Hi
Quinoa, the famed seed that contains all 8 amino acids and is high in protein, and good for boosting the protein value of grains and pulses... there doesn't seem to be a thread on it here. Anyone tried growing it? I saw some (here's a pic (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawkey/1799871673/)) for the first time recently, but abroad, I wonder if it works here?
thanks
I was sure I'd heard it mentioned on here before, never tried it myself!
:-\
the following useful link says that it is "potentially suitable for growing in the UK"
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Chenopodium+quinoa (http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Chenopodium+quinoa)
Tried sprouting it once (am mad into my sprouted seed) but germination was very very low. Don't know if it would be worth trying to grow on a large scale.
Realseeds (http://www.realseeds.co.uk/grains.html) sell 2 varieties of quinoa which they say they grow successfully in Wales. It looks like the variety you choose is very important as you need an open flower-shape that sheds water easily to produce seed without it going mouldy.
I've bought the rainbow mix from Realseeds for trying next year but have no other knowledge of the plant other than a bit of googling. We can but try.
I tried several varieties , over here in Belgium. You have to make sure it is a variety that resists a wet autumn, otherwise you get little seedlings on the plants, whioch is quite disappointing. I had two varieties resisting this, temuco (realseeds)and a variety that comes from 'de bolster' i n Holland. They are quite easy to grow, try and place them a bit out of heavy winds, they could be blown over (amaranths are worse, they can crack). I wouldn't advice to use a lot of fertiliser, they become to 'top heavy', and may also crack.
Frank
i've bought rainbow quinoa from real seeds as well- i really enjoy it so fingers crossed over here!
Bought the seed :)
Never got round to sowing it! :(
I've ordered mine from Real Seeds to try next season - both the Rainbow and 'Temuco' Quinoa - and a pack of Mixed Grain Amaranths. Gawd knows where I'm going to put them!
I've gone for the rainbow variety as well, so we should be able to have a good comaprison next year.
Embarssinly, my son loftily informed me I've been pronouncing it wrong, and it's actually KEEN-WAH because he "saw it on food poker"!!