First Fall veggies almost ready

[hoodat]

To be set out in the garden. They just need a couple more true leaves and they're good to go. I have purple broccoli and cauliflower, cone shaped cabbage, Giant red leaf mustard and Simpson lettuce. I figure about two more weeks. My quinoa is also almost ready to set out. BTW I have plenty of quinoa seeds if anyone wants to try it. It's the Rocky Mountain variety which seems the most adaptable. It was bred for use in high altitudes but it did great for me last year only a few feet above sea level. PM me your address if you want some. I'll send it out till I run out.

 

[bobm]

Hoodat, I googled Rocky Mountain variety of quinoa , and yes they grow in the Rocky mountains. Since there are about 120 varieties, could you please describe the plant, cultivation practices as well as the grain type.

 

[hoodat]

The plants grow quite tall but don't spread very much so it doesn't need a lot of room. They are a very attractive plant so you could use it as a background plant for flower beds if you don't want to give it space in the veggie patch. Mine got to around 7 feet tall. The grain is mostly white with a few red kernels here and there. my ground is sandy loam and has a lot of organic matter in it but I'm told it grows well even in moderate drought and poor soil. I had no problems with pests or fungus and never had to spray it with anything. Last year was the first I'd ever grown so I only planted a small patch about 10 by 10 feet. The harvest was quite heavy for such a small patch but I'm sure I didn't get all the grain. I have to work out a better method of seperating the grain from the chaff.
The seed germinates best in cool ground so if you have freezing Winters you will have to start it in early Spring. If you have mild Winters Fall planting is best. It matures around mid Summer.

 

[NwMtGardener]

Oh cripes. I planted my seed out this fall, and i have freezing winters! I'm pretty sure that's what the package told me to do though, and its from Colorado, grown at higher elevations there, so hopefully it will work. I'm excited to see this plant, sound pretty!

 

[hoodat]

This is what it looks like when growing

And what it looks like when it reaches seed development

 

[journey11]

Wow, it's really pretty too. Does it reseed like crazy?