The pseudo-grain quinoa originally comes from South America, where it was used as a staple food by Native Americans more than five thousand years ago. Quinoa is delicious, healthy and very undemanding as a plant. Therefore, quinoa can easily be grown in your own garden. Find out how to grow quinoa here.
Quinoa also thrives in German gardens
Sow quinoa
The key data for sowing:
- Sowing time: mid/end of April
- Location: full sun, nutrient-poor, well-drained soil, weed-free
- Sowing depth: 2cm
- Planting distance: 15cm
Where can I get the seeds for my quinoa grow?
You can use unpuffed organic quinoa seeds for growing in the garden. Most of the time, the seeds germinate without any problems. Here you can find out how to germinate your seeds and thus ensure that they are good as seeds. "Real" quinoa seed is still rare at the moment, but you can find specialized varieties for cultivation in Germany in selected online shops. : There are "climate-adapted" varieties that survive rainy summers well.
When is the best time to sow?
Although quinoa is cold-resistant, it should only be sown when no more frosts are to be expected. Mid/end of April is ideal.
In which location does quinoa thrive best?
Quinoa originally comes from the Andes, where it thrives at an altitude of up to 4500 meters. The Andenkorn also tolerates the German climate well, especially in northern Germany. Quinoa thrives best in fine soil with a low nutrient content. It should not be planted after legumes that enrich the soil with nitrogen. Instead, the Andean grain is suitable as a subsequent crop for heavy consumers such as potatoes or corn. Quinoa should be in full sun if possible.
tips
Quinoa grows up to a meter and a half tall. Thus, the plants cast considerable shadows and take away the light from smaller plants. Keep that in mind when growing in your vegetable patch.
How to proceed with cultivation
Before sowing, the soil must be prepared:
- Loosen the soil thoroughly and remove weeds and larger stones.
- Do not add compost or fertilizer to the soil!
- Pull the sowing rows with a row spacing of 30 to 50 cm
- Sow the seeds 2cm deep in the ground and plant 15cm apart.
- Cover the seeds with soil and water them.
digression
Undemanding grain with a catch
While quinoa requires few nutrients and can cope wonderfully with drought and even cold, the Inca grain does not tolerate waterlogging very well. Heavy weed growth is also a problem for him. Therefore, the soil should be loose and permeable so that rain and irrigation water can drain off well and weeds should be removed regularly. While mulch ($249.00) prevents weed growth, it increases moisture in the soil, so mulching quinoa is not recommended.Caring for quinoa in the garden
Quinoa only needs a little water. Therefore, only water if it has not rained for several days. You should avoid fertilizer altogether. Your only job in caring for your quinoa plants is to pull weeds regularly. The harvest is also a little tricky. Learn more here.
Here you can find out more about quinoa cultivation in Germany:
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