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Primary Uses: |
Food Grain |
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Planting: |
Quinoa prefers cool soil
conditions. Germination can occur within 24 hours after
planting when adequate moisture is present. Provide a level,
well-drained seedbed to avoid waterlogging. Plant between late
April and mid May to a depth of 0.5 to 1 inch. |
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Seeding Rate: |
0.5 to 0.75 lb/acre. Usually
doubled when soil conditions are not optimal. Transplanting in
18" rows with 18" between plants. |
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Fertility: |
Maximum yields are possible when 150 to
180 lbs/acre N are available. P applications have not shown to
provide much effect compared to untreated plots. |
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Insects: |
Flea beetles, caterpillars, aphids, beet
armyworm, and quinoa plant bug. There are no pesticides
cleared for use on quinoa. |
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Diseases: |
Viruses found on spinach or beets have
been found in quinoa fields. Others are downy mildew, stalk
rot, leaf spot, grey mold, and bacterial blight. |
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Harvest: |
Harvest usually begins when the seed can
barely be dented with a fingernail and plants have dried, turned a
pale yellow or red color, and leaves have dropped. A sorghum
header attachment is recommended for combining quinoa.
Cylinder speed and air flow of combines are usually greatly
reduced. Smaller screens are used than with cereal grains due
to the small size and lighter weight of the seed. |
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Comments: |
This is a high elevation crop which
requires temperatures below 90 F during the bloom period. If you
have more than 3-5 days of 90+, only sterile panicles will
be produced. |
