GROWING GRAINS By: John Vivian

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For planting rates, see discussion of individual grains, starting on page 54. For small plots, you'll get highest yield by doubling the recommended rates.

Small-grain seed does best if planted an inch and a half deep in well-prepared soil that is kept evenly moist through the growing season. This is deeper than we plant most garden seeds.

The cereal grasses have a single cotyledon that remains below ground. It sends a hollow sheath above ground and the narrow grass leaves and stem emerge from this sheath. It benefits from support of the surrounding soil. Seeds planted under dry land conditions also benefit from being deep enough to stay moist, even if the ground surface is bone dry.

The best way to get seed deep enough is to use a drill that drops them in a trench or hole. Farm scale drills are expensive and require a sit-on tractor to pull them. One row drills are available for large walking tractors (such as our 25 year-old Gravely 7.5). The patterns to make 1920s-eradesign, cast-iron, one row rotating plate seed planters from the old Planet junior line are still extant; several garden supply firms have sold these fine old small farm tools over the years,

though the only place I have seen them this year is in the Peaceful Valley Farm Supply Catalog (see "Sources," page 98). Listed as Cole Planet Jr. Seed Drills, they come in tractor pulled and hand pushed versions for less than $500 (well worth the price if you have a very big garden).

Lightweight, hand-pushed rotating wheel planters made from plastic and aluminum are available for well under $100. 1 tried one years ago and found it too flimsy to work in anything but powder fine, bone-dry, hobby-garden soil, and unable to handle anything but large corn, pea or bean sized seed. But they've continued selling for 30 years, so they must work for some gardeners.

Both Cumberland General Store and Lehman's sell a hand operated big-seed drill that functions like a cross between a pogo stick and a clamshell post hole digger in reverse for around $50. It sows at a slow walking speed, but works fine for garden-sized plantings.

The timeless way to plant small grain is to prepare the land, then sling a fabric sack over one shoulder and hand broadcast grain in wide swaths. With practice, on learn to manipulate hand and fingers to spread seed evenly and to cover all the ground. Seed can be left on top of the soil in the hope that rain will keep it moist and the crows won't eat it all. But better is to rake, disc or harrow it in. The easiest way I know to finish planting is to fix a flat board spikeless harrow or drag on a pair of chains behind the walking tractor and stand on the board as it is pulled over the soil, rolling seed into trenches or ridges and smoothing and firming soil over them.

Small Scale Harvest

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