Cereal Rye

Rye is a hardy bread, feed and cover-crop cereal, distinct from ryegrass. It tolerates relatively poor soils but needs drainage and modest nitrogen to avoid lodging.

Sun

Full sun

Water

Keep moist through establishment and grain filling; avoid waterlogging

Spacing

Dense grain stand; use cultivar-specific row spacing and seeding rate

First harvest

Usually following summer from autumn sowing; cultivar-dependent

Tips

• Sow into a firm, weed-free seedbed; use the seed supplier’s depth and seeding rate, generally about 1 inch deep for small grains.
• Use a soil test for fertilizer; excess nitrogen promotes lodging and can lower grain quality.
• Keep weeds down early and water during heading and grain filling if rainfall is insufficient.
• Inspect heads for ergot, smut or mold; segregate suspect grain and seek testing before food or feed use.
• Cut when kernels are firm and mature, then thresh, clean and dry to the crop’s safe storage moisture.
• Wheat, barley, rye and triticale contain gluten; oats require appropriate purity controls for gluten-free use.

Usually autumn-sown winter rye; consult local sowing dates and select a grain cultivar, not just a cover-crop selection.