Ruby Red Orach is a vibrant, fast-growing green that delivers both visual drama and culinary versatility in just 40 days. With its striking magenta foliage and mild, spinach-like flavor, this frost-tolerant cultivar of Atriplex hortensis thrives in full sun and reaches a compact 14 inches tall, making it as suited to containers as it is to garden beds. Whether you're sautéing its arrow-shaped leaves with garlic, tossing them raw into salads, or harvesting microgreens, this Amaranthaceae family member offers the rare combination of ornamental beauty and edible abundance.
Full Sun
Moderate
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14in H x ?in W
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Low
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The vibrant magenta leaves of Ruby Red Orach are as beautiful as they are useful. Mild-tasting and remarkably cold-tolerant, it germinates quickly in temperatures between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit and reaches harvest in just 40 days. Dense seeding produces an abundance of tender leaves perfect for continuous harvesting, and pinching back mature plants triggers even heavier production.
Ruby Red Orach shines as a fresh green in salads where its magenta color and mild flavor add visual interest without overwhelming other ingredients. Sautéed with butter and garlic, the leaves turn tender and rich, offering a spinach alternative for warm preparations. It works beautifully in soups and pasta dishes, where both the color and subtle flavor persist through cooking. The variety also performs exceptionally well as a microgreen crop, especially when densely sown for ornamental edible garnishes.
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Sow Ruby Red Orach directly in the garden in spring as soon as soil can be worked. The variety germinates in soil temperatures between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit and reaches harvest in 40 days. For a continuous supply, sow every two to three weeks throughout the growing season.
Begin harvesting Ruby Red Orach leaves at 40 days from sowing when they reach usable size. Pinch or cut individual leaves from the plant, starting with the outer leaves and working toward the center to encourage continued growth. For the most tender leaves, harvest frequently while plants are young. The variety can be cut back entirely for a second flush of growth, or leaves can be harvested continuously throughout the season.
Continuously pinch back the growing tips of mature Ruby Red Orach plants to encourage bushier growth and a heavier production of tender leaves. This simple technique prevents the plant from becoming leggy and extends the harvest window by promoting side branching.
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