A colorful, decorative annual, red orach seeds at will. This beautiful crop is often planted in decorative or herb gardens. It is grown for its mild flavored leaves, which can be used in salads or cooked lightly. A few leaves of red orach torn up and tossed with lettuce, frisée, tatsoi, and baby spinach makes for a visually stunning salad.

Ideal Location- Red orach prefers an open site with full sun with fertile soil that does not dry out easily, and in an unheated greenhouse or hoop house for early and late crops. Red orach can be grown in containers placed in light shade. Apply a low-fertility soil improver or a medium-fertility soil improver to poor soil. The ideal pH is 6.5-7.5.

Seed to Harvest- 7-13 weeks

Cultivation- Successional sowing of suitable cultivars can give a crop over a long period. Sow as the previous crop batch is coming through. The minimum germination temperature is 45F(7C) and the seeds will not germinate in temperatures over 86F(30C). When sowing undercover in spring and early autumn use cloches or sow in an unheated greenhouse or hoop house. In late spring and summer sow thinly in rows directly in the soil in late spring, early summer, and then again in early autumn.

Spacing- Rows: 12x15in (30x39cm) with 8 in. (20cm) between plants

Plant Care- Water in dry weather.


Problems- Powdery Mildew, but overall red orach is problem free since it grows so quickly

Harvesting- As soon as the red orach plants are over 2in (5cm) tall start picking individual leaves. Pull whole plants when they reach 6-8in (15-20cm) tall or cut 1in (2.5cm) above ground, they may re-sprout. Red orach rapidly turns to seed.. You can use it fresh or lightly cooked. As an ornamental this plant can grow to 3 to 5ft (1-1.5m) tall.

Nutrients- Red orach is a source for Vitamin A, B1,B2,B3, B6, C, K, Manganese, Folate, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Copper, Zinc, selenium, tryptophan, dietary fiber, protein, and omega 3 fatty acids.