How to grow Quinoa

Chenopodium quinoa

Once plants mature, they are more tolerant of dry conditions, but younger plants require more regular watering.

Harvesting Quinoa

Harvest any time after seeds have changed from green to their calico colors, even after light frost. Rain near harvest time will cause problems since mature seed will start to germinate.1

Seed Saving Quinoa

Store seed dry to prevent germination.1

How long does Quinoa take to grow?

These estimates for how long Quinoa takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Days to Germination How long does it take Quinoa to germinate?
4 days

Average 4 days | Min 2 days | Max 14 days (4)

Days to Transplant How long until I can plant out Quinoa?
+ days

Average days | Min days | Max days (0)

Days to Maturity How long until Quinoa is ready for harvest / bloom?
+ days

Average days | Min days | Max days (0)

Total Growing Days How long does it take to grow Quinoa?
= days

Quinoa Etymology

Quinoa is a Spanish spelling of a Quechua name for the plant.

Quinoa Folklore & Trivia

To the Incas Quinoa was sacred, they called it “chisaya mama” which means “mother of all grains”.1 The Inca emperor would traditionally sow the first seeds every year with “golden implements”.

Other names for Quinoa

Goosefoot grain, Pink quinoa, Red quinoa, Strawberry quinoa, Cherry quinoa, Inca wheat, Quinua

Misspellings: pigweed, Cherry vanilla quinoa, cherry vanilla

Footnotes

1 University of Wisconsin-Quinoa


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