Has anyone grown barley?

[GrannieAnnie]

I planted a large pot of barley seeds in hopes of growing enough tall stalks for algae control in the pond. But it has seed heads now and only got about 7 inches tall total.
The seed came from a small farmers' market and was from India. No variety on it. I'm sure farmers don't grow it in pots but I didn't have any open area. Any  thoughts? Is some barley just really short  ?? I'm thinking of trying again but planting in the ground this time.

[kypfer]

I've not grown barley, but I've noticed lately that what little barley there is to be found in the fields locally often appears to be a lot shorter than I remember it ... admittedly not as short as 7", but only knee-high.

I'd guess it's a development to reduce waste and/or make harvesting easier. You may have to be a little more specific when you buy your seed, I'm sure there'll be varieties of barley just like everything else.

[GrannieAnnie]

I didn't want to buy pounds of it, just a little bit which is why I tried the food store rather than an ag store.

[Toadspawn]

There are a lot of different barley varieties and with varying straw length. If you can get hold of a copy of the NIAB Recommended List (National Institute of Agricultural Botany, Cambridge) you will be able to see the some of the better varieties and their straw length. Winter barley varieties usually produce more straw than spring barley varieties but the straw is usually weaker and therefore the plants are more prone to falling over. Plant breeders have reduced the straw length over the years to reduce lodging and ease harvesting.
If you want to grow barley in the UK select one that is commercially available and grown as an agricultural crop in the UK rather than one from a food shop, which as you have found could come from anywhere in the world.
If you ask a seed merchant they would probably be willing to give you a hand full of seed or enough for your purpose. Alternatively ask a farmer who is harvesting a crop for some seed and you could get what you want for nothing.   
If the plants in the pot suffered from lack of water this could also be a reason why the straw is short.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've seen corn growing very short in places where it obviously wasn't happy. It may be confinement to a pot that made it grow like that.

[Bill Door]

Try this site

http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/shop/product.html?product_id=561

Bill

[GodfreyRob]

Anyone know of any other suppliers?

[goodlife]

here is couple of suppliers of grains..but they are not cheap..
http://www.browfarmwheatproducts.co.uk/
http://grains2mill.co.uk/

[Digeroo]

Nowadays many farmers use straw shortening chemicals on it and also have developed shorter varieties.  I remember often seeing fields of it ruined by wind when I was a child.

I wish you have said a few weeks ago there was masses of it around here.  They are on to wheat now. 

[goodlife]

I'm going to sow some grains myself soon..I did harvest plenty from plants that did pop up from bird spilled birdseeds...
So now I've got couple handfulls of barley, wheat and oats.. ..just enough for little plot.. ..what I'm going to do with it if/when it is ready.. ...little bit of straw is always usefull..
I've fancied one of those household stonemills for flour for a while...but they are not cheap..and would I have time for playing with one.. ..or cleaning the seed for start with..
Looks like I'm going to grow some chickens threats..for now..

[Digeroo]

Went to look but the harvesting has been very efficient and not one single ear has  been left.

[GrannieAnnie]

Thank you for all the comments and info. I'll try planting the remainder of the seed in the open ground. If it is still short I'll find some seed company on line (I'm in the USA) and if I have to buy a huge quantity the remainder I'll use as a green manure.
We still have enough barley straw from the bale I bought in 2003 to use in the pond next Spring so I have enough time to grow some of my own.

Our street which used to be farm land in the 40's is now houses, but it struck me yesterday that our yard is reverting to farm land  as it is producing 144 winter squash and soon barley! I'm so pleased moving backwards.

[goodlife]

Annie...have you got any stables nearby?..maybe somebody would give you some out of horsefeed?..I'm sure swap for squash would not go a miss... ..since you have plenty...

[GrannieAnnie]

I happen to have a friend or two with horses though am not sure what they're being fed.
Digeroo said barley seed cost has skyrocketed so perhaps they're eating oats but I'll ask.
Thank you for the great idea!  A4A has all the brains!

[cjb02]

The barley is very short I believe due to not getting enough water during the Summer. It only needs to dry out completely once or twice have its growing height stunted.

If you want Barley seed, pop down to a local farm and ask for a handful. Farms will sell Barley for £5-6 for 20kg so a handful might be free, also try asking the farmer how tall it should grow as well. IF you do buy it straight from a local farm then it should also be appropriate for your local climate.

[Digeroo]

I have managed to source some barley from Tesco.  A half kg bag is only39p, centainly less than T&M charge for green manure.  I shall soon see if it germinates ok.