Freighter View Farms

There is something quietly captivating about the Globe Amaranth. It stands unassuming, yet it carries an allure that commands the attention of anyone who strolls past the garden. This flower is not just seen; it’s experienced. Its rounded blossoms, bursting with radiant pinks, purples, and creams, seem to hold the heat of summer itself, glowing softly as the sun begins to dip below the horizon. Each cluster of tiny, papery petals feels like velvet between your fingers—a sensation that invites you to linger, to feel the warmth of a summer day that refuses to fade away.

The Globe Amaranth, or Gomphrena, delights all the senses—its vibrant color draws the eye, while its gentle sway in the wind creates a rhythm, almost like the garden is breathing alongside you. In the warmth of a midsummer afternoon, the amaranth’s sturdy stems stand proudly, their blooms shining like a thousand tiny lanterns, flickering under the golden sunlight. The rich, earthy scent of the garden fills the air, mingling with the warmth radiating from the soil below. To stand among the Globe Amaranth is to feel the pulse of summer—slow, steady, full of vibrant life.

This flower embodies everything Freighter View Farms cherishes—the sense of lasting warmth, simplicity, and a steady beauty that grows stronger as the year progresses. Even when cut, the Globe Amaranth refuses to wither; its color remains, its spirit remains, ready to grace a bouquet, each bloom a small piece of summer bottled up for colder days. Growing Globe Amaranths is like capturing a piece of eternity—their bright shades never fade, whether standing tall in the garden or dried and arranged on a windowsill. Each bloom becomes a memory—a small sunburst preserved, holding tight to the light of warmer days.

May the Globe Amaranth always remind us of the joy found in enduring beauty. Long after the frost has settled and winter’s chill has claimed the garden, these flowers endure—a reminder of summer’s warmth held steadfast in its tiny, rounded blossoms, whispering a promise that spring will return once more.

How to Grow Globe Amaranth in Zone 6A

If you’re inspired to grow Globe Amaranth here at Freighter View Farms, or in your own garden, it’s wonderfully easy and rewarding. In Zone 6A, where the balance of warm summer days and cool autumn evenings creates a beautiful growing season, Globe Amaranths thrive with little effort and plenty of joy.

1. Starting Indoors: Globe Amaranth seeds thrive best when started indoors about 6-8 weeks before the last frost. In Zone 6A, that usually means sowing seeds in early to mid-March. Fill a seed tray with a rich, loose seed-starting mix, and lightly press the seeds into the soil. They need warmth to germinate—around 70-75°F—so keep them in a sunny window or under grow lights. As you water them, the scent of damp earth will fill your home, that first signal that spring is just around the corner. Within 10-14 days, the first delicate sprouts will emerge, tender and full of promise.
2. Transplanting Outdoors: Once the last frost has passed, typically in mid-May here in Zone 6A, it’s time to transplant the seedlings outdoors. Choose a sunny spot, as the Globe Amaranth craves the warmth of the sun and will bloom generously with abundant light. As you press each seedling into the soil, feel the earth cool beneath your hands—ground that has been waiting for its summer inhabitants. Space the plants about 10-12 inches apart, giving them room to stretch and sway.
3. Care Throughout the Season: Globe Amaranths are resilient by nature, forgiving even if neglected for a short while. They prefer regular watering but can handle drought once established. Picture the heat of summer, the sun high overhead—Globe Amaranths hold their blooms firmly, turning their faces up to the light, holding the garden’s color during those long, warm days.

The Joy of Seed Saving and the Endurance of Globe Amaranth

1. Harvesting Seeds: As summer fades and early autumn takes hold, it becomes time to harvest the seeds. Allow some of the flowers to stay on the plant, letting them dry fully in the sun. The bright colors will soften, transforming to a muted, earthy hue. Run your fingers along their dried stems and feel how the petals have crisped, now ready to release their seeds. Snip off the dried blooms and collect them into a labeled brown paper bag. Let them sit in a cool, dry spot in your garage or home—this drying phase allows the seeds to fully mature.
2. Processing the Seeds: Breaking apart each dried flower head is a tactile delight. As you separate the layers, you’ll feel the seeds at the base of each bract, hidden within a soft, fuzzy coating. Some gardeners prefer to leave this coating intact, but I prefer to remove it. Gently peeling back the fuzzy layer reveals the small, tan seed—a final gift from the summer bloom. Removing the coating can also help ensure longer-term storage, leaving the seeds clean and ready to sleep through winter until the warmth of spring awakens them again.
3. Winter Storage: Store your seeds in a cool, dark place over winter. Envelopes or airtight jars work perfectly. Label each with the variety, and date harvested, so you’ll have a record of these tiny pieces of summer. As the winter winds howl and snow covers the ground, these seeds hold the promise of blooms to come.

Saving seeds is not just practical; it is a connection to the very heartbeat of the garden. From germination in early spring to nurturing growth under the hot summer sun, to collecting seeds in the cool crispness of fall—it completes the circle of life for each plant. Here at Freighter View Farms, Globe Amaranths are more than flowers—they are memories stored in every rounded bloom, seeds saved with love, each one a small, tangible piece of a summer that will return. The act of saving them, pulling apart each bloom and feeling the seeds fall into your palm, is an act of hope—hope that next year, the garden will bloom just as brightly, that the warmth of summer will once again grace us, that beauty can always endure.