Winter Wheat: How to Plant Wheat Seeds

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) is a cover crop, which means farmers grow it to cover the ground rather than harvest it. Many growers plant winter wheat in the fall to reduce soil erosion and improve pest and weed control in the winter. Most winter wheat varieties are endemic to Southwest Asia, but Russian immigrant farmers introduced the hard winter wheat crop to the Great Plains region of the United States in the nineteenth century.

By comparison, farmers grow other species of T. aestivum for their seeds, which factories mill into flour for varied uses, including to make bread. In general, wheat is a domesticated cultivar that accounts for ninety-five percent of wheat crops worldwide.

Farmers from Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado in the US adopted hard red winter wheat (a North American class of wheat) to replenish soil composition after a sorghum harvest, which would provide a high-yield potential for soybeans, corn, or another wheat grain crop. This kind of crop rotation maintains soil nutrient levels and releases carbon and nitrogen into the soil faster than other cover crops.

The agronomy department at Kansas State University studies bushels of winter wheat each year to track data of test weight, seed size, and seed treatment techniques to improve winter wheat’s natural resilience. This work is important to commercial growers and the wider population, who rely on regular wheat production as a means of survival.

Use these tips to improve your winter wheat production and soil composition in your garden:

1. 1. Consider your region’s climate. The success of your seeds depends on your area’s weather conditions and the length of your growing seasons. Winter wheat grows best in USDA Hardiness Zones 3–7.
2. 2. Choose an ideal planting date. For optimal results, choose a seeding date between mid-September and late September. If you plant winter wheat too early, your wheat yields might suffer. An early planting date also creates a larger window for aphids, winterkill, and other pests to set in before the seedlings enter their dormancy period. Conversely, late planting will not provide seeds with the soil moisture and ground temperature they need to reach the germination and vernalization growth stages.
3. 3. Water the seedbed before you start planting. For smaller gardens, you can add seeds to the surface of raked, dry soil. Otherwise, watering the ground first can be beneficial to promote germination. Using your garden hose’s mist setting, sweep the nozzle back and forth to avoid overwatering the soil.
4. 4. Space the seeds properly. Plant wheat kernels to a maximum seeding depth of two inches and follow a row spacing that ranges from ten to fourteen inches. Winter wheat planting should provide twenty to sixty live seeds per square foot—these seeding rates are similar to other small grains with winter hardiness characteristics. Additionally, you can sprinkle mulch or organic matter on the surface of the seeded area to insulate the ground and retain moisture in the soil for cold-weather crops.
5. 5. Apply herbicide on warm winter days. Once your wheat has sprouted, apply herbicide, fungicide, or insecticide on days when the temperature reaches at least fifty degrees Fahrenheit. These applications can ward off harmful insects and diseases to increase your wheat grain yield the next growing season. If you forgo the overwintering process and decide to plant soft white wheat or spring wheat in early spring, alter your application schedules accordingly.

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