Photos of Quinoa Flowering in my garden

[amandacv86]

I recently found a love for Quinoa and your post inspired my to try growing it. I'm in zone 9(Fresno, CA) and I'm worried about it being too hot. It's 100 degrees right now and we just had about 1- 2 weeks of consistently 105 +, Should I start it now for a fall crop or early spring? TIA

 

[897tgigvib]

I think Quinoa is a 4 month at mininum seed to seed crop. Just guessing of course, and it really is guessing, but if planted now, and your Quinoa in Fresno (I've been there. Beautiful agricultural area!) gets enough light by January 1st, and if it does not get too cold to kill the fragile pollen, then it'd be ok. Just guessing, but maybe an August 1st planting would be better. But ya know, might want to put a few seeds in the ground now anyway. If nothing else, you'll see its growth habit, plus, they are beautiful. ps, as seedlings they look kind of like pigweed! I was actually thinking for a month or so, oh, did I get pigweed seed mixed up in my packet?

 

[hoodat]

Thaks for the history of it. Fascinating. It's so much more interesting to grow a plant when you know its' past. Something that grows that big might be good rabbit food, both the leaves and seed heads.
We have relatively warm Winters and usually no heavy frosts here in San Diego. Would you recommend it as a fall crop here? A nearby store sells it from a bin. I wonder if I could plant from that?

 

[amandacv86]

Thanks! I think I will just plant a few seeds this year, as soon as I can get my neighbor to till my garden I told him whenever it's convenient for him and he's really into his car right now. I want to start planting!