You don't need a field in order to grow wheat; your backyard will do.
With the price of wheat on the rise, more and more people are looking for ways to grow their own. A surprisingly small space is all that is required to grow wheat for flour, which can then be made into bread. A plot of land 10 feet by 10 feet will produce a yield of up to 25 loaves of bread. The best type of wheat to plant is winter wheat which is more nutritious than spring wheat, protects the soil in winter and does not have to compete for nutrients with as many weeds.
Instructions
1. Prepare the ground for planting. Use a shovel and a rake to flatten down the ground until it is fairly even. Plant winter wheat at the time when winter dormancy has not yet set in, but summer and its accompanying flies and pests are long gone.
2. Plant the wheat seeds. There are three choices when it comes to planting. Either sprinkle 3 oz. of seed over every 100 square feet or choose the more labor-intensive route of creating a hole every 6 inches and placing a few seeds in each. The third choice is to spread the seed up and down the plot in tightly packed rows.
3. Rake the patch over once the seeds have been planted to protect them from birds. You may wish to erect a scarecrow of some description or purchase a bird scarer to further protect your seeds.
4. Weed your beds while your crops are growing, especially when the plants are very small. The soil needs to be kept moist, so additional water may be necessary during dry spells. Overwatering, however, will damage your crop.
5. Cut down the stalks once they have turned a golden color with a few streaks of green still present. A scythe is ideal for cutting them down. Tie the stalks into bundles with string and leave them upright in the patch of garden so they can continue to ripen and turn a deeper golden color on their own.
Tags: down stalks, , grow wheat, winter wheat