It turns out that quinoa is a good cool weather crop and grows well in the northwest. It is an ancient grain that has been a staple for peoples living in the Andes for 4,000 years. Quinoa was a sacred grain of the Incas; today, it is considered a super-food, as it is both high in protein and gluten-free.
My daughter brought me a handful of pink Brazilian quinoa last winter, and I planted some in my garden in the spring...I had no idea really, what to expect, but I certainly did not expect tiny little star-shaped flowers! and the leaves are edible too, and taste a bit like spinach. The plants may grow to 8 feet tall (so are not good candidates for container gardens).
It turns out that quinoa is a good cool weather crop and grows well in the northwest. It is an ancient grain that has been a staple for peoples living in the Andes for 4,000 years. Quinoa was a sacred grain of the Incas; today, it is considered a super-food, as it is both high in protein and gluten-free.
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These little kale caterpillars are on their way to becoming invasive Cabbage White butterflies; they quickly went through their instars to L5 (27mm). You can see that this one sports the tell-tale two yellow dashes per digit and the yellow racing stripe down the back.
The photo shoot was exciting! One caterpillar was immobile and the other an explorer. Both caterpillars pupated within 48 hours (and to begin with were green). After 3 days, one had lost its green color, fading to a brownish tan. Both color variations are common and depend on where the caterpillar has chosen to pupate. Cabbage White butterflies are non-native to Washington and they prefer disrupted areas, compared to native butterflies which do not choose to lay eggs in most people's vegetable gardens. |
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