How to Grow Barley and Triticale

Barley and Triticale

Hordeum vulgare (Barley) / Triticosecale (Triticale)

grass

Barley and triticale are cool-season grain crops belonging to the grass family, valued for their hardiness and adaptability to diverse growing conditions. Barley is an ancient cereal with a 2-row or 6-row kernel arrangement, while triticale is a modern hybrid of wheat and rye, combining the productivity of wheat with the hardiness of rye. Both are excellent cover crops and are commonly blended into cover crop mixes to improve soil structure, suppress weeds, and add organic matter.

Looking for a specific variety?

Harrington Nomini Lacey Trical 2000 Greyson Foremost

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Example Barley and Triticale timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Barley and Triticale
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Barley and Triticale
Around Aug 5

≈ 110 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Barley and Triticale dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours minimum daily; tolerates partial shade

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Water: Moderate water needs; 12-15 inches annually for grain production. As cover crops, rainfall is usually sufficient. Avoid waterlogged conditions; both prefer drier conditions than wheat.

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Spacing: Broadcast 1-2 inches apart in rows 6-8 inches apart; or direct broadcast at 1-1.5 million seeds per acre inches

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Days to maturity: 110-140 days for barley; 120-160 days for triticale (grain production)

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Planting depth: 1-1.5 inches deep

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy to clay loam soil; tolerant of poor soil quality

pH: 6.0-7.5

Amendments:

Compost for organic matter Lime if pH below 6.0 Nitrogen fertilizer (moderate amounts; excessive nitrogen reduces grain quality)

Growing Zones

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Barley thrives in zones 2-9; triticale in zones 3-9. Both excel as winter cover crops in cooler zones.

2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a

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Growth Stages

Germination & Emergence

10-14 days

Seeds germinate within 5-10 days in cool soil (40-50°F). Seedlings emerge with a single leaf blade and adventitious root system.

Ensure adequate soil moisture during germination. Protect from birds if in field borders. No fertilizer needed at this stage.

Tillering

3-5 weeks

Plant develops multiple shoots (tillers) from the base, creating a bushy appearance. Leaf count increases to 3-5 leaves per shoot.

This is the critical growth period. Apply moderate nitrogen fertilizer if soil tests are low. Monitor for early pest/disease issues.

Jointing & Boot Stage

4-6 weeks

Internodes elongate and the plant shoots up. The flowering head forms inside the leaf sheath ('boot stage') before emergence.

Avoid heavy foot traffic. Monitor for Hessian flies and disease pressure. Final nitrogen application can be made at early jointing.

Flowering & Grain Development

3-4 weeks

Head emerges from the boot, florets open briefly, and anthers exert. Pollination occurs (mostly self-pollinating). Grains fill with starch.

Critical period for yield formation. Maintain consistent moisture if dry conditions emerge. Monitor for foliar diseases.

Maturity & Harvest

2-3 weeks

Grain reaches physiological maturity; kernels transition from soft to hard. Plant desiccates; stems and leaves turn golden-brown.

Allow crop to dry down to 12-15% moisture before harvest. For cover crop use, terminate before seed set to avoid volunteering in future crops.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Rye Oats Vetch (hairy or common) Clover (red or white) Pea Alfalfa Rape/Canola (in cover crop mixes) Radish (tillage radish, for breaking compaction)

Avoid planting near:

Wheat (similar pest and disease pressure; may compete for nutrients) Susceptible legumes when diseased (Septoria or other leaf spotters present)

Common Pests

Use resistant varieties; avoid early fall planting in fly-prone areas; crop rotation; plant after fly-free date for region
Use resistant varieties; insecticide sprays in fall if aphid pressure high; avoid early planting in fall
Monitor for feeding damage; spray with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) if thresholds exceeded; encourage natural predators
Use resistant cultivars; ensure good air circulation; fungicide sprays if severe (sulfur or synthetic fungicides)
Use resistant varieties; remove crop residue; avoid overhead irrigation; fungicide if disease pressure escalates
Crop rotation; avoid planting in fields with known wireworm history; consider insecticide seed treatments

Uses

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Grain for malting and brewing

Culinary

Barley is the primary grain for malt production and beer brewing. The grain's enzymatic activity during malting converts starches to fermentable sugars. [source]

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Food-grade grains and flour

Culinary

Both barley and triticale can be ground into flour for baking, or pearled/hulled barley used in soups, stews, and pilaf. Triticale flour blends well with wheat flour. [source]

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Animal feed

Culinary

Both grains are excellent livestock feed (cattle, poultry, pigs) due to high starch and moderate protein content. Triticale often yields more biomass per acre than barley. [source]

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Cover crop and soil amendment

Household

When grown as cover crops and incorporated into soil, barley and triticale add organic matter, improve soil structure, suppress weeds, break compaction, and reduce erosion. Triticale's deeper root system is particularly effective for subsoil amelioration. [source]

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Weed suppression and living mulch

Household

Both crops produce dense biomass that smothers weeds and can be used in living mulch systems with legumes. Their allelopathic compounds may inhibit some weed germination. [source]

Harvest Tips

For grain: Harvest when kernels reach hard-dough stage and moisture drops to 12-15%. Combine with header at ground level. For cover crop termination: Till or incorporate 4-6 weeks before spring planting, or spray with broad-spectrum herbicide (glyphosate) 1-2 weeks before next crop planting. Winter cover crops can be terminated in early spring before heading to maximize biomass contribution.

Fun Facts

🌱 Barley is one of the first domesticated crops, with evidence of cultivation dating back over 10,000 years to the Fertile Crescent. It was used for food, animal feed, and the precursor to beer.
🌱 Triticale is a human-created hybrid developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, combining the grain yield of wheat (Triticum) with the hardiness and disease resistance of rye (Secale). It represents a successful intergeneric cross.
🌱 Barley's two-rowed varieties are traditionally preferred for brewing, while six-rowed varieties have higher protein content and are better for animal feed. Triticale often outyields both parent crops in marginal soils.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Annual Cover Crop Full Sun Germination Hybrid Partial Shade pH Pollination

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