There are several fields not far from home growing a mystery crop this year.
It's very colourful with seed heads of red/purple, yellow and green.
Is it a crop grown for Caribbean cookery? Seem to remember seeing crops like this on programmes about city allotments where people of all nationalities grow crops we don't often use here.
Must be grown for the seeds, there are plenty on each plant
Maybe it's Amaranth? or Quinoa?
The leaves are a bit like Fat Hen - a common weed here that was once eaten, so it's from that family.
Someone will know, but whatever it is, it's definitely not been grown around here before.
Back Soon
It's Amaranth. Grown for it's seeds. A bit like millet.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was some sort of millet.
DeleteJean.
Could it be quinoa?
ReplyDeleteYes, I've decided that's what it is!
DeleteWe've had a few fields of it around here for some years.
DeleteI think Quinoa as Amaranth usually hangs down in tails, but happy to be proven wrong. Perhaps with drier summers it is an experiment, I see they are growing rice somewhere in UK. Sandra.
ReplyDeleteLooks a bit like some fields around here that had what looked like sunflower flowers on a few weeks ago?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely not anything to do with sunflowers.
DeleteOxybasis rubra…Pigweed, Coast blite, Red goosefoot, Sowbane. Toxic when eaten (Humans). So says my app. Picture This. June.
ReplyDeleteAlso Redroot amaranth. June
ReplyDeleteIt wouldn't be anything toxic
DeleteThat looks like something a friend grows and I have a feeling Tam grew some on her Yorkshire allotment. Can't think of the name though but it was edible.
ReplyDeleteI reckon it must be edible as farmers wouldn't bother with fields full of something that wasn't
DeleteNo idea but it reminds me of the weeds from my childhood garden. We used to play pretend cooking with them. Catriona
ReplyDeleteQuinoa. I saw a piece on tv a few months ago about some farmers starting to grow it here as a bit of an experiment. It was a piece about coping with climate change.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree - good to know. Rice in the Fens and Quinoa in Suffolk - all very exciting!
DeleteIt's quinoa, as known as amaranth, too. Seems to be very happy in your local fields!
ReplyDeleteUlvmor (again unable to sign in...)
Some years ago, I was taken to visit Tyntesfield, a wonderful house in Wraxall near Bristol, and they had Quinoa growing in their kitchen garden. The plants were up against a wall, and much taller than those in your field, but a variety that doesn't need staking would be more suitable for commercial production. I'm opting for Quinoa.
ReplyDeleteMy vote goes to quinoa (which is not the same as amaranth). I drove past a field a few years ago and thought “what on earth is that” a little further on there was a sign “you might wonder what is growing here. it is quinoa”
ReplyDeleteA sign would have helped! I've certainly never seen it around here before
DeleteMy app calls it Pigweed! It is, as you say, a member of the amaranth family, toxic when eaten!!! It also says, 'This plant looks okay, but can be better!' Let us know when you find out more. 😊
ReplyDeleteYour app is wrong! Definitely Quinoa
DeleteMy vote is for Quinoa too ( a member of the Amaranth family) How exciting to see such a new crop in your local field!
ReplyDeleteAngie
Here’s a new article from several years ago - https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/business/20723548.east-anglian-grown-quinoa-takes-off-versatile-food-ingredient/
ReplyDeleteFascinating, it certainly reminded me of millet.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever eaten quinoa.
Alison in Devon x
I love the brisk amaranth/ quinoa debate! Quinoa is expensive here, so it would be a good cash crop, I'd think.
ReplyDeleteWell, I had no clue but I enjoyed reading all of the guesses. I've never had quinoa.
ReplyDeleteAs I read your post I knew you were going to have a lively series of comments
ReplyDeleteThe field of quinoa seems to be growing very well. There is nothing better than having a great field crop and product that sells well. Success all around.
ReplyDeleteWell it's all the right colours for quinoa, so that would be my best guess.
ReplyDeleteNever really thought about what quinoa looks like when it grows. Now I know!
ReplyDeleteIt is quinoa {keen wha}
ReplyDeleteOh what a pretty colour. I can only imagine a field full of that lovely colour, be it quinoa or amaranth. Don't have any idea at all.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Not much help on what it is but it is really pretty!
ReplyDelete