Chenopodium

Sunset

Zones vary by species.

Full

Moderate

Amaranthaceae
Annuals, Perennials

Most of these spinach relations are weeds, but some are eaten. Individual flowers are greenish, insignificant.

Plant in late spring and harvest in fall. Needs short days and mild weather to bloom and set seed; takes light frost. After harvest, seeds are rinsed to remove surface bitterness, then cooked like rice. (The saponins in unwashed quinoa trigger anallergic reaction in some people.) Excellent production inhigh Rocky Mountain valleys.Strains that yield at low elevation are also available.

Chenopodium ambrosioides

Strongly scentedleaves to 5 in. long, deeplytoothed. Sometimes grown orcollected roadside as seasoning for Mexican dishes.

Chenopodium quinoa, photo courtesy of Mark Turner

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Chenopodium quinoa

Pronounced KEEN-wa, quinoa grows to 5 ft. tall and produces dense flower and seed clusters. A traditional high-protein Andean grain; resembles sesame seed.