Winter Wheat Triticum aestivum

Wheat is an annual grass grown as a cover crop, for forage, or for grain. The home gardener is apt to grow wheat, which is a member of the grass family (Poaceae), as a fall-sown, winter cover crop. Wheat was domesticated in the region that stretched from Mesopotamia to India. As a modern crop, wheat is cultivated worldwide, and more acreage is under wheat than any other crop. The species epithet is Latin for “summer.”

Wheat grows best in full sun but is adaptable to a variety of soil types, as long as the soil is well-drained. The best results are on moderately fertile soils, not subject to flooding. Because wheat is not a legume, it does not fix nitrogen; however, it produces adequate root and top growth that can be incorporated into the soil, increasing the soil’s organic matter content.

Wheat is a suitable cover crop for a vegetable garden, fruit orchard or permaculture garden. The benefits of a cover crop are the prevention of erosion, the suppression of weeds and the addition of organic matter to the soil. Wheat does not host certain nematodes and may be a useful cover crop where those pests are prevalent. Wheat is excellent at smothering and outcompeting weeds. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Wheat is susceptible to southern root knot nematode. If Hessian fly is present in your area, plant wheat after the first fall frost.