How to grow Quinoa in Australia
Quinoa is a tall, colourful seed crop from the Andes, related to spinach and amaranth rather than to grasses. It copes with poor, dry soil and light frost, but very hot days at flowering stop it setting seed, so timing matters more than soil. The seeds have a bitter coating that must be rinsed off before cooking.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Quinoa in Australia
At a glance
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | September to November | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to November | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | September to November | |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October to December | Sow Oct to Dec after frost. Shorter season than SEQ. |
| Adelaide & SA | August and September | Sow Aug to Sep so plants flower before days pass 35C, which stops seed setting. Seedlings take light frost; harvest in early summer. |
| Perth & WA | May to August | Grow it as a winter crop: sow May to Aug on the frost free plain so it flowers before the heat. Days above 35C stop seed setting. |
| Tasmania | October and November | Sow Oct to Nov. Quinoa comes from the high Andes and handles cool summers well. Harvest before autumn rain. |
| Canberra & ACT | November and December | Narrow window. Sow after frost risk passes. |
| North Queensland | April to July | Dry season crop. Sow Apr to Jul so seed heads ripen in dry weather; rain on a ripe head makes the grain sprout. |
| Darwin & Top End | April to July | Dry season crop. Sow Apr to Jul so seed heads ripen in dry weather; rain on a ripe head makes the grain sprout. |
Where to plant
Grow quinoa in full sun in well-drained soil of modest fertility. It is undemanding and tolerates poor, dry ground. Rich soil and high nitrogen make plants tall and floppy.
Quinoa grows best where days stay below about 35°C while it flowers. Heat at flowering stops seed setting, and frost during flowering damages the pollen, so time sowing so the plants flower in mild weather. Rain on ripe seed heads can make the grain sprout, so aim for a dry harvest.
- Hobart and Melbourne: sow from October to December (October to November in Hobart). Quinoa handles cool summers well; harvest before autumn rain.
- Canberra: sow after frost risk passes, in November and December.
- Adelaide: sow in August and September so plants flower before days pass 35°C, for an early summer harvest.
- Perth: grow it as a winter crop, sowing from May to August on the frost-free plain so it flowers before the heat.
- South East Queensland, the Northern Rivers and Sydney: sow in spring, from September to November.
- North Queensland and Darwin: sow in the dry season, April to July, so seed heads ripen in dry weather.
Choosing a variety
- Red Head has red seed heads that make it easy to see when the crop is ready.
- Cherry Vanilla has pink flower heads and edible seed, and doubles as an ornamental.
How to plant
- Sow seed direct about 1 cm deep once frost has passed, in rows or small blocks.
- Keep the soil moist until seedlings appear, in about a week.
- Thin seedlings to about 20 to 30 cm apart.
- Learn to tell quinoa seedlings from fat hen, a common weed that is a close relative and looks very similar when young; sow in marked rows to help.
Watering and feeding
Water moderately while plants are young. Once established, quinoa handles dry conditions well and needs watering only in long dry spells.
Feed lightly, if at all. Too much nitrogen makes the tall plants flop.
Pruning and care through the year
- Weed between rows while plants are small.
- Stake or hill soil around tall plants in windy spots.
- Watch for aphids on young growth. Birds may take ripening seed in some gardens, although the bitter coating deters many.
Harvesting
Quinoa is ready about four months after sowing, when the leaves have mostly fallen, the seed heads have dried and changed colour, and the seed is hard and cannot be dented with a fingernail. Harvest in dry weather.
Cut the seed heads, dry them fully on a sheet somewhere airy, then rub them between your hands or in a bag to thresh out the seed. Winnow off the chaff in a gentle breeze.
Growing in pots
Quinoa can be grown in a pot at least 30 cm wide and deep, but it is a tall plant and the yield from a pot is small.
Using it
Before cooking, rinse the seed well in several changes of water, rubbing it, until the water no longer foams. The coating contains bitter saponins that make unrinsed quinoa taste unpleasant. Then cook it like rice. Dried, rinsed seed stores for years in a sealed container.
Companion planting
Quinoa is a tall summer or winter crop that suits a bed of its own or the back of a vegetable bed.
Good companions
Pests and diseases
Quinoa has few pests; the bitter seed coating deters many birds.
Pests to watch for
- Aphids Small soft insects clustered on young leaves and flower heads.
- Birds Seed stripped from ripening heads in some gardens. Net the heads as they colour if needed.
Diseases to watch for
- Downy mildew Yellow patches on leaves with grey or purple fuzz underneath in cool, damp weather.
Common questions
Can you grow quinoa in Australia?
Yes. The key is timing sowing so the plants flower before days pass about 35°C and the seed ripens in dry weather. That means spring in cool areas, late winter to spring in Adelaide, winter in Perth and the dry season in the tropics.
Do I need to rinse homegrown quinoa?
Yes. The seed coating contains bitter saponins. Rinse and rub it in several changes of water until the water stops foaming before cooking.
When is quinoa ready to harvest?
When the leaves have fallen, the seed heads are dry and coloured, and the seed is hard and cannot be dented with a fingernail, usually about four months after sowing.
Why didn't my quinoa set seed?
Usually hot weather above about 35°C, or frost, while it was flowering. Sow so it flowers in mild weather for your region.
Is quinoa a grain?
Not botanically. It is a seed crop related to spinach and amaranth, often called a pseudocereal, but it is cooked and eaten like a grain.
How do I tell quinoa seedlings from weeds?
Young quinoa looks almost identical to fat hen, a common weed in the same family. Sow in marked rows so you know which seedlings to keep.
Sources we checked: Wikipedia: Quinoa (botany, temperature limits, frost at flowering, saponins).