Instructions on how to grow quinoa at home or in the garden. Plant yield, care, exposure and availability of quinoa seeds.
Is it possible to grow quinoa in Italy ? What are the parameters to respect to start a successful cultivation ? Today we will try to give you a detailed overview on the cultivation of quinoa in Italy .
Let’s say right away, for those who want to grow quinoa at home , that this is possible but difficult: quinoa does not adapt well to growing in pots. Extreme attempts to grow quinoa at home can be made, but only if you have the possibility of using large flowerpots. Exposure is very important, you can grow quinoa at home only if the balcony or terrace is exposed to the south and only in the absence of strong winds. Between growing quinoa in a pot or in the open field, it is always better to choose the second option.
Quinoa: cultivation and origins
Before starting a quinoa cultivation in Italy, you need to know the origins of this plant to better understand its needs in terms of soil, temperature and exposure. Quinoa is native to Peruvian and Bolivian lands, from which it can be deduced that the majority of quinoa varieties are:
- drought resistant.
- Adaptable to saline soils.
- Sensitive to color waves (high temperatures).
Quinoa belongs to the Amarantaceae family and is cultivated mainly for its seeds, considered as “ pseudocereals ”. The properties of quinoa highlight:
- a good protein intake, contains high levels of 10 essential amino acids
- a good supply of micronutrients, boasts high concentrations of Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Copper and Zinc
- rich in antioxidant substances such as beta-carotene, niacin, riboflavin, Vitamin A, B2 and E
- high levels of essential fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid.
How do you use quinoa ?
Quinoa flour is very useful for preparing cakes, pies and baked goods. The seeds are excellent for preparing salads, broths or soups. In vegetable minestrone, quinoa seeds can be used as a substitute for pasta. Quinoa is grown mainly for its seeds but the fresh leaves of quinoa are also edible.
Growing Quinoa in Italy : Things to Know About the Plant
- Germination time: 4 or 5 days
- Waiting time before harvest: 90 – 120 days
- Exposure: requires a lot of light, in full sun
- Water requirements: Water should be supplied when the soil is too dry
- Soil type: fertile and well-drained soil
Growing quinoa at home, in a pot
If you decide to grow quinoa in a pot , arm yourself with large rectangular pots and a possible support.
NB: growing quinoa in a pot is only for recreational purposes and not for food: a couple of plants will not yield many seeds.
Quinoa: cultivation and origins
Before starting a quinoa cultivation in Italy, you need to know the origins of this plant to better understand its needs in terms of soil, temperature and exposure. Quinoa is native to Peruvian and Bolivian lands, from which it can be deduced that the majority of quinoa varieties are:
- drought resistant.
- Adaptable to saline soils.
- Sensitive to color waves (high temperatures).
Quinoa belongs to the Amarantaceae family and is cultivated mainly for its seeds, considered as “ pseudocereals ”. The properties of quinoa highlight:
- a good protein intake, contains high levels of 10 essential amino acids
- a good supply of micronutrients, boasts high concentrations of Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Copper and Zinc
- rich in antioxidant substances such as beta-carotene, niacin, riboflavin, Vitamin A, B2 and E
- high levels of essential fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid.
How do you use quinoa ?
Quinoa flour is very useful for preparing cakes, pies and baked goods. The seeds are excellent for preparing salads, broths or soups. In vegetable minestrone, quinoa seeds can be used as a substitute for pasta. Quinoa is grown mainly for its seeds but the fresh leaves of quinoa are also edible.
Growing Quinoa in Italy : Things to Know About the Plant
- Germination time: 4 or 5 days
- Waiting time before harvest: 90 – 120 days
- Exposure: requires a lot of light, in full sun
- Water requirements: Water should be supplied when the soil is too dry
- Soil type: fertile and well-drained soil
Growing Quinoa in a Pot, at Home
If you decide to grow quinoa in a pot , arm yourself with large rectangular pots and a possible support. NB: growing quinoa in a pot is only for recreational purposes, not for food: you won’t get many seeds from a couple of plants. To grow quinoa at home, the same care as for growing it in the open field applies. You just need to be careful to fertilize the soil more often and aerate the growing environment .
What you need to grow quinoa in your garden
- Temperate climate
- Fertile, well-drained soil
- Quinoa seeds to grow
- Natural remedies against aphids , quinoa leaves are very sensitive to aphid attacks.
Where to find quinoa seeds to grow ? In reality, even the ones you buy to prepare your dishes are fine, as long as they are organic and purchased from a trusted retailer, treated seeds will not germinate. Unfortunately, even organic quinoa seeds often undergo treatments to delay or prevent germination. If you don’t know where to buy quinoa seeds , there is a dedicated paragraph at the end of the page.
Quinoa: sowing
- Sprouting quinoa seeds
- To germinate the seeds, fill a plate (a saucer, a lid or any container with holes at the base to allow air to pass through) with soft soil, place the quinoa seeds and cover them with another thin layer of soil. Water the soil regularly.
- Wait 4-5 days.
- Once the seedlings have reached 3 cm in height, proceed with planting.
- Wait 90 – 120 days and proceed with the harvest.
The ideal time to germinate quinoa seeds is March. The harvest can be done in July. To protect the small quinoa plants in growth, the first planting can be done in a greenhouse.
NB: when removing weeds, quinoa could be confused with an unwelcome guest known as cornstarch (Chenopodium album), proceed with caution.
How to pronounce “quinoa”
Did you know that the word quinoa is pronounced quinowa ?! The properties of quinoa have attracted the attention of organizations and nutritionists: the FAO and Slow Food have launched several campaigns, the International Year of Quinoa has been launched , and even the Italian Ministry of Agriculture has shown its interest with conferences, plans, and initiatives.
In the photo above, the quinoa seeds. In the photo below, how the quinoa plants look at harvest time”
NB: growing quinoa in pots is only for recreational purposes, not for food: you won’t get many seeds from a couple of plants. To grow quinoa at home, the same care is applied as for growing it in the open field. You just need to be careful to fertilize the soil more often and aerate the growing environment .
What you need to grow quinoa in your garden
- Containers (perforated saucers are also fine) for germination
- Fertile, well-drained soil
- Quinoa seeds
- Natural remedies against aphids, quinoa leaves are very sensitive to aphid attacks.
Where to find quinoa seeds to grow ? In reality, even the ones you buy to prepare your dishes are fine, as long as they are organic and purchased from a trusted retailer, treated seeds will not germinate. Unfortunately, even organic quinoa seeds often undergo treatments to delay or prevent germination. If you don’t know where to buy quinoa seeds , there is a dedicated paragraph at the end of the page.
Note: Before sowing quinoa, work the garden soil well and fertilize with plenty of ammonium sulphate .
Sowing to grow quinoa at home
- Sprouting quinoa seeds
- To germinate the seeds, fill a plate (a saucer, a lid or any container with holes at the base to allow air to pass through) with soft soil, place the quinoa seeds and cover them with another thin layer of soil. Water the soil regularly.
- Wait 4-5 days.
- Once the seedlings have reached 3 cm in height, proceed with planting.
- Wait 90 – 120 days and proceed with the small harvest.
When to sow quinoa?
The sowing period in open fields varies according to the climatic zone.
The ideal period for germinating quinoa seeds is March for southern Italy, early April for the center and late April for the North. The harvest can be carried out in the month from July onwards.
