When sowing winter wheat, it is important to remember that we must approach this crop in a timely and careful manner, choosing the right sowing date for the growing region, the weather there and the type of soil that is suitable for the crop.

What to know before sowing winter wheat

The optimal sowing date for wheat varies from region to region.

Wheat itself has many varieties, so farmers can choose the most efficient type of seed for their crop.

It is best to select varieties after a foundation study has been done, as each crop has its own soil conditions. This does not change the fact that the soil must be taken care of all year round, and in order to prevent soil degradation it is necessary to take care of the correct number of humus, the amount of minerals and nutrients.

Remember that all agrotechnical recommendations are movable, so we should not stick to them. Late sown winter wheat, unlike winter rye, does not increase the likelihood of diseases, however, later sowing reduces the frost resistance of the plant.

When do you start sowing winter wheat?

Winter wheat is best sown by the end of September, as this is when there is the greatest chance of high yields.

A delayed sowing date automatically shortens the fall growing season, so the plants may not be fully ready for winter. In a season with favorable weather conditions, it is recommended to sow winter cereals on the dates given:

• Northwestern Poland does not start sowing until September 20 to October 5.
• In western Poland, the optimal sowing date is set for September 25 to October 5.
• For the southwestern part of our country, it is September 25 to October 10.
• Sowing dates in the center of the country are September 20 to 30.
• In the northeast and the eastern region of Poland, sowing norms are set from September 15 to 20.
• The optimal date for the southeastern region is September 20-30.

However, this is only a theory, weather conditions have been very changeable recently, so we should make our own analysis of the weather pattern and adjust the sowing date for our region (which our application - Meteotrack Agro - can help with).

It is important to choose the parameters of sowing so that the foundation structure is formed correctly already at this stage.

Density and depth of sowing of winter wheat.

It is assumed that when we decide to sow late, we should sow a little more than the standard. However, when sowing dates begin on schedule, two sowing standards are recommended:

• 300-400 grains/m² for a variety that is strongly bushy.
• 400-500 grains/m² for a variety that is weakly tillering.

Interestingly, each cereal species and each variety has an original tillering ability, so we can sow winter wheat more densely than winter barley or winter rye. Taking into account the germination power of the seeds will allow us to choose the right parameters for our own cultivation.

The standard sowing of winter wheat is 2 to 3 cm deep, but when there is little rainfall in the season, with dry soil the appropriate depth is up to 4 cm.

What are the risks associated with winter wheat cultivation?

Winter wheat is very tender and is not as resistant to improper conditions as, for example, winter rye. Delaying the sowing of wheat will delay plant growth, resulting in several percent lower yields.

It is possible for crops to become diseased by various diseases such as powdery mildew, leaf fusariosis, leaf stripe septoria, brown rust and yellow rust. In such a situation, early sowing is more susceptible to such diseases. Such diseases often violate the proper development of the sowing.

If we want a safe crop that is still adequately rooted before the winter period and the ear elements can grow safely, we must be on the alert for sowing at the best time selected for our region.

An additional problem can be a shortage of nutrients contained in the soil and a lack of soil moisture. This affects much weaker wheat emergence. The condition of the soil is important during any crop. To replenish the missing nutrients you need to focus your attention on actively feeding the cradle.

Another thing that is not conducive to the plant is snow mold, which has developed due to too much crop density in the field.

Summary

When growing wheat, the importance of a professionally chosen date plays a big role. Of course, each farmer chooses the most favorable solution for himself and his field. Before sowing, it is advisable to get an idea of how the weather has been for the past weeks and what the prognosis is for the next two months.

After the last few years, we recognize that there will never be the same weather. Sowing wheat is quite specific, as wheat does not like it to be too warm and too cold. It is assumed that a temperature of about 20 degrees Celsius is the optimal temperature needed for seed germination.

If you are wondering what variety of wheat will be best for your farm, the answer is simple - choose varieties that are most tolerant of soil deficiencies and unfortunate weather. If you delay too long you will lose the advantage of September sowing of winter cereals, which will result in lower yields by about 10-15%.

We should also remember about proper plant density. Sow the strong-blooming variety less frequently, and sow the weak-blooming varieties at a higher density. Throughout the country, wheat sowing begins in September and ends in the first week of October.