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When to Plant Amaranth in New York County, NY

Amaranth is an ancient grain crop with edible leaves and seeds, rich in protein and micronutrients. It thrives in warm conditions and is drought-tolerant once established.

New York County, New York is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 29 and the first fall frost is November 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 228 days.

At an elevation of 601 feet, New York County receives approximately 44.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 94ยฐF, providing good warmth for Amaranth during the growing season.

New York County, NY (Zone 7b) Long season
228 days
Last Spring Frost March 29
228 growing days
First Fall Frost November 12

New York County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

4.9-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (74 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 4 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: Jul 8 – Aug 26
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (74 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 8 Transplant: Apr 12 🍅 Harvest: Jul 12 – Aug 30
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (83 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 19 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jul 23 – Sep 10

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in New York County

How your county's soil matches Amaranth's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (4.9โ€“6.4) is more acidic than Amaranth prefers (6.0โ€“7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in New York County is excellent for Amaranth โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Amaranth.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.3%). Annual compost additions will help Amaranth.

How to Plant Amaranth

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Amaranth

Amaranth needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Amaranth Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 4.3" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 4.3" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 4" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.3" 1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 3.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in New York County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Amaranth Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Amaranth needs ~2,152 GDD — county provides 4,674 GDD Excellent fit

Amaranth Planting Timeline โ€” New York County, NY

Amaranth Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 8 Feb 8 โ€“ Feb 22
Transplant Outdoors April 12 Apr 12 โ€“ Apr 26
Direct Sow April 5 Apr 5 โ€“ Apr 26
Harvest July 12 Jul 12 โ€“ Aug 30

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March โ€”
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
June โ€”
July Harvest
August Harvest
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

90โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: too_acidic

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

228 days in New York County

Growing Tips for Amaranth in New York County

Direct sow Amaranth outdoors after March 29 in New York County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Direct sow after last frost when soil is warm. Thin seedlings to 18 inches apart. Harvest leaves when young and tender; harvest seeds when flower heads begin to dry.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Amaranth in New York County, NY?

New York County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 29. Plan your Amaranth planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is New York County, NY?

New York County, New York is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 29 and first fall frost is November 12.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help New York County gardeners in Zone 7b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for New York County, NY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.