Dory, it's really hard to tell from your picture, but what I'm seeing are wilting plants. Did you transplant these recently?

First, I would try giving them more water around the base of the plants. If that doesn't work in a couple of days, cut them back. If the roots are healthy then you should see new side growth before too long. Because they appear to be stressed right now, don't fertilize 'em.

I grow all sorts of Amaranthus' and they do fine with lots of water. I have a couple large beds with A's in them that barely get water and they do just as well as the ones that are watered continually.

Hope this helps at least a little.

Jenna

Hi Jenna,
First, thanks! As for your question- I transplanted them about 2 months ago when they were quite small and have been doing great. I get seedings every year from my original amaranthus which I planted 4 seasons ago. I get so many each year- some I leave in that bed, some I transplant and I give away loads! I have never had this phenomenon before.
In that same bed with those which are wilting I have very tall and healthy ones as well.
I had been watering them mostly around the base till 3 weeks ago when I planted some seeds as well as a new patch of grass nearby and that bed causght some of the sprinkling for that... It has been SOOOOO hot that I have been watering more than usual (keeping the ground moist for the seeds )+ the requirements for the new grass.
what is weird is that only 2-3 are wilting so after work I'm going to pull one up and see if it has been the victim of terrestrial turtle bugs which had, btw, gobbled the roots of some periwinkles in that same bed (I will also check for their giveaway holes in the ground) and the others I will prune back somewhat and see what happens. At this point I can also go back to watering around the base for the mostpart.

Tell me, do you pinch off the tops of young plants? I have never been able to grow them quite as bushy as that first year- they just grow as tall (meter +) spikey plants.I seem to remember that it broke from the topweight and just went on from there.
This is also weird because here, for years, amaranthus were the nightmare of the cottongrowers and considered a weed which was dif to get rid of!
will keep you posted and thanks again.
dory
ps. am attaching a pic of the great-grandma of all my amaranthus!

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:16861}}

I WSed some tricolor. One came up and then later snuffed it. My first try so I will have another go at it next year.

Mine were growing fine until the moles/voles tunneled the bed. now several plants have died because their roots were eaten or just too many tunnels creating air pockets. I'm still trying to get the animals, but the great colorful plants are gone.