Quinoa is very nutritious and relatively easy to grow in your own garden. When harvesting, however, it is important to ensure that the time is right. Learn when and how to harvest quinoa below.

When the quinoa grains are dry and brown, it's harvest time

When is quinoa harvested?

Quinoa is best grown in mid/late April. Depending on the variety, the Andean grain has a development period of 120 to 210 days. This means that the harvest time is between mid-August and mid-October, depending on sowing and variety.
Ideally, the grain dries on the plant. This can be seen from the fact that the grains no longer look fresh green but rather dry and brownish. In any case, you should harvest the Inca grain before the weather gets dingy wet, otherwise you may get moldy on it.

How is quinoa harvested?

When you've decided it's time to harvest your quinoa, here's what to do:

  • Cut the stalks below the ears with secateurs or a scythe.
  • Load the large ears of corn onto a wheelbarrow or similar for transport.
  • Hang the ears of corn upside down under a roof to dry.

Dry quinoa after harvest

Drying the quinoa is the be-all and end-all of the harvest. As already mentioned, it is best to wait until the grain has completely dried before harvesting, but even then some residual moisture will remain. Therefore, you should always hang quinoa out to dry for a few days after harvesting.

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Separate the quinoa grains from the plant

In Peru, the quinoa plants are traditionally literally beaten through: The dried plants are placed on a plastic sheet and threshed with wooden sticks until all the grains have fallen off the plant. You are welcome to try this, or you can roll the individual ears of corn between your hands over a bowl and loosen the grains a little less aggressively.

Soak before cooking

Quinoa contains many bitter substances that affect the otherwise nutty aroma. To reduce the bitter flavor, quinoa is soaked overnight. You should definitely pour off the soaking water, as this is where the bitter substances are concentrated. Soaking also reduces cooking time. If you want to get even more nutrients out of your quinoa, you can make quinoa sprouts. You can find out how to do this and delicious recipes here.

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Nutritional values of quinoa

Quinoa is considered a superfood. Why? Because it contains many valuable nutrients. 100g cooked quinoa contains, among other things:
  • Protein: 4.4g
  • Fiber: 2.8g
  • Calcium: 17mg
  • Iron: 1.49mg
  • Magnesium: 64mg
  • Phosphorus: 152mg
  • Potassium: 172mg
  • Sodium: 7mg
  • Zinc: 1.09mg

Category:

Vegetable garden