Barley (Hordeum vulgare): The Ancient Grain
layout: base.njk title: Barley description: Growing Barley in West Virginia (Zone 6b/7a) category: grain
For: The Loop Farmstead, New Martinsville WV 26155
Zone: 6b/7a
Soil: Heavy clay
Understanding Barley
Spring Barley vs. Winter Barley
Spring Barley: - Planted: Early spring (March-April, as soon as soil is workable) - Harvest: Mid-summer (July-August) - 90-100 days to maturity - More common in Northern regions - Better for malting (more consistent quality)
Winter Barley: - Planted: Fall (September-October) - Overwinters (less cold-hardy than wheat or rye) - Harvest: Early summer (June-July) - Higher yield than spring barley - Riskier in Zone 6b (may not survive harsh winters)
For West Virginia (Zone 6b/7a): - Spring barley is your primary choice—reliable, well-adapted - Winter barley can work in Zone 7a or protected areas, but it's a risk in 6b - Start with spring barley, experiment with winter barley in mild years
2-Row vs. 6-Row Barley
2-Row Barley: - Two rows of kernels on the head - Larger, more uniform kernels - Higher starch content, lower protein - Best for: Malting, brewing (preferred by brewers)
6-Row Barley: - Six rows of kernels on the head - More kernels per head, smaller size - Higher protein, more enzymes - Best for: Animal feed, some brewing styles
For The Loop Farmstead: - For brewing: 2-row varieties (better malting quality) - For feed/general use: 6-row varieties (higher yield) - For food: Either works, 2-row has better texture
Hulless Barley
Hulless (Naked) Barley: - Threshes free of hulls naturally - No dehulling required - Ready to cook or mill - Lower yield than hulled varieties - Excellent for home production
Hulled Barley: - Kernels have tough, inedible hulls - Must be dehulled before eating - Higher yield - Requires dehulling equipment
For The Loop Farmstead: Hulless barley is worth growing for food use—saves enormous labor. For malting, hulled barley is traditional (hulls protect during malting).
2. Thoroughbred
Type: 6-Row Spring Barley (Modern)
Days to Maturity: 95-100 days
Source: Regional seed suppliers, farm supply stores
Characteristics: High yield, disease-resistant, reliable, widely adapted
Uses: Animal feed, malting (decent), food
Why Grow It: Thoroughbred is a reliable modern spring barley variety. It's widely grown in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. The yield is high, disease resistance is good, and it's forgiving of variable conditions. For practical barley production, Thoroughbred is a solid choice.
Clay Soil Performance: Very good. Modern varieties are bred for diverse soil conditions.
For The Loop Farmstead: Thoroughbred is your workhorse barley—reliable, productive, well-adapted.
4. Conlon
Type: 2-Row Spring Barley
Days to Maturity: 90-95 days (early)
Source: Regional seed suppliers
Characteristics: Early maturity, good malting quality, disease-resistant
Uses: Malting, brewing, food
Why Grow It: Conlon is an early-maturing spring barley—90 days vs. the typical 95-100. In Zone 6b, early maturity is advantageous. You can plant in April and harvest by July, leaving the field free for fall crops. The malting quality is good.
Clay Soil Performance: Good.
For The Loop Farmstead: Conlon's early maturity makes it a safe choice for West Virginia.
Winter Barley Varieties (Zone 7a, or risk in 6b)
6. Norma
Type: Winter Barley
Days to Maturity: Planted September-October, harvested June (~260 days including winter)
Source: Regional seed suppliers, some farm supply stores
Characteristics: Cold-hardy for barley, good yield, disease-resistant
Uses: Animal feed, malting (decent), cover crop
Why Grow It: Norma is one of the more cold-hardy winter barley varieties. It can survive Zone 6b winters in mild years or protected locations. In Zone 7a, it's more reliable. If it survives, you get an early summer harvest.
Clay Soil Performance: Good.
For The Loop Farmstead: Norma is worth trying in Zone 7a areas or protected fields. In Zone 6b, it's a gamble—plant it as an experiment, not your main barley crop.
Growing Barley on Clay Soil
Site Preparation
For Spring Barley (planted March-April):
Fall before: 1. Plant cover crop (rye, vetch) or leave residue 2. Protects soil over winter
Spring (planting time): 1. As soon as soil is workable (not muddy) 2. Lightly till, broadfork, or rake 3. Soil temp: 40°F+ (barley germinates in cool soil) 4. Add compost if soil needs building
For Winter Barley (planted September-October): 1. Harvest previous crop 2. Prepare seedbed 3. Plant 4-6 weeks before hard frost 4. Barley needs to establish before dormancy
Planting
Seed Rate: - Grain production: 90-120 lbs per acre (2-3 lbs per 1000 sq ft) - Small scale: 3-4 oz per 100 sq ft (broadcast) - Malting barley: Slightly lower rate (encourages uniform kernels)
Method:
Broadcast (small scale): 1. Scatter seed evenly by hand 2. Lightly rake to cover (1/2-1" deep in clay) 3. Firm soil 4. Water if dry
Drill (larger scale): 1. Use grain drill if available 2. Plant 1-1.5" deep 3. Rows 6-7" apart
Clay-Specific Notes: - Don't plant too deep (1" maximum in clay) - Ensure good seed-to-soil contact - Barley is less tolerant of wet clay than rye or oats - Raised beds work well for barley in heavy clay
Growing Season
Spring Barley: - March-April: Planting - April-May: Growth (barley grows quickly) - May-June: Stem elongation, head formation - June-July: Grain fill, ripening - July-August: Harvest
Winter Barley: - September-October: Planting, establishment - October-November: Growth (before dormancy) - December-February: Dormant - March: Green-up - April-May: Stem elongation, rapid growth - June: Grain fill - June-July: Harvest
Fertility
Barley is moderately demanding:
- Nitrogen: Barley needs moderate nitrogen. Too much nitrogen = lodging (falling over) and poor malting quality. If following legumes, you're set. Otherwise, add moderate compost.
- Phosphorus: Important for root development.
- Potassium: Barley needs adequate potassium for straw strength.
- pH: Barley prefers 6.0-7.0. Less acid-tolerant than rye or oats.
Organic Approach: - Plant after legumes - Add moderate compost (don't overdo nitrogen) - For malting barley: Avoid excessive nitrogen (affects quality) - Barley is less forgiving than oats or rye
Barley as Cover Crop
Barley makes a good quick cover crop:
Benefits: - Fast growth (biomass in 60-90 days) - Good biomass production - Suppresses weeds - Prevents erosion - Winter-kills in Zone 6b (if planted late)
Limitations: - Less biomass than rye - Less weed suppression than rye - More valuable as grain crop
Best Use: Plant barley as cover crop when you want moderate biomass and might harvest grain if timing works out.
Processing Barley for Food
Hulless Barley
No processing needed—thresh and cook.
Hulled Barley
Dehulling: 1. Use grain mill with dehulling attachment 2. Or: lightly toast, run through food processor, winnow 3. Repeat until hulls are removed
Pearl Barley: - Dehulled barley, polished to remove bran - Cooks faster than whole barley - Less nutritious (bran removed) - Commercial pearl barley is common; hard to make at home
Cooking Barley
Basic Barley (like rice): - 1 cup barley - 3 cups water - Simmer 45-60 minutes (hulled), 25-30 minutes (pearl) - Add salt, use as side dish
Barley Porridge: - Cook barley in milk or water - Add honey, fruit, nuts - Hearty breakfast
Barley Flour: - Mill dehulled barley - Use for baking (often blended with wheat) - Barley bread is dense but nutritious
How Much Barley to Grow?
For a family of 4: - Barley food consumption: 50-100 lbs per year (varies) - Brewing consumption: Highly variable (5 lbs per 5-gallon batch) - Total: 100-200+ lbs per year
Yield: - Good conditions: 45-70 bushels per acre (1 bushel = 48 lbs) - Small scale: 2-4 lbs per 100 sq ft - Conservative: 1.5-3 lbs per 100 sq ft
Space needed: - For 150 lbs: 500-1000 sq ft - Recommendation: Start with 500-1000 sq ft
For The Loop Farmstead: Barley is a specialty crop—grow it for specific uses (brewing, dietary variety). Plant 500-1000 sq ft, expand if you love it.
Barley in Crop Rotation
Barley fits multiple roles:
As Grain Crop: - Year 1: Corn - Year 2: Barley (underseed with clover) - Year 3: Clover hay - Year 4: Back to corn
As Early Harvest Crop: - Barley harvests in July - Follow with buckwheat, vegetables, or cover crops - Double-cropping is possible
As Cover Crop: - Quick biomass - Less effective than rye but still useful
Barley's Unique Niches
Barley isn't a staple like corn or wheat—it's a specialty crop with specific uses:
✅ Brewing: Barley is irreplaceable for beer ✅ Whiskey: Single malt whiskey requires barley ✅ Dietary variety: Barley adds nutrition and texture ✅ Cool-season option: Plant when it's too early/late for other grains ✅ Fast cover crop: Quick biomass in 60-90 days
For The Loop Farmstead, barley fills brewing and diversity needs. It's not your primary grain, but it's valuable for specific purposes.