More homesteaders are growing their own wheat. With the right seed and a small plot, you can raise a grain crop that feeds your household and stores dry for months. Homegrown wheat puts you in charge of your pantry. It supports baking, fills out food storage, and keeps your shelves steady when stores run short of supplies. This guide walks through how to grow, harvest, and mill wheat from your own land—step by step. Choose a Wheat Type That Matches Your Climate Wheat comes in two seasonal types: spring and winter. Winter wheat is planted in the fall and harvested in early summer. It works well in areas with mild winters. Spring wheat is planted in early spring and harvested later in the year. It’s better for cold regions with harsh winters. Hard wheat has more protein, which helps bread rise and hold its shape. Soft wheat has less protein and creates a tender crumb, making it better for pancakes, pastries, and other recipes that don’t need strong gluten development. You can buy small-scale seed packs from True Leaf Market or Johnny’s Selected Seeds, both of which carry varieties for home growers. How to Plant and Grow Homegrown Wheat Start by loosening the soil. Clear the space of weeds and add compost if the ground feels dry or compacted. Spread wheat seed across the plot. Aim for even coverage. Rake lightly to bury the seed just below the surface. Press the ground with your feet or a board to ensure contact. Water gently and wait for sprouts to appear. Like any other plant, wheat needs sunlight and good drainage. After sprouting, it grows without much care. Keep the area weeded and avoid walking across the field once stems start to thicken. Wheat usually matures in about 120 days and by this time, the stalks will turn golden which means they’re ready. When and How to Harvest Wheat Check the heads when they’ve turned dry and brittle. Test a kernel with your teeth. If it’s soft or chalky, wait a few more days. If it’s firm and breaks cleanly, you’re ready to cut. Use hand pruners, a sickle, or a scythe to gather wheat stems. Tie the stalks into bundles and hang them in a dry, well-ventilated spot. Leave them to cure for one to two weeks before threshing. Threshing and Winnowing Your Wheat Threshing breaks the kernels loose from the husk. Here are two ways to do it: Lay the stalks on a tarp and walk across them until the grain separates. Place stalks in a bin and beat them with a broom handle or stick. In addition, winnowing removes the chaff. Pour the grain between two buckets in front of a box fan. The wind will carry away the light husk material and leave clean grain behind. Milling Homegrown Wheat into Flour Once the wheat berries are clean and dry, you can grind them into flour. Choose a hand-crank grain mill or an electric version that handles hard grains. Rinse the wheat briefly and let it dry fully. Feed it into your mill in small batches. Store the resulting flour in a cool, dry container with a tight lid. Fresh flour works well for baking but won’t last long on the shelf. Freeze any extra flour you won’t use within a week or two. How Much Wheat Can You Grow? Use this table to estimate how much wheat you can expect from different plot sizes: Area Planted Wheat Harvested Flour Yield 100 sq ft 8–10 pounds 6–7 pounds 500 sq ft 40–50 pounds 35–40 pounds 1,000 sq ft 80–100 pounds 70–85 pounds A small family that bakes weekly might need around 70 pounds of flour each year. That’s achievable with one or two beds of wheat. Why Homegrown Wheat Is Worth It Wheat is one of the few crops that stores dry and feeds your home year-round. Once stored, wheat berries last for months without refrigeration. Growing and milling your own grain gives you more than flour. It offers food security, long-term savings, and a stronger connection to your land. What questions do you have about growing wheat at home? Drop your tips, trials, or favorite wheat varieties. We’d love to hear what’s growing on your homestead. FAQ: Homegrown Wheat Can I grow wheat in a raised bed? Yes. Just make sure it’s deep enough for the roots and gets full sun. When is the best time to harvest? When the stalks turn golden and the grain feels hard. Avoid cutting while the kernels are still soft. What type of wheat should I grow for bread? Look for hard red or hard white wheat. These have more protein and help bread rise. Is special equipment required to grind wheat? No. A basic grain mill works fine. Manual options are more affordable and work without electricity. Can I reuse seed from my own crop? Yes. Let part of your wheat fully mature, then save and dry those kernels for the next season.