Crop Rotation Group
Miscellaneous
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Soil
Any well-drained, fertile soil.
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Position
Full sun.
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Frost tolerant
Hardy.
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Feeding
May need supplemental nitrogen in poor soils, but too much fertilizer can result in too much green growth at the expense of seed heads.
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Companions
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Spacing
Single Plants: 3" (10cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 3" (10cm) with 3" (10cm) row gap (minimum)
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Sow and Plant
Seed can be broadcast, but will be eaten by birds unless covered with an inch (2cm) 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 fall. Barley grows fast in cool soils.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
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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.
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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.
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Troubleshooting
Rainfall or overhead irrigation when it’s nearly time to harvest can cause the seeds to sprout. Aphid damage is usually minimal, and can be ignored. Armyworms may eat leaves, or cutworms may decimate seedlings.
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