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Can I plant quinoa that I bought at a health food store?

 
Troy Rhodes
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I want to experiment with quinoa, and I'm crazy frugal.  Can I plant quinoa "seed" that I bought from a health food store.  It's way cheaper per pound, and I don't think you can get hybrid quinoa.

Is it toasted or processed in any way that it won't germinate?

thanks in advance.

troy
 
Jeff Hodgins
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I don't know but, I'll sell you some Mexican guasuntle quinoa (grown for the edible flower clusters) for cheep. You'd have to wait till fall though cuz I think I planted them all.
 
Andreas Brevitz
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Let me know if it works. I was surprised to find that nearly all storebought dried beans i had at home germinated so I am hopefull!
 
Troy Rhodes
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I bought some today and will report the outcome.


troy
 
Jordan Lowery
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i planted some organic quinoa from the natural foods store. it sprouted in a few days and is growin. i did start some earlier, it is frost tolerant, not hardy. and the seedlings are not snow friendly.

amaranth is a alternative summer crop, easy to grow and no saponins on the seeds like quinoa.

The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings. - Masanobu Fukuoka

 
Eric Thompson
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If you seed source is pre-soaked (for processing out the saponins), the germination rate will be very poor.  When I tried this, the seeds has "sprouted" in just a day, but those were just old dry sprouts long dead..
 
Kathleen Sanderson
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I did a germination test of a lot of my old seed, and included some quinoa that I got from the bulk bins at the grocery store -- it had a very good germination rate.  I haven't planted any outside yet, but it looks like it will grow.

Kathleen
 
Rob Seagrist
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What brands are you guys buying at the health food store?

permaculture wiki: www.permies.com/permaculture

 
Jordan Lowery
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i get mine from the bulk bins. its organic quinoa. i buy white, red and black. far cheaper than buying it in a box even at the same store.

The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings. - Masanobu Fukuoka

 
Kathleen Sanderson
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hubert cumberdale wrote:
i get mine from the bulk bins. its organic quinoa. i buy white, red and black. far cheaper than buying it in a box even at the same store.



Bulk bins are where I got mine, too -- I got white and red.  Definitely less expensive than buying packaged.

Kathleen
 
Troy Rhodes
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I got mine from the local health food place.  $12 for a 26 oz package.  Here's the brand:

http://www.bobsredmill.com/organic-quinoa-grain.html


A little spendy for "oatmeal", pretty cheap for seed, if it germinates well.

troy
 
Lisa Paulson
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I bought organic white quinoa sold at Costco as breakfast cereal and it germinated very well.
 
                          
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I found it sprouts well, and grew well last year.
However seems most quinoa comes from ultra high elevations with completely different climates than most of us.
I hear you can find lower elevation adapted strains, they may produce much better.
 
                    
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what is the latest i could plant quinoa or amaranth in zone 6?
 
Terra Hues
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How did you do a germination test?  Soaking and sprouting?
 
John F Dean
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Hi Terra,

Welcome to Permies.

I learn from the mistakes of others who take my advice.

 
Anne Miller
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Terra Hues wrote:How did you do a germination test?  Soaking and sprouting?



Welcome to the forum!

Soaking and sprouting sounds to me like a great way to get quinoa to germinate.

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

 
John F Dean
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Hi Terra,

Assuming that you have an  ample supply of seeds, lay them out on a paper towel on a 10x10 grid.  Keep them moist until they sprout.  You will quickly know the germination rate. If there are 100 seeds on the grid and 83 germinate, the rate is 83%.

Now, I seldom do this.  I seldom have the seeds to waste, and I can figure all this out after I plant 5he seeds in my garden.

I learn from the mistakes of others who take my advice.

 
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