Jospeh's Coat Experience needed

Hello, everyone.

I just purchased a packet of "Joseph's Coat" seeds from Monticello, and need some planting/growing advice from anyone who has had experience with them.

I'm currently germinating the seeds in a pot on my South-facing kitchen windowsill, and more in a partially enclosed sun room at the back of the house. It's late November here in South-Central California (Zone 8b).

The questions:

Has anyone from my region had success growing Joseph's Coat?
Best advice for planting location?
Do they transplant well, or should I direct-seed in the Spring?

Thanks in advance for any/all help.

Blackwill, a bit of general info for you. Hopefully someone in your area will be able to offer more specifics.

http://flowergardens.suite101.com/article.cfm/plants_called_josephs_coat_for_summer_gardens

http://www.plantcare.com/encyclopedia/alternanthera-2106.aspx

wow! those are nothing like the Josephs Coat I was expecting.Ours resemble a large leaved purple/green with lilac flower type of 'ivy?' kk, I need to go find a proper name

The seeds I picked up were Amaranthus Tri-color. Unfortunately, though they germinated in the sun-room, they did not thrive. I have found another source for seeds, and will be trying a direct-sow in very early Spring. The foliage on this variety is striking, and will, if it grows, offer a unique showcase for my flower/perennial gardens.

Hi Kittriana, Perhaps the Joseph's coat you were thinking about is another name for coleus. I have heard the name applied to them and is probably a regional thing. Just which Magnolia do you hail from? MS or AR (perhaps there are more but that's the two I know of.

Joseph's Coat is a generic term for variegated cultivars of Amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor ). The Monticello version is probably an older unnamed variety. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/53232/ http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/872/ http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/58151/ http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/98345/. These are edible amaranths and altho usually grown for decorative purposes in north America are used in many places as a substitute for spinach. It is a summer plant and will grow in any fertile tilled soil. It is a big plant and grows similar to Lambsquarters and Pigweed. It can be direct sown after your last frost date, or started inside and transplanted after your last frost date. It is frost susceptible.

Chuckle, Magnolia, Texas, down south, north n west of Houston tho.

the broad leafed plant, n I believe this is 2 diff varieties of this plant, one stays green, one gets deep purple. tiny violet colored bloom. N yes, I KNOW it has a diff name, but it escapes me at the moment. this one is all jumbled in with Lycoris, Liriope, n that honeysuckle type variegated thingy.

That is Setcresia, wandering Jew....Tradescantia pallida

http://www.backyardgardener.com/plantname/pda_b151.html

I guess Dave's website doesn't like to have links pointing to another good gardening website. Do a search for backyardgardener in the forums and you will see how all the backyardgardener links are stripped in fear of visibility. http://www.backyardgardener.com/plantname/pda_b151.html

I don't seem to be having any problems linking to backyardgardner from here.. It takes me right over and I can see all the information... Hmmm.