Wheat Growing Process

Wheat can be grown in the home garden for many benefits.

As one of the world's top food crops, wheat has been cultivated for thousands of years, helping to establish colonies and trade between cultures, according to Heirloom Organics. Wheat is used for baking bread and culinary staples, cosmetics and other goods, and feeds millions of people every year. Several varieties of wheat are available to grow in, and beneficial for, the home garden. It is usually grown commercially in large yields, but you can grow your own with some simple materials and patience.

Things You'll Need

• Till
• Rake
• Compost
• Shovel
• Wheat seeds
• Irrigation drip system, if possible
• Fertilizer
• Pruning shears
• Scythe

Instructions

1. Prepare the planting area in spring as soon as the ground can be worked. Rake or till-in a generous amount of compost 8 inches deep into your soil, and smooth over with a rake. Next, dig trenches with a shovel, about 6 inches deep and 4 inches wide. The length of the furrows depends on how much wheat you are planting, but a good amount for home gardens is a furrow of about 8 feet long.

2. Sprinkle a generous amount of wheat seeds into the furrows. Since some wheat won't germinate you don't need a specific spacing for the seeds. Sprinkle a 1.5-inch layer of dirt over the seeds. Keep in mind that the more wheat seeds, the more water you will be using to water the wheat.

3. Use a drip-irrigation system, if possible, to water the wheat seeds directly into the furrows at a rate of 2 inches per week, and most importantly, immediately after planting. In the summer, especially during dry times, you will need to water the wheat at least two to three times per week to keep the soil consistently moist. If you have rain though, you may not have to water at all.

4. Fertilize the wheat with a balanced fertilizer at the beginning and middle of the growing seasons, following the directions specifically.

5. Observe the wheat during the growing season so you can see when it is mature enough for harvest. Usually it is harvested in late summer, after the stalks have turned from green to yellow to brown. Once the wheat stalks are brown, the top, heavy with grain, starts to dip down towards the ground. Pick off a top of one stalk, pick out a couple grains then chew on them to test if it is harvest time or not. If the grains are firm and crunchy, it is time to harvest; if they are soft, the grain is not ready for harvest. Check often until the grain is crunchy. At this time, use a scythe (or for very small plots, sharp clean pruning shears) to cut the wheat kernels off right at the stems.

References

• Heirloom-Organics.com: Guide to Growing Wheat
• MotherEarthNews: Growing Your Own Wheat