Barley

Hordeum vulgare

Poaceae (Grass)

An ancient, hardy cool-season grain for soups, malt, and storage. More drought- and salt-tolerant than wheat.

EdibleAnnualCool-seasonSurvival cropStaple calories

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) illustration — Texas Roots plant database, by Jordan Polasek

Sun

Full sun

Water

Low

Soil

Tolerant

pH

6.0–7.5

Hardiness

Cool-season annual

Height

2–4 ft

Spacing

Broadcast

Days to harvest

Fall/early spring

What it is

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is in the Poaceae (Grass) family. An ancient, hardy cool-season grain for soups, malt, and storage. More drought- and salt-tolerant than wheat.

How to grow it

It wants full sun, water it low, and give it tolerant soil. Target a soil pH around 6.0–7.5. Space plants about Broadcast apart. Expect roughly Fall/early spring. Cool-season annual.

How it's used

Barley is used: soups, malt, ground.

🔎 How to identify it

Grass blades
Bristly (awned) seed head
Drought-tolerant

Edibility

PartsGrain

UsesSoups, malt, ground

CautionHulled types need processing.

🌤 Before you plant: check the live 7-day garden weather to time it right for frost and heat.

Part of the free Texas Roots plant database, compiled by Jordan Polasek from his greenhouse in El Campo, Texas. Free to read and share. If it helped, the best thanks is to grow something.