Barley Seeds,
Variegated Cat Grass

Grown in a dish indoors: sprinkle seed over the soil surface of a small, shallow pot or dish, cover with soil, keep it moist, and hold it at room temperature in good light. Cover the seed about ¼ in. deep, spacing it ½–2 in. apart, and the dish is ready in about 30 days. Barley is also a frost-hardy, cool-season annual, so you can sow it outdoors in full sun in spring or fall if you would rather grow a patch than a potful.

• Seeds will germinate in temperatures as low as 37 F.
• Sow seeds at a depth of 1-1 ½ inches.
• Hand broadcast or use a seeder to seed 4 pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet, or about 20-25 seeds per square foot if growing in smaller spaces.

• Growing barley is easy. Provide well-drained soil with average fertility.
• Plants prefer full sun and even moisture during germination and plant establishment; however, they do become more drought tolerant as the plants mature.
• Seedheads should mature in about 60-90 days.
• As a cover crop, barley works exceptionally well when mixed with legumes. This companionship will help to scavenge nutrients, fix nitrogen and add lots of organic matter to the soil.
• Harvesting barley can be done with a scythe or by hand, using a sharp knife. Allow the plants to turn yellow and dry before harvesting. Be sure to harvest before the barley gets a heavy rain, as this can compromise the grains. Watch the weather and harvest before any impending rain.

PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Barley has no particular pest or disease issues.

• Seed saving on this self-pollinating annual grain is quite easy. An isolation distance of just 10-20 feet between different varieties will ensure they are not cross pollinated.
• Save seed from a number of different plants within the stand to ensure genetic strength.
• Harvest seeds when dry and hard.
• Store in a cool, dark, dry place.