Quinoa

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?YDOOH 10 February 2013 Quinoa.Checking germination.
Some red quinoa was purchased from the bulk food store (Bolivia) and was checked for germination.A few grams of seed was placed on a water soaked folded kleenex and placed on a covered side plate, placed on top of a cupboard about 72F. Germination occurred in two days.This obviates the necessity to purchase expensive seed. I plan on setting about 50 plants at one foot intervals in two rows about one foot apart.The expectation being about one pound of threshed seed from four plants for around ten pounds of product.Plants and/or seeds will be placed in the outdoor garden about the end of May in my Zone 5.

 

[897tgigvib]

Do you know what variety your Quinoa is? Last year I grew Colorado Quinoa with great results. It is known as the most forgiving variety. There are about 6 other varieties also selected for normal growing conditions. Only Campesino and Cahuil are large seeded forgiving varieties. Strains of Faro are supposedly easy to grow to good seed also.

The equatorial coastal high altitude varieties have the largest seed of all and I understand are the touchiest to grow to seed. If that is what you are growing, I would like to be informed of their progress as they grow! I sure do hope you have success!

 

[Durgan]

There are a few different varieties of quinoa, but the most common type is white quinoa, which has a light, fluffy texture and a slightly nutty flavor. Red quinoa has a more pronounced nutty flavor, and black quinoa is a little more crunchy. There are other varieties, but they're pretty rare. White, red and black are the most common. Sometimes you'll see them sold as a blend, described as rainbow quinoa or tri-color quinoa.

There are only two types in the bulk food store. I got the red one. Before I found out it would germinate I ordered

1 Organic Red Quinoa (Imported) Organic 1.0 lb $6.00. I ordered this one. http://www.quinoa.com/

This has not been received yet.