Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:28 pm
Grasses with edible seed heads
Rye, wheat and oats are usually cultivated agriculturally in our fields. After harvesting, they usually end up in the mills or malt houses.
After that, they go on to bakeries, etc. However, the development from seed to ripe ear is also possible in our own garden. Not as big as with our farmers, but it is possible.
All over the world grain has a very special meaning. Without grain fields it would look very meager with our food supply. There would also be no beer 🙁 Known cereal – species belong to the grasses and can be cultivated quite easily. The rather robust species such as barley, rye and wheat cope very well even on poor soil. They are even so hardy that they can withstand a winter of -20 degrees.
For our garden, so-called winter cereals have proven themselves especially for green manuring. After a few weeks of sowing, which takes place in the fall, a dense green growth is formed. As green manure plants, they usually do not remain on the bed, but are simply incorporated into the soil in the spring before planting vegetables or lettuce. You can, however, leave the grain seedlings on your beds in places. They will then form vigorous clumps and produce beautiful stalks for the summer on which the ears of corn will ripen.
Hardy species
For hardy species such as wheat, rye, barley and oats, start sowing in March. As soon as the ground is frost-free, sowing can begin. Just as farmers do in their fields, this is also done in our garden. The grains are simply sown on the prepared field. The depth is about 1-3 cm and the distance is about 10-15 cm so the individual plants can develop magnificently.
Grain on our balcony
Yes, this is also possible. The cereals like rye, wheat or barley do not need much “root space” You can grow them like sunflowers on your balcony. Again, start sowing in March, directly into your balcony boxes or in containers. Just give it a try.