How to Grow Quinoa? Detailed Explanation of Planting Techniques and Key Points
As an emerging grain crop in China, quinoa is very popular on the market. Quinoa is extremely rich in protein and is also the only grain that is a complete protein. Demand for quinoa is now growing, and many friends have set their sights on the prospects of growing quinoa. They have started large-scale planting, but they do not know how to begin. So how should quinoa be grown? Below, the editor brings you the planting techniques for quinoa. Let's take a look!
1. Land selection and soil preparation
Quinoa has fairly strong adaptability to soil, but to grow high-yielding quinoa, the planting site still needs to be chosen as a plot that faces the sun and is sheltered from the wind, with strong permeability, fertile soil, and good drainage and irrigation. Quinoa must absolutely not be grown continuously on the same land, otherwise various pests and diseases will occur and weeds will run rampant. Quinoa grains are relatively small, and the seeds have poor ability to push through the soil, so soil preparation must be done well. During soil preparation, check whether there are residues of the previous crop in the soil and clean them up in time. After preparing the soil, apply enough base fertilizer. Fully decomposed farmyard manure can be used as the base fertilizer to improve soil fertility and promote quinoa seed germination and seedling emergence.
2. Timely sowing
When sowing, the correct time must be chosen, and it must not be too early or too late. In southern regions, sowing should be chosen for late spring. If sowing is too early, the temperature is relatively low, which easily inhibits seed germination, and the seedlings may suffer frost damage from a spring cold snap. If sowing is too late, it will delay the harvest time of quinoa, and the seedlings may fail to grow because the summer temperature is too high. When sowing, pay attention to soil moisture and control the sowing depth according to the moisture conditions, because too deep or too shallow will both have a certain impact on quinoa growth. The sowing depth must not exceed 3 quinoa; if it exceeds 3 cm, the seeds cannot push through the soil and emerge, but if sowing is too shallow, it will worsen the lodging of quinoa.
3. Checking seedlings and thinning seedlings
After sowing and successful emergence, seedling checking must be done well. To ensure quinoa yield, replanting should be carried out in time. When the seedlings grow to about 15 cm, they should be properly thinned to ensure that each quinoa plant has sufficient growing space. The number of retained seedlings can be increased to ensure a full stand. During the quinoa seedling stage, weeds must be prevented from running rampant. Proper weeding is beneficial to seedling growth and ensures sufficient nutrients. Later, according to the growth of quinoa, cultivate and earth up in time. When quinoa reaches thigh height, carry out weeding again to prevent weeds from taking away the nutrients needed for quinoa growth.
4. Timely harvesting
Harvest time also has certain requirements. We should decide according to the condition of the quinoa plants and grains. When quinoa matures, the grain spikes turn completely yellow, and the leaves wither and fall. When the grains are plump and hard, it can be harvested. Harvest time should not be too late or too early. If harvested too early, the grains are not fully mature and are prone to mildew, leading to reduced yield. If harvested too late, lodging is likely to occur, and large amounts of grains fall into the field, causing serious damage to both yield and quality. Avoid rainy weather when harvesting, because grains are not easy to store after getting wet and are prone to pests and diseases.
The above is the editor's brief introduction to quinoa planting techniques. Although quinoa is not a traditional grain crop in China, as a grain with extremely high nutritional value, and with increasing market demand, its planting area is also becoming wider and wider. Field management of quinoa is very important, so everyone must have correct planting techniques. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you for reading and supporting.