Common Wheat

Common Wheat: Should You Grow This Ancient Grain in Your Garden?

When most people think of wheat, they picture vast golden fields stretching to the horizon. But what about growing common wheat (Triticum aestivum) right in your own backyard? This ancient grain has been feeding humanity for thousands of years, and while it might seem like an unusual choice for the home gardener, there are some interesting reasons you might want to consider it – and a few reasons you might want to think twice.

What Exactly Is Common Wheat?

Common wheat, also simply called wheat, is an annual grass that belongs to the same family as your lawn – though it’s obviously much more useful in the kitchen! This graminoid (grass-like plant) grows in neat bunches and can reach up to 3.3 feet tall at maturity. With its rapid growth rate and distinctive golden seed heads, it’s quite different from most ornamental garden plants.

You might also see this plant listed under several synonyms in older gardening references, including Triticum hybernum, Triticum sativum, or Triticum vulgare, but they’re all referring to the same species we know and love today.

Where Does Wheat Come From?

Here’s where things get interesting from a native gardening perspective: common wheat isn’t actually native to North America. This grain originated in the Middle East and has been introduced to virtually every corner of our continent. You’ll find it growing (and sometimes persisting on its own) from Alaska all the way down to Puerto Rico, and from coast to coast in both the United States and Canada.

While wheat reproduces spontaneously in the wild in many areas and tends to persist without human help, it’s not considered invasive or noxious – it’s just a really successful introduced species that’s become part of our agricultural landscape.

What Does Wheat Look Like in the Garden?

Don’t expect wheat to win any beauty contests in your flower border. This plant is all about function over form. During its active growing period in fall, winter, and spring, wheat produces dense, medium-textured green foliage that forms an erect, bunching growth pattern. The flowers are small and yellow, but they’re not particularly showy – wheat is wind-pollinated, so it doesn’t need to attract pollinators with flashy blooms.

The real visual payoff comes when the grain heads mature to a beautiful golden brown color. There’s something deeply satisfying about seeing those seed heads sway in the breeze, even if your wheat field is just a small patch in your vegetable garden.

Should You Grow Wheat in Your Garden?

The answer depends on what you’re hoping to achieve. Here are some reasons you might want to give wheat a try:

• Educational value – great for teaching kids about where food comes from
• Self-sufficiency goals – grow your own grain for baking
• Unique garden feature – not many people have wheat in their backyard
• Low maintenance once established
• Drought tolerant with medium water needs

However, there are also some drawbacks to consider:

• Limited ornamental appeal compared to native grasses
• Requires processing to be useful (threshing, winnowing, grinding)
• Takes up significant space for relatively small yields
• Provides minimal benefits to local wildlife and pollinators

Growing Conditions and Care

If you decide to give wheat a go, the good news is that it’s relatively easy to grow. Wheat adapts to a wide range of soil types, from coarse to fine textured soils, and tolerates pH levels from 5.5 to 8.0. It can handle temperatures as low as -28°F and needs at least 100 frost-free days to complete its growth cycle.

Here are the key growing requirements:

• Full sun to partial shade (though it’s shade tolerant, it performs best in full sun)
• Well-draining soil with medium fertility requirements
• Low to moderate water needs (10-100 inches of precipitation annually)
• Plant seeds in fall for winter wheat varieties
• Harvest in late spring to early summer when heads turn golden

Planting and Harvesting Tips

Wheat is propagated by seed, and you’ll find it routinely available from agricultural suppliers. With about 11,360 seeds per pound, a little goes a long way. The seeds have high vigor and establish quickly, though they spread slowly on their own.

Plant your wheat seeds about 18 inches apart to allow for the root system, which needs to penetrate at least 18 inches deep. The plants don’t resprout after cutting, so you’ll need to replant each year – but that’s part of the annual grain-growing cycle anyway.

Consider Native Alternatives

While wheat isn’t problematic environmentally, you might want to consider some native grass alternatives that provide similar aesthetic appeal with greater ecological benefits. Native bunch grasses like buffalo grass, little bluestem, or prairie dropseed offer beautiful seed heads, support local wildlife, and require less water once established.

These native options provide food and habitat for birds, beneficial insects, and other wildlife – something wheat simply can’t match. Plus, they’re naturally adapted to your local climate and soil conditions, making them easier to grow long-term.

The Bottom Line

Growing common wheat in your garden can be a fun experiment and educational experience, especially if you’re interested in food production or want to try your hand at growing grains. Just don’t expect it to replace your ornamental plants or provide significant benefits to local wildlife.

If you do decide to grow wheat, treat it as you would any other annual crop – give it good soil, adequate water, and patience as you wait for that satisfying golden harvest. And who knows? You might just end up with enough grain to bake your own homemade bread!