Description

Winter wheat in head.
 Figure 1. Winter wheat in head.

Family

  • Grass

Growth habits

Top growth

  • Rapid fall growth — not as fast as rye at low temperatures
  • Slower maturing than rye

Root system

  • Fibrous root system — not as aggressive as rye

Overwintering

  • Does not winterkill

Site suitability

  • Tolerates a moderately wide range of site conditions
  • Does not thrive well in saturated or droughty soils

Control options

  • Needs to be controlled early in spring to avoid excessive drying of soil

Sensitivity to herbicides — weed control

  • There are many herbicides registered for use in wheat but good weed control for a cover crop should not be expensive and may not be needed. Establish a vigorous crop canopy to smother out weeds.

Benefits and concerns

Nutrient management

  • Nitrogen uptake is only half of that of rye in the fall
  • Nitrogen uptake is high in the spring

Soil moisture

  • High water use in spring

As feed

  • Grown as a cover crop and food crop
  • Green growth can be harvested as forage

Getting started

Establishment

  • Can be overseeded in growing crop (e.g. beans, tomatoes)
  • Should be planted by the end of September for an effective cover crop

Cost and availability

  • Seed easily available and inexpensive