Barley Growing Guide

Hordeum vulgare

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Any well-drained, fertile soil.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

Hardy.

Feeding

May need supplemental nitrogen in poor soils, but too much fertiliser can result in too much green growth at the expense of seed heads.

Spacing

Single Plants: 10cm (3") each way (minimum)
Rows: 10cm (3") with 10cm (3") row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Seed can be broadcast, but will be eaten by birds unless covered with 2cm (1 in) of soil or other organic matter. Sowing in rows is usually easier. In areas that experience frosts, plant early to make sure seedheads ripen in time. In warmer areas or if being used as a winter cover crop, sow in autumn. Barley grows fast in cool soils.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Six-row barley is best for food as it is higher in protein and carbohydrates. Two-row barley is higher-yielding, and better for making beer. Barley straw can be floated in a pond to prevent algae from forming.

Harvesting

Harvest when ears turn yellow-brown and begin to droop. Use a sickle or pruning shears to cut the stalks, and dry them somewhere airy for one to two weeks. Cut off the seed heads and thresh them to separate the heads from the stalks, before winnowing away small particles. If growing as a cover crop, mow stalks down before seedheads are produced.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Barley

Aphids (General)

Slug

Snail