Temperatures of 20-30 degrees celsius. Single monsoon season lasting four months from June to September. Rainfall amount 700 mm/year. Basaltic soil (black cotton soil).
Packet of seeds Rs. 150/-. Plant a seed at a time an inch apart at one inch depth. Water once a day. Pack gave good harvest. First generation plant seeds just fell on the ground and produced new generations.
Plant all year round (avoid peak summer). Ten days from seed to germination. One month from seed to first harvest. Amaranthus is self-pollinating. 10 x 7 feet area gives 1 bunch of leaves every few days once. The plant grows well in all seasons except the peak monsoon. Market rate of one season's harvest is > Rs. 600/-
Jeevamrutha = 1 part cow dung + 1 part cow urine + 0.2 parts jaggery + 0.2 parts pulse flour and some soil. Cover, keep in shade, mix thrice a day. Incubate and use. Apply once a month.
The plants grow in hot weather as well providing fresh leaves and flowers. The deep purple-red flowers attract butterflies, bees and even birds.
It is a really economic source of proteins, essential amino acids, dietary fibre and minerals.
Since the plant grows all year round and grows further generations, we haven't tried to find ways to store the leaves or seeds.
Thotakoora pappu | Amaranthus dal
Take one cup tur dal in a presssure cooker and add 2 bunches of thotakoora + half roughly chopped onion + 2 green chillies + 2 inches of tamarind + chilli powder + salt + 2 cups of water and pressure cook for 10 minutes. Mash it all together. Temper with 1 tablespoon of clarified butter (ghee) + cummin seeds + mustard seeds + 2 cloves of chopped garlic + 2 dry red chillies + curry leaves + half chopped onion till transslucent and add to dal. Serve hot with rice.
Lal Math | Red Amaranthus
Add 2 tablespoons of oil to a pan. Add 8 dry red chillies broken in half + 1 onion cut in one-inch pieces + salt and fry till onion is translucent. Add 2 bunches of Lal Math and fry till it wilts. Serve hot with chapathis.