Skip to content

Red amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) / Erra Thotakura

Red amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.; erra thotakura in Telugu, tampala/tandalja) is the most widely grown warm-season leafy vegetable in Indian tropics, with continuous growing in summer and rainy seasons.

Key characteristics

  • Scientific Name: Amaranthus tricolor L., Amaranthaceae
  • ICAR Variety: Kashi Suhaavani (VRAM-42), ICAR-IIVR Varanasi
  • Plant Height: 30-125 cm annual herb
  • Harvest Window: multiple cuttings over ~3 months pre-flowering

Cultivation and adoption

Plants are 30-125 cm tall annuals with leaf colours ranging from green through scarlet, maroon, purple to yellow-cream. Multiple cuttings are taken over ~3 months before flowering. ICAR-IIVR Varanasi has released Kashi Suhaavani (VRAM-42); ICAR-IIHR Bengaluru and TNAU maintain extensive amaranth germplasm.

See also: Leafy Vegetables, Gongura Roselle.

References

  1. Amaranthus - TNAU Agritech. https://agritech.tnau.ac.in/horticulture/horti_vegetables_amaranthus.html
  2. Amaranth - ICAR-IIHR varieties. https://iihr.res.in/varieties-crop-name/amaranth