Quinoa Growing Experiment and Fall Garden

This year we are trying to grow quinoa.  Since quinoa apparently does NOT like temperatures above 90F degrees I thought I would try it as a late summer crop (because we had multiple days over 90 degrees in July this year).  Its growing time is between 90-120 days so we are hoping for a possible October harvest.  They can handle light frost especially if the seed (the part that you harvest and eat from the plant head) is past the green stage.

The plants are tall and quite lovely.  You can even eat their VERY nutritious leaves at young growth.

Quinoa is extremely popular because of the seed nutritional content, mainly the protein content is what interests people.

Quinoa is mostly grown in the Andean highlands of Bolivia and Peru but its recent popularity has inspired some regions in North America to try experimentation crops.  This popularity has also brought up controversy due to the rise of price thats been inflicted on the original growing regions.  Reports say those areas, which used quinoa as a dietary staple, can no longer afford it for themselves.
I am not an expert in this area and can't express an opinion one way or the other.  We thought we would try to grow it for economical reasons.  Currently, the cost is about $8/lb at my grocery store and not always available.  A packet of seeds is around $2.00 (which has enough seeds for 6+ pounds worth of harvest).

Anyway, I planted enough plants to harvest about 1 pound worth of seed.  If it works out we will try more next year and maybe even sell it.  Currently though, I am having trouble with getting it to germinate.  I will keep you updated as things progress, if they progress.

Along with quinoa I have planted our 'late summer' garden or short season and cool season plants.  We recently harvested beets and potatoes from this area.

In harvesting news, we are giving thanks for a good season so far.
Amish Paste tomatoes in the basket, Brandywine heirloom tomato still ripening on the vine-

Lots of eggplants still growing-

First year of trying soybeans (for edamame) going well so far-

We had a good harvest from the blue potato plant the came back from last year.  As roasted, these potatoes are not as tasty as some other varieties.  They are more for potato salads I would say... but interesting to look at with their blue flesh.

I am itching to get a house update post on here soon.  Hopefully that will happen. :)