Things You Should Know About Growing Quinoa
Whether you are looking to grow quinoa for your own personal use, or to sell to other people, there are some things you should know about growing quinoa plants. You can also get tips for pests that feed on quinoa plants, as well as ways to store your quinoa seeds after they are harvested.
White Quinoa is Better Suited For Cooking
Compared to other types of quinoa, white quinoa is better suited to cooking. It cooks up fluffy and has a light, delicate taste that works well in a variety of dishes. It is also ideal for dishes that feature bright-colored vegetables, fruits, or other ingredients.
Both types of quinoa should be thoroughly rinsed to remove any bitter saponins. Rinsing is important because the saponins can give cooked quinoa a soapy, bitter taste.
Both types of quinoa should start out in a saucepan with enough water to cover. After bringing the water to a boil, add the quinoa and cook until al dente. This should take about 10 to 15 minutes.
Rinsing is essential because it removes excess starch and helps quinoa stay intact during cooking. A fine mesh strainer is a great tool for rinsing. You can also gently press the quinoa down to drain it.
Black quinoa has a slightly sweeter flavor and is best for salads. It is also earthier than white quinoa. It also holds its shape better after cooking.
Neem Oil Keeps Beet Armyworms Off Quinoa Plants
Using neem oil is an effective way to control beet armyworms on quinoa plants. This pest is common in many parts of the world, especially in Africa, South America, and North America. It is an infestation that can cause damage to crops in a short amount of time.
Common armyworms are dull brown moths with a small white dot on their forewings. They are nocturnal insects that come out at night and feed. They can also lay hundreds of eggs and live for a few weeks. This makes armyworm infestations a serious problem for gardeners.
Fortunately, there are natural predators of armyworms. They include wasps, earwigs, and parasitic wasps. These creatures lay their eggs inside the armyworm eggs. The wasps then hatch into larvae, which feed on the army caterpillars. Afterward, the larvae grow into fully-grown moths. They can lay thousands of eggs and live for up to two weeks.
Neem oil is a natural and safe product that can be used to kill armyworms. It can be used as a foliar spray or added to a garden sprayer. It is a safe insecticide that can be used on a wide variety of garden pests.
Pests That Feed on Quinoa Plants
Phytophagous insects such as aphids and flea beetles can cause damage to quinoa plants. In addition, pests such as the common lambsquarters are a close relative of quinoa and may serve as a natural host.
In addition to pests, quinoa plants may show signs of disease and bacterial blight. Bacterial blight can cause significant losses in South America.
Phytophagous insects, such as the aphid gray mold, have been found in quinoa fields in North America. However, studies on the ecology of aphids are needed to determine if they are a risk for quinoa production.
Quinoa is an Andean grain. It has been cultivated for millennia. In recent years, new production fields have emerged from the Andes to coastal regions. In some of these regions, pests have been reported for the first time.
In Southern Jutland, the pests Cassida nebulosa and Liriomyza huidobrensis infested quinoa plants. These pests are Coleoptera and are known to damage cereal crops. These pests chew from the external margin of the leaves toward the central vein. They cause extensive leaf damage in C. quinoa line KVL-Q52.
Store Quinoa Seeds After Harvest
Traditionally, quinoa seeds have been stored in different packaging materials. These packaging materials have the capacity to acquire moisture from the surrounding environment, which contributes to the deterioration of the seeds.
The current study compared the quality of quinoa seeds stored in different packaging materials. A total of 180 experimental units were divided into three replicates and stored for 18 months. The seeds were analyzed for different biochemical attributes. The biochemical attributes measured included EC, total soluble sugars, MDA, and vigor parameters. The seeds were packed in a Super Bag, a Cloth Bag, and a paper bag.
Seeds stored in a Super Bag had the maximum amount of total soluble sugars. Seeds stored in a cloth bag had the least amount of total soluble sugars. These results were in contrast to those recorded for conventional packaging materials.
A high RH in the storage environment caused the moisture contents of seeds to increase, increasing the rate of the Maillard reaction. This increase in soluble sugars also increased the rate of metabolism.
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