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Can You Grow Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira) in Ontario?

Canada · Canadian Zone 5 · zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Grows well here

Amaranth thrives in your zone — a productive dual-purpose crop for greens and nutritious grain.

Plant zones

4a–11b

Ontario last frost

mid-April

Ontario first frost

mid-October

Days to harvest

50–75 days

When to plant Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira)s in Ontario

Start indoors

Mar 18

Transplant

Apr 15

Harvest

Jun 4 – Jun 29

Dates are approximate, based on Ontario's average frost dates. Your exact yard may vary by microclimate.

About Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira)

Amaranth (chaulai saag) is a fast-growing leafy vegetable and grain crop used across Indian, African, and Central American cuisines. The leaves are cooked like spinach; the seeds (rajgira) are a nutritious grain used in laddoos and rotis. Extremely productive and heat-tolerant.

Direct sow after last frost — grows rapidly in heat. Harvest outer leaves continuously for greens. For grain, let seed heads mature and turn brown, then thresh over a bucket. Leaf amaranth is ready in 6-8 weeks. Self-seeds prolifically — deadhead if you do not want volunteers.

Full amaranth (chaulai / rajgira) growing guide →

Gardening in Ontario

Ontario spans several climate zones. Northern Ontario is Zone 3-4 with short seasons; southern Ontario is Zone 5-7 with long productive seasons. The Niagara Peninsula is one of Canada's premier fruit-growing regions.