If you grow your own wheat, you can use it to make homemade flour, breads and pasta. Just one bushel will yield enough flour to make 90 loaves of wheat bread. Since it is a whole grain, wheat is high in fiber and can help you maintain a healthy gastrointestinal system. Wheat is also rich in Vitamin B6, potassium and iron, and helps reduce high blood pressure. Although there are many types of wheat seeds, all wheat can be categorized as either winter wheat or spring wheat.
Instructions
1. Decide which type of wheat you want to grow. Winter wheat is planted in the fall and harvested in the spring; spring wheat is planted in early spring and harvested in the fall. Aside from the time of year the seeds are planted, the growing methods for winter wheat and are the same.
2. Select a spot that is exposed to plenty of direct sunlight. Regardless of the type of wheat you grow, it will need a heavy amount of sun exposure to thrive.
3. Use a shovel to dig and turn over soil. Your goal is to loosen the soil and make it easier for the seeds to take root and germinate.
4. Fertilize the loosened soil with compost or manure. This will provide the seeds with vital nutrients and help lock moisture into the soil.
5. Spread the wheat seeds by tossing them over the prepared soil.
6. Furrow your patch of wheat seeds by using a rake to spread the soil after planting. Do not worry if some wheat seeds still remain on the surface after planting; this is normal.
7. Water the wheat seeds immediately after planting and once each month during the growing season. If your area gets a lot of rain, you might not need to water the plants at all.
8. Place several plastic flags or streamers throughout your wheat patch. The noise made by the plastic blowing in the breeze deters birds from landing and scares off any birds that are already in the field. This will prevent birds from eating the wheat seeds before they have an opportunity to sprout.
9. Nourish the wheat with an all-purpose fertilizer twice during the growing season.
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