Plant Wheat
Revision as of 18:03, 12 December 2016 by Kipkis (Kipkis | contribs) (importing article from wikihow)
More farmland is covered by wheat than any other crops with around 570,000,000 acres sown annually. Most people grow either two types of wheat, which are called winter or spring wheat, and are planted either during the fall or spring. You can learn how to plant wheat easily once you know your area's climate and what type of seeds to sow. Here's how to plant wheat:
Steps
- Determine the climate where you wish to grow wheat. Winter wheat is planted in the fall and harvested in early spring. It also tends to be the preferred variety since it is more nutritious and competes with fewer weeds in the spring. Spring wheat is planted in the spring and harvested in the fall. It is the more common variety in areas that have colder winters.
- Prepare to plant winter wheat in the fall, approximately 6 to 8 weeks before the soil freezes as this allows for strong root growth. Spring wheat can be planted as early as you can work the soil.
- Use a rake, rototiller or shovel to prepare the soil. The ground needs to be as close to even as possible. The area you will be planting in should be about 2 inches (5.1 cm) deep.
- Spread fertilizer over the prepared land. Keep in mind that if you live in a dry environment, the fertilizer will make the wheat grow faster and absorb all the moisture in the ground.
- Plant the seeds. You can scatter the seeds in the prepared area or you can use a seed drill that makes holes every 6 inches (15.2 cm) and plants several seeds per hole. The benefit to a seed drill is it allows for easier weeding when the plants are young due to the space in between the seedlings. The drier the ground, the lighter you want to seed it since there is less moisture available.
- Cover the wheat seed with sufficient soil to prevent the seed from drying. For spring wheat, plant it 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) deep while winter wheat should be 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) deep. The seed should never be covered by more than 3 inches (7.6 cm) of soil.
- Water your planted wheat seeds two or three times a year if you have a dry climate.
Tips
- Wheat can grow in a variety of climates and soils, but it thrives the best in temperate zones.
- As with most grasses, wheat thrives in moderate dampness, but it does not enjoy being submerged in water. Raised beds are a key way to ensure your wheat plants are not under water.
- If you want to grow wheat again, you must replant it since it's an annual plant.
- Planting wheat too early can expose the wheat to a myriad of environmental problems, including fall drought stress or spring freeze injury. Additionally, planting wheat too late may prevent the seedlings from developing fully and reducing total yield amounts.
Things You'll Need
- Rake, rototiller or shovel
- Fertilizer
- Wheat seeds
- Seed drill
- Water
- Protected Area
Related Articles
- Plant Sugar Cane
- Plant Switchgrass
- Cultivate Bamboo
- Plant an Evergreen Hedge
- Grow Wheat in Your Garden
Sources and Citations
- http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/641558/wheat
- http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1755&context=extensionhist
- http://www.breadinfo.com/flour.shtml
