Quinoa: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How to sow quinoa successfully outdoors?
Choose Chenopodium quinoa seed suited to your region and the available growing season. Food grains do not guarantee good germination or an appropriate variety. Sow generally in spring when the soil is workable without being waterlogged. Match the date to local conditions and the supplier’s guidance so that seeds have time to mature before persistent autumn rain arrives.
Prepare a sunny, well drained bed with a fine surface free of weeds. Avoid a compact crust that would obstruct emergence. Sow directly in rows and lightly cover the small seeds at the depth recommended for the variety and soil. Do not assume that 2 to 3 cm suits every situation. Leave enough room between rows to access the crop and weed it comfortably.
Water gently to provide moisture for germination without saturating the ground. Mark the rows because young quinoa plants resemble some wild goosefoots. Thin after the first true leaves appear. A spacing of 20 to 30 cm between plants can be a garden starting point, adjusted to the variety’s vigour. Continue early weeding without disturbing the roots; young plants are particularly vulnerable to competition before their canopy develops.
How to care for this plant
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Thin seedlings
Once your quinoa seedlings have a few true leaves, thin only overcrowded rows. For grain, leave about 20–30 cm between plants if suitable for your variety; some growing systems need more. Follow the seed packet for spacing and do not thin a crop intended for baby leaves in the same way.
How to harvest quinoa
