Amaranthus caudatus ‘Opopeo’ (Love-lies-bleeding)

This extraordinary variety of Love-lies-bleeding startles visitors to the vegetable garden every summer. The tassels are held upright rather than hanging. One of the best for cutting: The deep purple-red flowers pick well as long as its leaves are pulled off before the flowers are put into a vase. It grows 160xcm tall by 80cm across in our garden.

When to sow: Late spring

Where to sow: Direct sow

Depth to sow: 5mm Aspect: Full sun or as sunny a spot as possible.

Soil: Prepared, well drained, fertilised soil. Add lime if soil is too acid.

Spacing: Between plants: 15cm-90cm Between rows: 90cm

Directions: If growing for cut flowers make a shallow drill and place three or four seed every 15cm apart thinning to one seedling after germination. For a long flowering garden subject plant a few seeds 50 to 90cm apart. After germination thin to one seedling.