Green Manure. Organic Winter Spelt: Cereal

Description

Green Manure. Organic Winter Spelt: Cereal. Triticum aestivum.

Winter Spelt: A cereal widely used as a green manure. An annual plant growing to 1.5m or more. This ancient grain is sown in Autumn/Winter and harvested the following summer. Beautifully bright colours when it reaches full maturity. (White to red and purple)

How to grow:
Sow from Oct to early Dec. Prepare the ground by digging it over and taking out weeds. Firm the seeds into the soil, maybe tramp them using a plank of wood, and protect from birds and mice until germination. Can be treated like winter wheat in terms of seed bed preparation and sowing. Prefers well drained soil and a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH of 6-6.5.
Growth starts at the end of the season with the roots holding the soil overwinter. Growth restarts when the light returns to complete the growth cycle.

Problem solving:
Considered a robust crop, it has a low input requirement with good diesease resistance.

Favourite ways to use them:
This ancient grain has been grown for thousands of years. Suitable for milling making it good for cereals and artisan breads! Is a good source of protein and fiber.

Average seed weight: approx. 9 seeds per gram.