How is quinoa grown

So, even as you are improving your own health by eating delicious, nutritious quinoa, you can feel good that your purchase of this very special whole grain is doing good elsewhere, too. Experiments are now underway across the globe , however, in Africa, Asia, and Europe as well as other regions of North and South America.

Quinoa has an enormous genetic range, including cultivars that can thrive from sea level to meters about 13, feet in altitude. All photos this page courtesy of Andean Naturals. We also have a video all about processing our quinoa. From a crop on the farm to the finished grain that ends up on your plate. In Spring we plant the seeds that will establish our new quinoa crop.

We must plant the tiny seeds at a very accurate depth to ensure that they emerge successfully. The seed germinates very quickly but is initially slow to establish into a full crop until we get some warmer weather. We use mechanical weeding in the young crop to control weeds without the use of artificial herbicides.

This most often involves the use of a tractor hoe, which cultivates the space in between the quinoa rows helping to reduce the number of weeds present.

This is a tough job, requiring a steady hand and excellent concentration to avoid damaging the young quinoa seedlings. During the Summer each plant will begin to flower, after which the seeds will soon begin to develop. Once the leaves have fallen off and only the dried seed heads remain, the seeds are ready to be harvested.

Fortunately, quinoa is simple to harvest—the seeds can be stripped upwards towards the stalk which easily dislodges them. Once harvested, sift the fresh quinoa seeds using a grain sifter. Before storing, the quinoa seeds need to be thoroughly dried out. Spread the seeds out thinly on a tray and place it in the hot sun or near a heat source to dry. Dried quinoa can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry location for up to six months. Quinoa seeds can be sown directly into the garden after the last frost has passed.

In climates with warm winters, seeds can even be sown in late summer or early fall for a winter harvest. Soil temperature should be around 60 degrees Fahrenheit for seeds to sprout. Before planting, prepare the garden bed by gently turning the soil and adding a layer of fresh compost. Space rows of seeds 12 inches apart, and inches apart along each row. Plant seeds together to ensure that at least one survives in each spot. After the seeds are sowed, cover with a thin layer of soil and spray the top of the soil lightly to moisten.

Quinoa seeds take approximately days to germinate. Once seedlings sprout, thin out the rows to ensure there is only one plant every inches. Keep seeds and seedlings consistently moist until well-established.

Quinoa plants are usually ready for harvest days after planting. Fortunately, quinoa seeds are covered in a bitter substance called saponin which protects them from bird and pest damage. However, the leaves of quinoa plants are susceptible to infestations of aphids , flea beetles, leaf miners, and other common pests. Most viruses found in quinoa plants are transmitted by aphids or leafhoppers from other crops in the area, however, the seed production is usually unaffected. Generally, quinoa plants are hardy plants that are susceptible to few serious pests or diseases.

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