Most of Jim’s wheat collection is older varieties plus a couple of more recent ones that are recommended for wheat weaving. They generally grow 3′ – 5′ tall and mature easily. They range from the Triticum monococcum varieties, which date back to the beginnings of agriculture, to the products of Canada’s wheat breeding program this past century (with date of introduction in brackets following the name). Wheats are all very decorative but Utrecht Blue, the four Triticum monococcums, Polish, Vavilov and Emmer would be especially attractive in dried arrangements. If you are thinking of growing your own wheat for eating, Spelt, Emmer, Utrecht Blue and Triticum monococcum are generally very difficult to thresh by hand. Each year we grow a part of our wheat collection at St. Peter’s Abbey at Muenster, please feel free to come visit and tour the gardens if you are in the area!
First grown in Canada in 1843. Yield and quality are very good but this is a late variety and so risks frost damage. Originated in Ukraine.
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
Selected from Red Fife in 1903, it is three days earlier than its parent.
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
(1910) A selection from Hard Red Calcutta x Red Fife which has the quality of Red Fife and the earliness of Hard Red Calcutta. It was the main wheat grown in Western Canada in the 1920’s and 1930’s.
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
(1935) The main wheat grown on the prairies when Jim was growing up in the 1950’s. It was selected from a cross with Marquis.
OUT OF STOCK
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
Pembina is a selection from a Thatcher cross and is fairly rust-resistant. Licensed in 1959, it is still grown on a small scale because of its excellent baking quality.
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
(1947) Saunders comes from a Thatcher cross and is two days earlier than Thatcher. It is famous as a show wheat.
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
(1913) The earliest maturing wheat bred in Canada. It is a high protein variety. The heads have short beards.
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
(1925) A bearded wheat from a cross made in 1888 in Ottawa. Hardy and good yielding mid-season variety that is still grown in Quebec and Atlantic Canada. In our wetter than average growing year, Huron seemed to have better yield and quality than more dry-land cultivars.
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
The bearded heads, which bend over when mature, are very easy to thresh. Came to Canada from northern Russia in 1887. About 10 days earlier than Red Fife but does not have as good a baking quality. Widely used in breeding for its earliness.
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red SpringHard Red Calcutta was imported from India in the late 1800’s. It is a bearded wheat that was never grown commercially in Canada as it was quite variable and its milling quality was poor, but it is very early and passed this quality on to Marquis.
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
Ladoga x Gehun, Ottawa, 1891. Our only hard white spring wheat.
Grains/Cereals / WheatNot widely grown as it is inferior to Marquis in earliness and baking quality. Ladoga x Red Fife, Ottawa, 1903.
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
A bearded wheat that threshes easily. Ladoga x Red Fife, Ottawa, 1903.
OUT OF STOCK FOR THE REST OF 2019
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
Preston x Riga, Ottawa, 1905. Subject of a controversy about its milling quality, and eventually replaced by Thatcher. For more information about Garnet, see www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/mb_history/19/garnetwheat.shtml
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
Selection from Marquis, Seager Wheeler, Rosthern, SK, 1911.
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
Probably Bobs x Early Red Fife, Seager Wheeler, Rosthern, SK, 1911.
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
Marquis x Kota, North Dakota Experimental Station, 1918. A bearded wheat a bit earlier and heavier yielding than Marquis.
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
Thatcher x Kenya Farmer, 1959. Better rust-resistance than Thatcher.
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
(McMurachy x Exchange) x Redman, Winnipeg, 1939.
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
Thatcher x S 615-11. Lethbridge, 1952. Sawfly resistant.
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
Apex x S 615. Swift Current, 1946. Stem rust and sawfly resistant.
OUT OF STOCK FOR 2019
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
Marquis x Kanred. University of Minnesota, 1918. Selected at University of Alberta. 1929. A bearded wheat that matures at the same time as Marquis.
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
Marquis x Prelude. Ottawa 1912. Licensed in 1928. A good quality wheat a bit earlier than Marquis.
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red SpringKanred x Marquis. Cross made by USDA, 1917. Registered in Canada in 1932. A bearded wheat that matures as early as Marquis and is quite resistant to drought.
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
Downy Gehun x Onega –> Downy Riga WT Macoun 1891.
Downy Riga x Red Fife –> Ruby CE Saunders 1905.
Earlier than Marquis by 7 to 10 days and good quality but shatters badly.
Grains/Cereals / Wheat / Hard Red Spring
Prairie Garden Seeds