A lil experiment.

[NoFlyZone]

We've been working towards being more self sufficient for several years now.
Along that path, we've experimented with several kinds of plants both in the gardens and in the greenhouse.
Different varieties of gourds, peppers, herbs, both medicinal and for cooking.
Since the watermelon/cantaloupe patch went bust because of the coons, I thought I'd use that patch for Winter wheat this year.
The plot is roughly 30'x50' and amazingly enough, looks very much like this.

I ran the disk through it to break everything up and broadcast the seed wheat all over.
The seed is a red wheat, but I don't know if it's hard or soft. We'll see.

After raking it in, I said a quick prayer for it and left it.
We're expecting some rain so I hope everything gets watered in good.
My goal here is to test my ability to grow the wheat without the deer eating it all, then harvest it, mill it and bake a loaf of bread with wheat grown on my property.

Wish me luck!

 

[Donfini2]

Deer fencing ideas

https://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-install-a-deer-proof-fence-for-your-yard-or-garden/

Double Fence: Two fences spaced a few feet apart, regardless of height, can also work. The deer won’t like being caught between the fences, so they will avoid attempting the jump. You can also do this with two rows of electric fencing set about 3’ apart.

Good luck on the buns for sloppy does sammich’s!

 

[Bacash]

Awesome experiment and I’m excited to see how it turns out!

What’s your plan for harvesting it once it grows?

How are you going to thresh it?

This is such a cool idea, I’m jealous.

 

[NoFlyZone]

Everything will be done by hand for the most part.
With the small plot, I'll probably use the electric hedge trimmers to cut the wheat stalks.
Thrashing may be done with a screen board and a pair of gloves!

I don't plan on buying any special equipment for this endeavor, so I might just have to wing it.

 

[WhiteWolf]

Good luck! I've always wanted to try this. Too many odds against me, to do more than entertain the idea.

 

[SSG Nasty]

Grow wheat, grow!!!!!!

 

[Back40]

Awesome, I've been toying with the idea of doing this on my place, looking forward to seeing how this goes.

 

[NoFlyZone]

Good luck! I've always wanted to try this. Too many odds against me, to do more than entertain the idea.

It doesn't take much space to try it out. You could even do it with containers like half barrels or even buckets.
This is just an experiment to see, first hand, what is involved in growing wheat with limited resources.
I happened to have a small plot to try it in.

 

[240Geezer]

I was actually looking at the back 40.
40 square yards that is. And I was thinking if I don’t do something with it then it’s just going to weed over. I was thinking wheat.
Nice backdrop for the formal garden and maybe a tasty resource.
We’re pretty much done experimenting with veggies for now. So why not.

 

[NoFlyZone]

Go for it 240...
We can do stuff now to polish the process, where we might not be able to later.

 

[Donfini2]

Have you tried different seed prep too? Sow some direct, soak some first, maybe freeze some first

 

[NoFlyZone]

No, I haven't Don.
I am a total rookie with growing wheat, so I didn't even think of that.
Maybe I should till up another patch and try some different stuff.

 

[Donfini2]

I have no idea either, just random thoughts.
I do like fresh bread with fresh honey.
Just saying

 

[Mel's Cookin']

Did you add any phosphorus to the soil when you planted? I understand that is supposed to improve the winter hardiness.

(Conversely, high nitrogen levels in the soil is supposed to decrease the winter hardiness of the plants.)

It will be interesting to see how this works out. Raising and processing your own wheat could become an important tool to have in your arsenal of knowledge.

 

[LostViking]

Baking your own bread from your own wheat would be very cool!

I have been toying with trying this with rye.

Very curious to see how this plays out.

What are your typical bottom winter temps??

 

[NoFlyZone]

I didn't add any phosphorus.
None of the farmers I have talked to have either.
Our Winters are really not that bad since Al Gore dumped a bucket full of global warming on us.
Typically the wheat around here will sprout, grow about 8" tall, then go dormant till Spring and then shoot up like a rocket.
The deer can take their licks when it's just starting out, but they seem to back off in the Spring to browse on the new stuff coming out.
The wheat recovers from the winter munchathon and does quite well.
If I get enough for Mrs. NoFly to bake some zucchini bread, I'll be pickled tink!

 

[NoFlyZone]

Baking your own bread from your own wheat would be very cool!

I have been toying with trying this with rye.

Very curious to see how this plays out.

What are your typical bottom winter temps??

Worst case is it gets down to single digits.
Very seldom does it hit zero.
Usually mid to upper teens.

 

[LostViking]

Thought it might help to place these here.

Just some wheat info;
http://nationalfestivalofbreads.com/nutrition-education/wheat-facts


http://www.mofga.org/Publications/The-Maine-Organic-Farmer-Gardener/Spring-2010/Wheat
Consider that roughly 10 square feet – about the size of the average kitchen table – will produce about a pound of wheat, which makes a pound of flour; and 1 cup of sifted flour weighs about 4 ounces; and a small loaf of bread can be made with 4 cups of flour.
www.mofga.org › Spring-2010 › Wheat

Makes you think when you realize it takes 10 square feet of crop to make a loaf of bread.

 

[Bacash]

@NoFlyZone You know this means that you also have to buy the Country Living grain mill, if you don’t already own it.

 

[NoFlyZone]

Thought it might help to place these here.

Just some wheat info;
http://nationalfestivalofbreads.com/nutrition-education/wheat-facts


http://www.mofga.org/Publications/The-Maine-Organic-Farmer-Gardener/Spring-2010/Wheat
Consider that roughly 10 square feet – about the size of the average kitchen table – will produce about a pound of wheat, which makes a pound of flour; and 1 cup of sifted flour weighs about 4 ounces; and a small loaf of bread can be made with 4 cups of flour.
www.mofga.org › Spring-2010 › Wheat

Makes you think when you realize it takes 10 square feet of crop to make a loaf of bread.

So with a 1,500 square foot wheat plot, I could get enough wheat to bake fifteen loaves of bread, If the wind is at my back, the stars are aligned and Al Gore stays in Tennessee.