Barley Seeds
Barleys tolerate cooler conditions than wheat and mature earlier. We harvest our barleys in late June or early July. They can be overwintered in many places or sown as soon as the soil is workable in the new year.
Most barleys have long awns above the seedhead, giving the plants a graceful nodding effect that makes them attractive both in the garden and in dried flower arrangements.
We offer both "hulled" and "hulless" varieties: The hulless varieties, unlike the generally hulled commercial ones, have very loose hulls easily removed by rubbing. Hulless barleys have great potential for the home garden. They are hardy, carefree crops that provide hearty and satisfying food.
Saving your own seed: As with wheat, what you eat (or rather what you don't eat) is what you sow.
Packets contain one Tablespoon or 300+ seeds
We are currently offering 4 varieties of Barley Seeds.
New, Alba Winter Barley ($3.50)
A six row, hulled, winter barley (requires vernalization for flowering in order to produce a timely grain crop). Successfully malted and brewed by Skagit Malting and Brewing. The name Alba was chosen due to the bright and attractive appearance of the crop at maturity. Alba is derived from the Latin for white and means dawn in Spanish. (Developed by Dr Patrick Hayes of Oregon State Uni.)
New, Lompoc Barley ($3.50)
Growing to 3 feet producing good yields of tasty olive kernels. 95 days to maturity. (Origin unknown!)
Himalayan Barley (Hordeum vulgare trifurcatum) ($3.50)
An Asiatic barley. Dependable variety with golden brown seed. Grows to about 3 ft. or 1 metre high.
Sheba Barley ($3.50)
Beautiful ornamental hulless barley from Ethiopia with long golden awns. Spring planted growing to about 3ft. or 1 metre. 90 days.