Grains in the garden.

[homesteader]

Anyone raising thier own grains? I`m considering growing wheat and millet this next season and am looking for input.

 

[old fashioned]

Sorry I don't have an answer for you only because I'm interested in more information about it too. But also oats and barley.

 

[PunkinPeep]

I don't know exactly what sort of input you're looking for, but you might find this link interesting.
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/clay62.html

 

[FarmerDenise]

We have been growing , millet, broomcorn, pop corn.
It all grows more or less like sweet corn. We harvest the millet as soon as the birds show too much interest. We hang it upside down to dry for a week or so, then store it in a large plastic bin so the rats and mice cannot get to it. We use it to feed the chickens, parakeets and the rabbit. Sometimes we put some out for wild birds also. Considering the price of storebought millet, I don't bother to remove the seeds from the stalk for our consumption. Not yet anyway. I don't use that much in cooking.
I strip the broomcorn from the stalks and primarily use it for chicken feed. I understand that it is a good grain for people too, but haven't tried it. I also leave some on the stalk to provide both the chickens and the rabbit some entertainment in trying to remove the seeds. The rabbit just eats the whole thing.

I have been wanting to try growing amaranth, but haven't had the chance.

 

[homesteader]

FarmerDenise I would like to know what variety of millet you are raising, what size area and what you figure your yield is in pounds. Just approxinates would be great. I`ve done a lot of research on millet as well as some other grains. The best millet for cooking use is the white proso millet as it is much easier to hull. To hull it you use a grain mill set to just break the hull and then winnow out as much as possible, what is left is supposed to be able to be floated off,redry and grind for flour or grits .
Hope to be growing about 80 x 80 sq. ft. this next season. I intend to build a small building as a drying room and threshing floor for my grains.
Here in Michigan most of the wheats grown are winter wheat. As this season is at a close I will try a small patch of spring wheat and see what happens.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

The Encyclopedia of Country Living has some great information about growing grains on a small scale, as well as on a larger scale. I would recommend this book in general, as well.

 

[homesteader]

Yes, I had a copy but that was a divorce and many miles ago. Am going to buy another copy as soon as I can. Was actually looking for people here raising thier own grains and input about thier results. I know the methods and processes but haven`t put them into action yet but will.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Well, I have a little experience, however it is limited to my area (Pacific Northwest). My experience will not translate to your region. We have droughty summers and mild winters, so I grow most of my grains during the winter.

Good luck!

 

[old fashioned]

DrakeMaiden, I understand you're a neighbor of sorts, in SW Washington (from other posts). I live in Puget Sound (Tacoma area). Where do you get your grain seeds and how large an area do you plant for each? I've only looked in seed catalogs that usually don't carry grains per se or only to large scale farming. The local "seed" dealers or nurseries don't usually carry grains like wheat, oats, barley etc.
I know popcorn and amaranth(sold as flower ornamental-or is this different?)are easily available. And millet seeds in wild bird food. But I've never seen field corn, broomcorn, barley, wheat or oats seeds for growing especially for very small scale/backyard gardens or haven't I been looking in the right direction or have I completely missed the boat?

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Old Fashioned! I noticed you live close too.

Well, right now I am in the experimental phase with grains, and only growing very small beds. I am slowly learning a thing or two. As you may know, our area is NOT known for growing grain. I started attempting to grow grain for our ducks and with the hope that some day we could grow something to eat ourselves. Now that you understand my premise . . . I am growing grain types that are used as cover crops in our area and then letting them "fruit." So, some of these grains I am growing may not be optimal grains for eating (I haven't gotten to the point of researching that aspect). I am more interested in what I can get to grow, especially without supplemental irrigation. I am not going to water a large field of grains through the summer. There is no way I can manage that on our well . . . and it would probably be outside of my legal "water rights" to attempt such a thing anyway.

What I have found so far is that winter wheat and Austrian field peas grow well, if planted some time in early October (at least in my frost-prone area). They will set seed without irrigation in the late spring/early summer. At some point, I'd like to try rye . . . someone I know has had luck with that.

I have also grown oats and buckwheat . . . but those will require watering, as they grow during our dry season.

Amaranth is trickier, because we don't get a lot of heat units (not many really hot days). I have some in our hothouse that are flowering right now . . . hard to say if they will "fruit." You can eat the seeds from the flowering kinds of amaranth, but it would probably not be as good as getting amaranth meant for food.

Still with me? LOL I get my cover crop grain seeds from Territorial Seeds. I also grew an indian corn from them that I loved (fairly drought tolerant) and would grow again (the indian corn can be used for food, but needs to be ground). I bought amaranth seeds from Seeds of Change. I can't remember, but Seeds of Change may have other types of grain seeds too.

Once I get enough beds put together, I hope to expand my grain growing . . . it just isn't top priority. Then I will probably look for a better source of seed.