How to Grow Green Calaloo

Green Calaloo

Amaranthus viridis

vegetable

Green calaloo is a fast-growing leafy green vegetable popular in Caribbean and African cuisines, known for its tender, nutritious leaves and mild flavor. The plant produces bushy foliage with edible leaves that can be harvested continuously throughout the growing season. It's heat-loving, drought-tolerant, and highly productive in warm climates.

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum; tolerates partial shade in very hot climates

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Water: Moderate and consistent moisture; water deeply 2-3 times weekly. Drought-tolerant once established but yields best with regular watering. Avoid waterlogging.

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Spacing: 12 inches

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Days to maturity: 30-50 days to first harvest

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Planting depth: 0.25-0.5 inches; surface sow and lightly cover

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-7.0

Amendments:

Compost Well-rotted manure Aged leaf mold NPK balanced fertilizer (10-10-10)

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 9-12; grows as warm-season annual in cooler zones

9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b

Growth Stages

Germination

5-10 days

Tiny seedlings emerge with cotyledons (seed leaves) visible within 5-10 days

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Provide warmth (70-80°F optimal). Thin seedlings to prevent crowding.

Seedling & Early Growth

2-3 weeks

Plant develops 2-4 true leaves, becomes bushy with rapid stem elongation

Continue consistent moisture. Apply balanced fertilizer when 3-4 leaves appear. Provide full sun exposure. Thin to final spacing if direct seeded.

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Vigorous leaf production with increasing plant size and dense foliage canopy

Begin leaf harvesting when plant reaches 6-8 inches tall. Feed with nitrogen-rich fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Water consistently during dry spells.

Peak Production

4-8 weeks

Mature plant 12-24 inches tall with abundant tender leaves ready for continuous harvest

Pinch tips regularly to encourage bushier growth and delay bolting. Harvest outer leaves while center continues growing. Maintain moisture.

Late Season / Flowering

2-4 weeks

Plant may begin flowering (small greenish flowers) as days shorten or temperatures cool; leaves become tougher

Remove flowering stems to extend leaf production. Consider replanting for successive harvests. Harvest remaining tender leaves and end of season.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Okra Eggplant Corn Basil Tomato Squash Melon

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, kale) Fennel Black walnut

Common Pests

Use floating row covers on seedlings; spray neem oil; encourage beneficial insects; dust with diatomaceous earth
Hand-pick larvae; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt); use pheromone traps; maintain clean garden beds
Remove affected leaves; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage natural predators
Increase humidity with misting; spray water forcefully on undersides of leaves; apply neem oil; avoid overhead watering stress
Use yellow sticky traps; spray insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage parasitic wasps

Uses

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Caribbean Cooking & Stews

Culinary

Green calaloo is a staple in Caribbean cuisines, particularly in dishes like calaloo soup and stews, where the tender leaves provide a mild flavor and nutritious addition to soups, curries, and vegetable dishes. [source]

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Sautéed Greens & Salads

Culinary

Young, tender leaves can be eaten raw in salads or lightly sautéed with garlic and oil as a side dish, similar to spinach, offering a delicate taste when young. [source]

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Nutritional & Health Benefits

Medicinal

Green calaloo is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, along with minerals like iron, calcium, and manganese. Traditionally used in folk medicine for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. [source]

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African & South Asian Cuisines

Culinary

Known as 'amaranth greens' in some regions, it's used extensively in African and South Asian cooking, including Ethiopian, Nigerian, and Indian curries and side dishes. [source]

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Pollinator Support

Wildlife

When allowed to flower, green calaloo produces small flowers that attract bees and beneficial insects, supporting garden pollinator populations. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Begin harvesting when plant is 6-8 inches tall (about 30-40 days). Pinch off upper 3-4 inches of stems and tender leaves regularly to encourage bushiness and prevent early bolting. Harvest in the morning after dew dries for best flavor and texture. Continue harvesting outer leaves throughout the season while plant continues producing inner growth. Plants remain productive for 8-12 weeks with proper harvesting and feeding. Harvest before flowering for most tender leaves.

Fun Facts

🌱 Green calaloo is one of the fastest-growing leafy vegetables available, reaching harvestable size in just 30-40 days under warm conditions.
🌱 The plant is extremely heat and drought-tolerant, thriving where many traditional greens like lettuce and spinach would bolt or struggle in hot summers.
🌱 Calaloo is related to grain amaranth and comes from Africa and tropical regions; it has been cultivated for thousands of years and is known by over 100 different common names worldwide (including Chinese spinach, Indian spinach, and vegetable amaranth).

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