Evergreen Callaloo

Family: Amaranthaceae Leafy Green

A lush, evergreen cascade of tender leaves unfurls with a softly succulent bite and a fresh, grassy sweetness.

Evergreen Callaloo forms upright, leafy clumps that hold their color beautifully, delivering an abundant harvest of finely textured foliage ideal for steamy sautés, quick stir-fries, and silky blends into vibrant sauces—also wonderful for pickling-style tang when you want a lively green accent.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 35 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Evergreen Callaloo

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	May 30th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	35
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	65
Min Night Temp (°F)	55
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Evergreen Callaloo’s fine, tender leaf gives you a creamy, silky texture when heated—more velvety than crisp. It likes bold acids and fats (lime, coconut, butter) so the grassy sweetness turns lively instead of dull.

Best Uses

hot quick stir-fries where the leaves wilt but don’t go mushy
steam-to-sauté greens with a splash of vinegar for a bright, callaloo-style gloss
blending into vivid green sauces or soups for a smooth, spoon-coating texture
pickling-style tang—kept as whole leaves for a snappy green accent

Flavor Profile

softly succulent, fine-bite greens fresh grassy sweetness mild mineral edge that turns silky when cooked

Kitchen Pairings

coconut milk lime ginger smoked fish chile heat butter or olive oil

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Amaranthus viridis (evergreen callaloo), and how can I control it?

Watch for leaf miners and aphids, which can cluster on tender tips and cause stippling or curled leaves. Rinse small infestations off with a strong jet of water, then spray insecticidal soap (especially underside of leaves) every 5–7 days until new growth is clean. To reduce disease like damping-off and leaf spotting, water at the soil line and avoid wetting foliage, and thin plants so air moves through the canopy.

How often should I water Amaranthus viridis during its main growing phase (first ~3–5 weeks)?

Keep the top 1–2 inches of soil consistently moist but not soggy, especially once seedlings are established and growing fast. In full sun, this typically means watering about 1–2 times per week with deeper soakings, adjusting to rainfall and heat—if leaves wilt during midday and the soil surface dries quickly, increase frequency. Avoid standing water because Amaranthus viridis is prone to root stress when soil stays overly wet.

How do I know when evergreen callaloo (Amaranthus viridis) is ready to harvest?

Start harvesting at about 30–35 days when plants are leafy and vigorous, and individual leaves are well-sized but still tender (avoid very old, tough foliage). Pick regularly by snipping outer leaves and tips, leaving the central growing point intact to keep producing. If you see the plant starting to form flowers, leaves will turn less tender—harvest sooner once you notice early bud formation.