For me the leaf, compared to what I am used to eating in India has not been good. But I harvested seed both last and this year, just to sprinkle on porridge, for the extra goodness. It does add some taste, but I have to say that it is a lot of work getting a couple of hundred grams. I did this years, just a few days ago, used a sheet and a windy day to blow most of the chaff away, like they do in India.

[Deborah1]

Excellent! So the tassels should be ready now? Will pick some of the best looking ones and give them a shake
Do you use it raw/fresh or dried or cooked?
Thanks for your reply.

[Russell Atterbury]

I think that the tassels should be ok for you now. A bit of my learning advice for you, would be to put what you crop in a cardboard box and airy dry place for a few days. You see them sort of shrink a bit, then i think it's easier to get the seed out, in fact it starts to really fall out, but that is only the start. I'd be interested how you get on, i find it quite therapeutic. I think you can treat the seed like most plant seed, like toast or bake etc, but from my 10 good big heads, i must of only got about 3, 4 hundred grams max. So i have been happy to sprinkle raw on porridge for a few months.

[Deborah1]

Thank you for your advice. I’ll message you to let you know how I get on.