General
Quinoa greens are packed with vitamins and minerals, and have a nice, mild taste. The seeds can be ground into a flour that is gluten free.
Latin
Chenopodium quinoa
Difficulty
Easy.
Season & Zone
Quinoa wants a long, hot summer to get good colour and fat seeds. Grow in Zone 7 and up.
Spacing
Sow 5mm deep, 10 seeds per 30cm, in rows spaced 45-60cm apart. Thin to 15-45cm between plants. Aim for 500g per acre.
Planting Seeds
Direct sow quinoa in late April to the end of May on the Coast, while night temperatures are still cool. Under optimum conditions at least 70% of quinoa seeds should germinate. Usual seed life: 3 years.
Preparing Soil
Use a well-drained loamy soil with added organic matter.
Diseases & Pests
Watch for slug/snail damage to young seedlings. Keep the area free from debris where these pests like to nest.
Growing Tips
Keep weeded, but otherwise quinoa is drought tolerant and undemanding. It's a great plant for xeriscaping, and looks good at the back of a floral border.
Harvest
Harvest any time after seeds have changed from green to their calico colours, even after light frost.
