growing wheat/spelt

[snakeshack]

have some spare ground thats on the plot next to mine (long story but un touched for 20 years) about 50 sqare yards or therabouts.I am considering growing wheat or spelt on it this year as chicken food or to maybe make some bread although the cost of a hand grinder puts the flour production into doubt.
Questions are
1.where can I get spelt grain ,wheat can come from the chook food
2.when do I plant
3.when do I harvest
4.why do I always pick something this strange to grow every year

[StephenH]

I don't know, but I look forward to replies from others. I've vaguely wondered about growing wheat or other cereals on a garden or allotment scale before now.

[Two_Sheds]

I googled how to grow spelt

Spelt Grain | Doves Farm

This is a US site, but the method looks transferable for the UK

[snakeshack]

the growing information looks handy but I may be too late for spelt this year,Ialso don't want to shell out 35 quid for a 25 kilo bag,I may try a health food shop for grain but notice that removal of the husk impairs sprouting,thanks for the info TS

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Seeds of Italy sell Spelt if you are still interested. Also check out www.sharphampark.com for more info.

[snakeshack]

just spotted the seeds of italy link ,strangely enough they are based less than 5 mins from my house,why didn't I think of that before. I buy loads of their seeds as the packs are good value in terms of quality and quantity and they have a good range of seeds that are slightly "off the wall"

[Two_Sheds]

Seeds of Italy sell Spelt

I just added a link. (btw, very expensive peasant food )

[jackyspratty]

A lotty colleague of mine grows wheat every year and gets it milled about 30kgs or so! He also grows oats and rye. This year he is experimenting with rapesssed to possibly press his own oil! It looks and sounds fantastic. Really beautiful. We grew sme in our school group this year and he lent us a small stone flour mill and winnow basket. Great fun but hard work. Look into how much you would have to grow for alocal mill to grind it if you wnat to have flour!

Time of harvest varies according to growing conditions really. We were advised to harvest when the ears dropped down! Pigeons are a bugger with grai crops though as well! We sowed ours very late due to school opening times but I can chat with him next time i see him if you have any specific concerns or want advice re suppliers etc?

[Nik]

You can buy wheatgrass seeds fairly easily, and as far as I'm aware there is no difference between wheatgrass and wheat - it's just harvested at a different stage.

Sprouting seeds - Wheat (Wheatgrass): Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors

[veggiechicken]

I have a wheat mill attachment for my Kenwood Chef. Its a long time since I've used it so can't tell you have efficient it is. I think you're meant to mill just enough for your immediate baking needs so that the flour is fresh.

[planetologist]

I've grown wheat, oats and barley this year (starting Oct '10). The wheat and barley were all eaten by the birds, probably mostly the pigeons. They left the oats, though. I haven't figured how to thresh it yet, though. Tried with a wood chipper, but that didn't work.

I'd recommend starting with amaranth and quinoa, though you can't make bread out of those.

[planetologist]

PS. The John Innes Centre have a cereal collection, including spelt (Triticum spelta). They sent me some obligate winter wheat varieties this summer to try the Bonfils/Fukuoka method, for free!
http://data.jic.bbsrc.ac.uk/cgi-bin/...sm/cereals.asp

[Nik]

I've grown wheat, oats and barley this year (starting Oct '10). The wheat and barley were all eaten by the birds, probably mostly the pigeons. They left the oats, though. I haven't figured how to thresh it yet, though. Tried with a wood chipper, but that didn't work.

Not sure where I got this from but threshing can apparently be done by putting the ears in a pillowcase and wacking it against a wall. Then throw the remains in the air when it's windy and the husks will blow away. Not sure how you catch the oats though.

[ifine]

We were advised to harvest when the ears dropped down!

[snakeshack]

We were advised to harvest when the ears dropped down!

sounds painfull