Quinoa plants thrive in a sunny, bright environment with many hours of direct sunshine each day. Therefore, it is advised to seek out some shade and protection from the day's heaviest heat.
The ideal soil for quinoa plants is loamy, well-drained, and rich in organic matter. Compost or fertiliser should be added to the soil before planting. Mulch should be applied all around the seedlings after they are few inches tall to keep weeds at bay and moisture in.
Before they are established, quinoa seedlings require constantly damp (but not soggy) soil. Although they benefit from routine irrigation, mature quinoa plants are thought to be relatively drought-tolerant.
Since they thrive in cold, dry climates, quinoa plants are regarded as cool-climate crops. High temperatures limit the quinoa plants' ability to grow and produce seeds, which ultimately reduces the quantity of seedlings that can be harvested.
Rich, organically rich soil is necessary for quinoa plants. Add fresh manure or a balance organic fertiliser to the soil before planting. Quinoa plants do not need fertilising during the growing season in addition to this soil preparation.
90 to 120 days after planting, quinoa crops are ready for harvesting. The seed are ready to be gathered once the petals have fallen and all that is left are the dried seed heads. Quinoa is fortunately easy to harvest; to easily remove the seeds, simply peel the plant upwards towards the stalk.
After the last frost, quinoa seed can be planted immediately in the garden. Even in the latter stages of summer or early fall, seeds can be planted for a winter crop in regions with warm winters. For seeds to sprout, the soil temperature needs to be close to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Thankfully, quinoa seeds are shielded from bird and pest damage by a bitter compound called saponin. Aphids, flea insects, leaf miners, and other common pests can infest the leaves of quinoa plants, though.