I am determined to focus on the utility that plants provide, I can’t escape the draw of the aesthetic. And we shouldn’t have to. This is not an either/or situation. One of the great advantages of being a gardener in the 21st century is we can explore the many attributes that a plant has to offer. Grains are no exception.
REINVENTING THE LANDSCAPE: What I love most about cultivating annual grains is the opportunity to reinvent the landscape beds twice a year. With thoughtful crop rotations and interesting plant combinations I can create high impact color and textural interest while growing something of meaningful harvest. This strategy will also improve the soil that I grow in. As a horticulturist, I strive to be practical in how I apply plants to the world around me. And that is exactly what grains provide: practicality, beauty and a will to live that even a certified black thumb can’t kill.
It didn’t take me long to expand past the wave bed and into my foundation landscape and property borders. Now, I plant seasonal grains in every sunny spot that is available. I am never disappointed by their performance and with each crop I learn new lessons on how to be a better steward to the Earth.
I sometimes wonder what my life would be like if I hadn’t been handed that bag of wheat seed from my friend Chip. At the time I had no idea what a profound difference that seed would make to me as gardener. Before growing grains I struggled with poor soil and the disease and insect infestations that are symptomatic of this common issue. My plant palette, though diverse, was ordinary and there was nothing particularly unique about my design style. I spent countless hours watering and fertilizing, time that I would never be able to spare now as my career has evolved.
My identity will forever be woven with grains, which is why I am proud to be the Crazy Grain Lady. It is my sincere wish that by sharing my grain journey you too will take a chance, sow some seed and reap the harvest of these crops that have been essential to human evolution. ■
Two
What are Grains
and why should you grow them?
The truth is, you don’t need to know much to successfully grow grains – I certainly didn’t. Until I started researching for this book, I didn’t know the difference between a seed and a cereal grain, let alone how legumes fit in. So just what is a grain? It is a fair question to ask in the midst of our 21st century’s anti-carbohydrate world. I’d venture to say very few people would correctly define a grain without first doing an online search.
There are two main types of grains:
Cereals, the focus of this book; and
Legumes, such as soybeans and peanuts.
Generally, grains are characterized by their hard, dry “seed” (which sometimes has an attached hull or fruit layer but doesn’t have to). If that description doesn’t clarify it, I understand! But I promise it has no bearing on your ability to grow these wonderful plants.
Rye seed heads drying in the sun.
WHEN IS A “SEED” NOT A SEED?
The difference between seeds and grains is rather complex. Technically, a seed is an embryonic plant covered in a seed coat. Sometimes this seed is edible, other times it is not. Seeds are formed after fertilization of a plant has taken place and the ovule has ripened. In contrast, a grain is actually a fruit harvested from plants in the grass family, Poaceae.
The main advantage grains offer as a nutritional source is their durability and long shelf life. Compared to starchy foods and tubers such as potatoes, grains are better suited for industrial agriculture because they can be mechanically planted and harvested. They can be stored for long periods of time in large quantities and shipped across the globe without spoiling. Grains can also be pressed into oil and milled into flour. Global commodity markets exist for all grains but not for tubers, vegetables and fruits.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Grains are the most important staple food in the world. As a staple, they are eaten frequently, often multiple times a day. Rice, corn and wheat are the most common and all can be grown in your sunny home landscape! Half of the grains cultivated around the world are harvested for human consumption.
One of the reasons grains are so important is because they are a valuable source of carbohydrates and vitamins. When paired with a protein-rich legume, you can create a very healthy diet. Some examples include corn and beans, rice and tofu, and my favorite childhood meal, wheat bread and peanut butter.
NOT JUST FOR HUMANS: Grains are an essential aspect of livestock nutrition. A third of the world’s grain supply is fed to animals, from cattle and chickens to our pet cats and dogs. Cooking oils and alcohol both start from grains, not to mention the many industrial products that are created, including biodiesel.
Our home landscapes offer a way to grow grains, like corn, with ecological consideration.
Did you know… grains provide 48% of human caloric intake, or “food energy?”
Simply put, life would not exist as we know it without cereal grain production. Even the paleo diet involves grains, to feed the protein sources. At the end of the day, no person gets around grain consumption.
If you can grow anything, you can grow grains
Like many of our favorite garden plants, grains are annuals, meaning they have one growing season per year, yielding one crop. The term annual indicates that a plant will go through every life stage in one season: growth, maturity, seed set and death. In the case of grains (unlike fruiting crops like tomatoes and peppers), you harvest after the plant dies.
Generally speaking, grains like to be grown in full sun, with moist, well-drained soil that has a neutral pH. Basically, I just described the ideal condition for almost every single garden plant. Of course, grains are well adapted to adverse conditions, but the advantage of growing them in your home landscape is that you can provide the cultural conditions to maximize their growth. Trust me – compared to a petunia or tomato, grains are the easiest plants in the world to cultivate!
Barley grows with purple cabbage through the cool season in central North Carolina USDA Zone 7B.
TIMING AND CLIMATE: When growing a plant you have no experience with, timing will be the biggest challenge. The good news is that there are grains that can grow in almost every climate. Some grains prefer cool weather others prefer hot, tropical regions. That is why I have split the six grains featured in this book into two categories: cool season/short-day crops, and warm season/long-day crops.
Rye is a cold-tolerant grain commonly grown for animal feed.
Since I live in a subtropical climate (USDA Hardiness Zone 7) with four distinct seasons and mild winters, I am able to cultivate grains 12 months of the year. If you live in northern regions,
