When is the latest ripening time for wheat?

Wheat is a nutrient-rich commercial grain crop with relatively high economic value. It is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant of the grass family (Poaceae), containing abundant starch, relatively high protein and a small amount of fat, as well as various mineral elements and vitamin B. However, many people do not know when wheat ripens. Let's take a look together below at when wheat ripens!

When does wheat ripen?

Based on the sowing period, wheat is divided into two types: winter wheat and spring wheat, with winter wheat being predominant in China. Winter wheat has extremely strong cold resistance during its growth process, and its seedlings can survive the winter. When spring arrives, the seedlings tiller very quickly and grow tall. The flour milled from winter wheat is very tasty. It is usually planted in slightly warmer places, sown in winter and harvested in summer. For example, Northeast China grows spring wheat, while North China and areas to the south grow winter wheat. Spring wheat is planted in places where winters are very cold. Because the winter is too cold for sowing, it is planted only after the beginning of spring. It has extremely strong drought resistance, short plants with large heads, and a short growth period, making it suitable for spring sowing, but its flour is not as tasty as that of winter wheat.

When is wheat sown?

The optimal sowing period for each wheat variety is 10 to 12 days, with the best sowing period being 5 to 7 days. In the Lunan region, the suitable sowing temperature for winter varieties is 20 to 16°C, from around September 25 to October 10, with the optimal sowing period temperature being 16 to 18°C, from around September 27 to October 5. For semi-winter varieties, the suitable sowing period temperature is 18 to 16°C, from September 27 to October 12, with the optimal sowing period temperature being 16 to 17°C. For spring-leaning varieties, the suitable sowing period temperature is 16 to 14°C, from October 8 to 20, with the optimal sowing period temperature being 16 to 15°C, from around October 10 to 15. It should be noted that due to the promotion and application of semi-winter varieties, the improvement of soil and fertilizer conditions, and the requirement in cultivation to strictly control the pre-winter population, the sowing period has been delayed compared with tradition. The saying "White Dew is too early, Cold Dew is too late, and the Autumn Equinox is just the right time to sow wheat" only applies to shady slopes in mountainous areas, some saline-alkali lands, and the wheat-growing areas of northwestern Shandong.

What wheat-producing regions are there in China?

1. Northern winter wheat region: The northern winter wheat region is mainly distributed north of the Qinling Mountains and the Huaihe River and south of the Great Wall. Winter wheat production here accounts for about 56% of the national total wheat output, mainly distributed in Henan, Hebei, Shandong, Shaanxi, and Shanxi provinces.

2. Southern winter wheat region: The southern winter wheat region is mainly distributed south of the Qinling Mountains and the Huaihe River. This is China's main rice-producing area. Planting winter wheat here helps increase the multiple cropping index and boost grain output. It is characterized by a high commodity rate, with the main producing areas concentrated in Jiangsu, Sichuan, Anhui, and Hubei provinces.

3. Spring wheat region: The spring wheat region is mainly distributed north of the Great Wall. Temperatures in this region are generally low and the production season is short, so one crop per year predominates. The main producing provinces and regions include Heilongjiang, Xinjiang, Gansu, and Inner Mongolia.

What nutritional value does wheat have?

1. Wheat is rich in protein and helps maintain potassium-sodium balance, eliminate edema, boost immunity, lower blood pressure, buffer anemia, and support growth and development.

2. Wheat is rich in phosphorus and helps form bones and teeth, promote growth and the repair of body tissues and organs, supply energy and vitality, and participate in the regulation of acid-base balance.

3. Wheat is rich in copper. Copper is an indispensable micronutrient for human health and has an important impact on the development and function of blood, the central nervous system and immune system, hair, skin, and bone tissue, as well as the brain, liver, heart, and other internal organs.

4. Wheat is rich in carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are the energy source necessary for maintaining brain function, regulate fat metabolism, provide dietary fiber, spare protein, detoxify, and enhance intestinal function.

What storage methods are there for wheat?

1. Hot bin storage: In midsummer on clear days with high temperatures, sun-dry the wheat until the grain temperature reaches about 50°C, continuing for more than two hours, until the moisture drops below 12.5%. Around 3 p.m., pile it up, put it into the bin while hot, spread the pile and press it down, and seal the entire bin, keeping the grain temperature above 40°C for about 10 days. Pests that did not die during sun-drying will all die. Depending on the situation, it can continue to be sealed or switched to ventilation.

2. Low-temperature freezing: Taking advantage of low winter temperatures, turn the bin, remove impurities, and freeze, lowering the wheat temperature to around 0°C, then seal it while cold. This has a good effect on eliminating overwintering pests in the wheat pile. However, wheat piles sealed at low temperature must be strictly protected from contact with warm air currents to prevent condensation on the surface of the pile.

3. Natural oxygen depletion: Wheat harvest coincides with high temperatures. If it is dried in time to reduce moisture below 12.5%, the relatively high grain temperature and vigorous physiological activity during the after-ripening period can be used for film sealing, achieving a natural oxygen-depleted state in the wheat pile and thereby inhibiting pest damage. For old wheat kept from the previous year, methods such as auxiliary oxygen reduction or filling with carbon dioxide or nitrogen can be used for pest-control storage.

4. Dry sealing: As long as wheat meets the warehousing requirements, it can be bulk-stored in the bin and pressed down and sealed to prevent moisture absorption and pest breeding. This is especially effective for inhibiting the reproduction of the angoumois grain moth. In hot seasons, pay attention to pest prevention; after autumn turns cool, actively ventilate, uncover and lower the temperature to dissipate moisture; after spring warms up, strengthen pressing down or sealing to keep the grain pile low-temperature, dry, and pest-free. In short, only by adopting scientific storage and preservation methods can the normal life characteristics of wheat be ensured.