I seen some seeds for this and wonder if they are easy to start from seed and grow, and do you get any seed or do the birds eat them before you can get to them? And then what if you do get the seeds. now what? I'm guessing they have to be cleaned somehow and then ground into a flour or can you use them whole, or? I'd love to hear anyone's experiences. I seen there are different colors and some can get very tall-8 ft or more. I read that the leaves are edible for salads and to steam.

Yes, it's easy to grow from seed. It even does well here in my clay soil. I have gotten seed from mine without a problem. It contains no gluten so, if ground and used as flour for baking yeast breads, it must be combined with another grain.

To cook amaranth seeds, boil 1 cup seeds in 2&1/2 cups of liquid - water or half water and half stock or apple juice until seeds are tender, about 18 to 20 minutes.

well I can't have wheat I am allergic to it and my son can't have gluten so thus the interest in amaranth. I miss gluten/wheat. No where have I found a chewy thick textured bread that is gluten free, not possible I guess.

so does the seed have a shell/hull on it? you just harvest it and boil it?

Correct, no hulls. Yes, harvest and cook.

What is amaranth? Is it a wheat replacement?

Here's some info, Glen... http://www.bobsredmill.com/org... ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A...

Thanks Tee. It has gone onto my list of eating,

Note that there are two types of Amaranth available. Amaranthus cruentus ( Mexican grain amaranth) is what is being discussed here. It is grown for the seedheads and was used by the natives before wheat was introduced into the Americas. More popular is vegetable amaranth Amaranthus tricolor ( Chinese spinach) which is used as a green. Widely available form vendors of Asian seeds.