A Complete Guide to Wheat Planting Time and Methods

The main wheat-producing areas in China are in the north. Because the climate conditions in the north are not suitable for growing rice, and wheat has relatively strong environmental adaptability and survival ability, wheat has become the staple food of people in the north. Northerners are generally fairer-skinned than southerners, which is because they have eaten flour-based foods for a long time, and now flour-based foods are also very popular in the south, so wheat cultivation has also been vigorously promoted. The following content is about the planting time and planting methods of China's second-largest food crop, which is what QinNong.com is sharing with you today. Now let's take a look together.

Planting Time

Wheat is divided into spring wheat and winter wheat, so this also determines that the planting time of wheat is different. In North China, it is generally sown around November in winter, while in Northeast China it is sown in March or April in spring. Because Northeast China has a thick layer of snow every winter and the temperature is very low, which is not suitable for the growth of wheat, it is generally not planted in winter. Secondly, the climate in North China is relatively stable throughout the year, and multiple rounds of crop rotation can be carried out, so it is just right to sow wheat in winter after other crops have been harvested in autumn, in order to prevent the land from being left idle.

Planting Methods

1. Seed selection and land preparation

The varieties of wheat now are not as limited as before, so we can screen them. We first consider the local climate and local soil conditions and other factors, and choose the most suitable variety. For example, in areas with relatively little rain, choose one with strong drought resistance; in areas with poor soil, choose one with strong adaptability; in areas with relatively cold weather, choose one with strong cold resistance; in rainy areas, choose one with strong disease resistance. So choose the best according to the specific situation. In order to ensure the growth and yield of wheat, when preparing the land, it should be deep-plowed to at least about 30 cm into the soil layer, and the soil clods should be broken up finely, the field should be leveled, and then 4,000 jin of farmyard manure should be spread, then turn the land again and mix the fertilizer evenly, then dig a small ditch every 1 m to 1.5 m or so, make preparations for drainage and irrigation, and finally wait for sowing.

2. Reasonable sowing

Before sowing, we generally need to carry out germination promotion treatment and seed dressing. First, soak the wheat seeds in water for two days, then take them out, put them into a pesticide and stir evenly, leave them for twenty minutes, then rinse them clean with clear water, then wrap the seeds in cotton cloth and hang them close to the water surface. After about three days, the seeds will sprout, and then they can be sown. There are several sowing methods. The most commonly used method is drilling, that is, in the prepared land, dig a small ditch with a spacing of 30 cm between each row, then evenly scatter the seeds into the ditch, and then cover them with soil. The more common method in rural areas should be broadcasting, which is simpler; just evenly scatter the seeds across the field and then cover them with soil. Finally, there is the more meticulous planting method, which is to make a small hole with a spacing of 30 cm between each row and each plant, then scatter three to five seeds in each small hole, then cover with soil and wait for seedlings to emerge.

3. Field management

When a layer of fine tender green has grown throughout the wheat field, we can carry out the first fertilization and watering. At this time, watering can be done by irrigation, and fertilization mainly uses urea to promote seedlings. It can be spread directly or dissolved in water for irrigation. The second fertilization is at the tillering stage of the wheat seedlings. At this time, watering adopts sprinkler irrigation, which will not cause the wheat seedlings to break. At this time, we still use urea, but this time we need to add 20 jin of phosphate fertilizer and 30 jin of compound fertilizer. Finally, when the wheat seedlings are heading, this is the critical moment that determines wheat yield. We mainly apply phosphate fertilizer, potassium fertilizer, and boron fertilizer, and finally also spray some non-toxic agents that make the grains plump.

4. Disease prevention

The most common disease before wheat planting is wheat lodging, which generally appears after wheat heading and near maturity. If large-scale lodging occurs at this time, then the yield and quality of wheat will not be good, so in ordinary daily management we need to drain water in time, and correctly use fertilizer and grasp the amount, as well as planting density. If one or two lodged plants appear in the field, chemical control is needed; for specific chemicals, please consult.