Skip to content
Grain Full Sun Low water

Quinoa

Written by the GrowByCity Editorial Team · Updated April 2026
2 min read

Andean pseudocereal -- complete protein grain. Hardy enough to withstand light frosts down to -2°C, quinoa performs best when daytime temperatures stay between 12°C and 22°C. Requires full sun (6-8 hours of direct light daily) with minimal watering — it prefers dry conditions between drinks. Plan for about 90-120 days from planting to maturity. An adaptable plant that performs well across a wide range of garden settings and growing conditions.

Harvest 90-120 days
Temp Range -2°C — 30°C
Frost Tolerant ❄

Quick Answer: How to Grow Quinoa

Quinoa takes 90-120 days to harvest. It grows best in 12–22°C with full sun and low watering. Quinoa is frost tolerant and can handle temperatures down to -2°C. It can be grown in 350 cities worldwide.

Find the best time to plant Quinoa in your city →

Growing Requirements

☀️
Sun
Full Sun
💧
Water
Low
❄️
Frost
Tolerant
📅
Harvest
90-120 days

Temperature Range

12-22°C
-10°C 45°C
Optimal: 12–22°C Tolerates: -2–30°C
Tropical suitable: No
Cities growing: 350 of 350

Growing Tips

💡

Expert Tips

Cool-season crop. Rinse seeds to remove bitter saponins. Can be planted 2-3 weeks before the last expected frost, giving it a head start on the growing season. Overwatering is the most common mistake. Let soil dry out between waterings and ensure drainage is excellent.

Quick Facts

  • Grows in 350 of 350 cities
  • Available in 7 regions worldwide
  • Temperature range: -2°C to 30°C
  • Optimal growing: 12°C to 22°C
  • Harvest in 90-120 days

Did You Know?

  • 🌱 Quinoa is frost-tolerant, meaning it can survive light frosts and even thrive in cooler temperatures.
  • 🌱 Quinoa needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth.
  • 🌱 Quinoa is drought-tolerant — perfect for gardeners who tend to forget watering!

Step-by-Step Growing Guide

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) is a cool-season Andean pseudocereal that performs best in cool, sunny conditions with well-drained, fertile soil at pH 6.0–7.5. It tolerates poor, saline, and sandy soils far better than most grains. Direct sow seeds 0.5–1 cm deep, 5 cm apart in rows 45–60 cm wide, in early spring as soon as soil can be worked (soil temperature 7–12°C) — or in fall in mild climates for winter growth. Thin to 25–30 cm spacing. Quinoa is cool-season and bolts (runs to seed unproductively) in sustained heat above 32°C — time planting to avoid peak summer heat by harvesting in early summer or growing as a fall crop. It is surprisingly drought-tolerant once established, requiring water mainly during germination and seed fill. Minimal fertilization is needed; a light application of balanced fertilizer at planting is sufficient. Quinoa plants produce saponin-coated seed heads that deter birds somewhat, but the distinctive magenta and gold seed heads are beautiful in the garden.

Common Pests & Problems

Quinoa is susceptible to downy mildew (Peronospora variabilis) in humid conditions, causing blue-gray spore masses on undersides of leaves and leaf yellowing; ensure good airflow by proper spacing and avoid overhead watering. Leaf miners create winding mines in leaves; affected plants can still produce a good crop as long as significant leaf area remains — remove the worst-affected leaves. Aphids occasionally colonize the growing tip; blast off with water jets. The greatest challenges are: lodging (plants falling over) in rich, nitrogen-heavy soils — avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers; and bolt failure (seed heads that fail to fill) in hot climates — choose heat-tolerant cultivars and time planting carefully.

Harvest & Storage

Quinoa is ready to harvest when seed heads have dried to a papery consistency and individual seeds are hard and difficult to dent with a fingernail — typically 90–120 days after planting. Rub a small test seed head between your palms: if seeds fall free easily, the crop is ready. Cut entire stalks at the base and tie in bundles; hang upside-down in a warm, dry, ventilated space for 1–2 weeks. Thresh by rubbing seed heads over a mesh screen or into a bucket. Rinse harvested seeds thoroughly in water to remove bitter saponin coating before drying for storage. Store dried quinoa in airtight containers — keeps for 2–4 years.

Popular Varieties

"Cherry Vanilla" is a visually stunning variety producing magenta and cream bicolor seed heads, developed specifically for garden ornament as well as grain production — highly productive and heat-tolerant. "Rainbow" is a mix of red, gold, white, and orange seed head types, popular with home growers for visual variety and acceptable yield. "Temuco" is a Chilean commercial variety producing white-seeded quinoa of excellent flavor and relatively high heat tolerance compared to most Andean landraces. "Black Quinoa" varieties produce seeds with a higher antioxidant content than white types and a slightly earthier, nuttier flavor — though lower-yielding, they are nutritionally superior.

Where to Grow Quinoa

Quinoa can be grown in 350 cities across 7 regions worldwide

🌍 Europe (80 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Aarhus, DK medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Amsterdam, NL medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Ankara, TR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Antalya, TR medium
✓
✓
Athens, GR medium
✓
✓
Barcelona, ES medium
✓
✓
Bari, IT medium
✓
✓
Belgrade, RS medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Bergen, NO medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Berlin, DE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Bilbao, ES medium
✓
✓
Bologna, IT medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Bordeaux, FR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Bratislava, SK medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Brussels, BE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Bucharest, RO medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Budapest, HU medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Catania, IT medium
✓
✓
Cologne, DE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Copenhagen, DK medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Corfu, GR medium
✓
✓
Cork, IE medium
✓
✓
Dublin, IE medium
✓
✓
Dubrovnik, HR medium
✓
✓
Edinburgh, GB medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Florence, IT medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Frankfurt, DE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Gdansk, PL medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Genoa, IT medium
✓
✓
Glasgow, GB medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Gothenburg, SE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Hamburg, DE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Helsinki, FI medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Heraklion, GR medium
✓
✓
Istanbul, TR medium
✓
✓
Izmir, TR medium
✓
✓
Krakow, PL medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Kyiv, UA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Limassol, CY medium
✓
✓
Lisbon, PT medium
✓
✓
Ljubljana, SI medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
London, GB medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Lyon, FR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Madrid, ES medium
✓
✓
Malaga, ES medium
✓
✓
Marseille, FR medium
✓
✓
Milan, IT medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Munich, DE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Naples, IT medium
✓
✓
Nice, FR medium
✓
✓
Nicosia, CY medium
✓
✓
Oslo, NO medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Palermo, IT medium
✓
✓
Paris, FR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Porto, PT medium
✓
✓
Poznan, PL medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Prague, CZ medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Reykjavik, IS medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Riga, LV medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Rome, IT medium
✓
✓
Seville, ES medium
✓
✓
Sofia, BG medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Split, HR medium
✓
✓
Stockholm, SE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Strasbourg, FR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Stuttgart, DE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Tallinn, EE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Thessaloniki, GR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Tirana, AL medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Toulouse, FR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Turin, IT medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Turku, FI medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Valencia, ES medium
✓
✓
Valletta, MT medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Verona, IT medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Vienna, AT medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Vilnius, LT medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Warsaw, PL medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Zagreb, HR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Zurich, CH medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓

🌏 Asia (79 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Ahmedabad, IN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Almaty, KZ medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Bali, ID medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Bandung, ID medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Bangalore, IN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Bangkok, TH medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Beijing, CN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Busan, KR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Cebu, PH medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Chandigarh, IN medium
✓
✓
Chengdu, CN medium
✓
✓
Chennai, IN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Chiang Mai, TH medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Chittagong, BD medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Chongqing, CN medium
✓
✓
Coimbatore, IN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Colombo, LK medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Da Nang, VN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Dalian, CN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Davao, PH medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Delhi, IN medium
✓
✓
Dhaka, BD medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Dharan, NP medium
✓
✓
Fukuoka, JP medium
✓
✓
Galle, LK medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Guangzhou, CN medium
✓
✓
Hangzhou, CN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Hanoi, VN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Harbin, CN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Ho Chi Minh City, VN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Hong Kong, HK medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Hyderabad, IN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Incheon, KR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Indore, IN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Islamabad, PK medium
✓
✓
Jaipur, IN medium
✓
✓
Jakarta, ID medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Jeju, KR medium
✓
✓
Johor Bahru, MY medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Karachi, PK medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Kathmandu, NP medium
✓
✓
Kochi, IN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Kolkata, IN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Kuala Lumpur, MY medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Kunming, CN medium
✓
✓
Kyoto, JP medium
✓
✓
Lahore, PK medium
✓
✓
Lucknow, IN medium
✓
✓
Manila, PH medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Mumbai, IN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Nagoya, JP medium
✓
✓
Nanjing, CN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Nha Trang, VN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Okinawa, JP medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Osaka, JP medium
✓
✓
Pattaya, TH medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Penang, MY medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Phnom Penh, KH medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Pune, IN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Sapporo, JP medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Seoul, KR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Shanghai, CN medium
✓
✓
Shenzhen, CN medium
✓
✓
Siem Reap, KH medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Singapore, SG medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Surabaya, ID medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Surat, IN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Taipei, TW medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Tashkent, UZ medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Tbilisi, GE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Tokyo, JP medium
✓
✓
Ulaanbaatar, MN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Varanasi, IN medium
✓
✓
Vientiane, LA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Visakhapatnam, IN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Wuhan, CN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Xi'an, CN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Xiamen, CN medium
✓
✓
Yangon, MM medium
✓
✓
✓
✓

🌎 North America (78 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Albuquerque, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Anchorage, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Atlanta, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Austin, US medium
✓
✓
Baltimore, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Baton Rouge, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Boise, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Boston, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Bridgetown, BB medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Buffalo, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Calgary, CA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Cancun, MX medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Charleston, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Charlotte, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Chattanooga, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Chicago, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Denver, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Des Moines, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Detroit, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Edmonton, CA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
El Paso, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Fargo, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Fresno, US medium
✓
✓
Guadalajara, MX medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Halifax, CA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Hartford, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Havana, CU medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Honolulu, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Houston, US medium
✓
✓
Jacksonville, US medium
✓
✓
Kansas City, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Kingston, JM medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Knoxville, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Las Vegas, US medium
✓
✓
Little Rock, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Los Angeles, US medium
✓
✓
Louisville, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Lubbock, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Madison, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Memphis, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Mexico City, MX medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Miami, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Milwaukee, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Minneapolis, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Monterrey, MX medium
✓
✓
Montreal, CA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Nashville, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
New Orleans, US medium
✓
✓
New York, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Oaxaca, MX medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Oklahoma City, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Omaha, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Ottawa, CA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Panama City, PA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Phoenix, US medium
✓
✓
Pittsburgh, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Portland, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Puebla, MX medium
✓
✓
Quebec City, CA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Raleigh, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Richmond, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Sacramento, US medium
✓
✓
Salt Lake City, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
San Diego, US medium
✓
✓
San Francisco, US medium
✓
✓
San Jose, CR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Santo Domingo, DO medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Saskatoon, CA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Savannah, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Seattle, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Spokane, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
St. Louis, US medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Tampa, US medium
✓
✓
Toronto, CA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Tucson, US medium
✓
✓
Vancouver, CA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Victoria, CA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Winnipeg, CA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓

🌍 Africa (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abidjan, CI medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Accra, GH medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Addis Ababa, ET medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Algiers, DZ medium
✓
✓
Antananarivo, MG medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Arusha, TZ medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Bamako, ML medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Bloemfontein, ZA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Cairo, EG medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Cape Town, ZA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Casablanca, MA medium
✓
✓
Dakar, SN medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Dar es Salaam, TZ medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Douala, CM medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Durban, ZA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Entebbe, UG medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Fez, MA medium
✓
✓
Freetown, SL medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Harare, ZW medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Johannesburg, ZA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Kampala, UG medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Kigali, RW medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Kinshasa, CD medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Lagos, NG medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Libreville, GA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Lilongwe, MW medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Lome, TG medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Luanda, AO medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Lusaka, ZM medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Maputo, MZ medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Marrakech, MA medium
✓
✓
Mombasa, KE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Nairobi, KE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Ouagadougou, BF medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Port Louis, MU medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Pretoria, ZA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Tunis, TN medium
✓
✓
Windhoek, NA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Zanzibar, TZ medium
✓
✓
✓
✓

🌎 South America (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Arequipa, PE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Asuncion, PY medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Barranquilla, CO medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Belem, BR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Bogota, CO medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Brasilia, BR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Buenos Aires, AR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Cali, CO medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Campinas, BR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Caracas, VE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Cartagena, CO medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Concepcion, CL medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Cordoba, AR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Curitiba, BR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Cusco, PE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Fortaleza, BR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Georgetown, GY medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Goiania, BR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Guayaquil, EC medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
La Paz, BO medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Lima, PE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Manaus, BR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Medellin, CO medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Mendoza, AR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Montevideo, UY medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Paramaribo, SR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Port of Spain, TT medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Porto Alegre, BR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Quito, EC medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Recife, BR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Rio de Janeiro, BR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Rosario, AR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Salvador, BR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Santa Cruz, BO medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Santiago, CL medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Sao Paulo, BR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Sucre, BO medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Trujillo, PE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Valparaiso, CL medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓

🌊 Oceania (19 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Adelaide, AU medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Alice Springs, AU medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Auckland, NZ medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Brisbane, AU medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Cairns, AU medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Canberra, AU medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Christchurch, NZ medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Darwin, AU medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Dunedin, NZ medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Gold Coast, AU medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Hamilton, NZ medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Hobart, AU medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Melbourne, AU medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Noumea, NC medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Perth, AU medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Suva, FJ medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Sydney, AU medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Townsville, AU medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Wellington, NZ medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓

🕌 Middle East (16 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abu Dhabi, AE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Amman, JO medium
✓
✓
Baghdad, IQ medium
✓
✓
Beirut, LB medium
✓
✓
Doha, QA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Dubai, AE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Erbil, IQ medium
✓
✓
Jeddah, SA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Kuwait City, KW medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Manama, BH medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Muscat, OM medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Riyadh, SA medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Sana'a, YE medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
Tabriz, IR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Tehran, IR medium
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Tel Aviv, IL medium
✓
✓
✓
✓

When should I plant quinoa in my city?

The best time to plant quinoa depends on your local climate zone. It thrives in temperatures between 12°C and 22°C. Since quinoa is frost tolerant, you can plant it before the last frost date. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact dates.

Can I grow quinoa in winter?

Yes, quinoa is frost tolerant and can handle temperatures down to -2°C. In many climates, it can be grown through winter with some protection.

Get Quinoa Seeds & Plants

Ready to start growing? Find Quinoa seeds and starter plants online.

People Also Search For

how to grow quinoaquinoa growing tipsbest soil for quinoaquinoa planting seasonquinoa companion plantsquinoa pests and diseases

Similar Growing Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions about Quinoa

When should I plant quinoa?

The best time to plant quinoa depends on your local climate. Quinoa grows best in temperatures between 12°C and 22°C (can tolerate -2°C to 30°C). Quinoa is frost tolerant, so it can be planted earlier in spring or later in fall. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact planting months.

Can quinoa grow in tropical climates?

Quinoa is not well-suited for tropical climates. It prefers cooler conditions with temperatures between 12°C and 22°C. In tropical areas, it may bolt, fail to fruit, or suffer from heat stress. Consider growing it in cooler seasons or at higher elevations.

How long does quinoa take to grow?

Quinoa typically takes 90-120 days from planting to harvest. It requires full sun and low watering. Cool-season crop. Rinse seeds to remove bitter saponins. Can be planted 2-3 weeks before the last expected frost, giving it a head start on the growing season. Overwatering is the most common mistake. Let soil dry out between waterings and ensure drainage is excellent.

Find the Best Time to Plant Quinoa

See the planting calendar for Quinoa in these popular cities:

Last updated: March 2026 · Climate data from NOAA, FAO, USDA

See an error? Report it