Wheat is an annual grass grown as a cover crop, for forage, or for grain. The home gardener is apt to grow wheat, which is a member of the grass family (Poaceae), as a fall-sown, winter cover crop. Wheat was domesticated in the region that stretched from Mesopotamia to India. As a modern crop, wheat is cultivated worldwide, and more acreage is under wheat than any other crop. The species epithet is Latin for “summer.” Wheat grows best in full sun but is adaptable to a variety of soil types, as long as the soil is well-drained. The best results are on moderately fertile soils, not subject to flooding. Because wheat is not a legume, it does not fix nitrogen; however, it produces adequate root and top growth that can be incorporated into the soil, increasing the soil’s organic matter content. Wheat is a suitable cover crop for a vegetable garden, fruit orchard or permaculture garden. The benefits of a cover crop are the prevention of erosion, the suppression of weeds and the addition of organic matter to the soil. Wheat does not host certain nematodes and may be a useful cover crop where those pests are prevalent. Wheat is excellent at smothering and outcompeting weeds. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Wheat is susceptible to southern root knot nematode. If Hessian fly is present in your area, plant wheat after the first fall frost.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.