Spelt
Also known as: Dinkel wheat · Triticum spelta
When & where
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Broadcast seed onto a firm, weed-free seedbed and rake in. Winter spelt overwinters as a low green mat, then bolts in spring. Harvest when heads have dried to straw color and grain shatters when rubbed. Spelt keeps its tough hull — you'll need to de-hull before eating.
Grower's tip
Ancient hulled wheat, easier to digest than modern bread wheat for many people. Tolerates cold, wet, poor soil better than common wheat. The hull protects grain in storage but must be removed before milling.
Soil preferences
Firm, well-drained loam.
6.0–7.0
A modest nitrogen source in spring for wheat/rye; teff and rice prefer more.
Watering
1 in per week during establishment. Most small grains are drought-tolerant once headed out.
Overhead is fine. Rice paddies are the exception — constant flood.
Overwatered: lodging (flopped stems), rust. Underwatered: short heads, shriveled grain.
Prefers top-watering — Top-water (overhead or rain) — grains are wind-pollinated and tolerate wet foliage. Water deeply and infrequently.
Temperature tolerance
60–80°F (15–27°C)
40–65°F (4–18°C)
Winter grains (winter wheat, rye, spelt) overwinter through hard freezes. Spring grains and teff are frost-tender.
Container growing
Not recommended in containers
Grains need broadcast area — even a 10x10 ft patch yields a meaningful loaf's worth of flour.
Detailed harvesting
Cut whole stalks with a sickle or hedge shears when heads are straw-dry and grain dents but doesn't smash. Shock or hang to cure 1–2 weeks.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Thresh in a pillowcase or against a screen; winnow chaff in front of a fan. Store cool and dry in sealed jars. Freeze 3 days to kill any weevils.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Bake, brew, mill for flour, sprout, or add to grain bowls. Straw is mulch or bedding.
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Most grains self-pollinate before the head fully emerges.
20 ft between varieties is enough for most.
The grain IS the seed — save cleaned kernels from your best-headed plants for next year.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for spelt in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
From your kitchen — grow spelt from what you already have
Grocery whole (unhulled) spelt sprouts fine; hulled 'pearled' spelt won't.
- 1Test a spoonful on a damp paper towel — if 70%+ sprout in 5 days, it's plantable.
- 2Broadcast on prepared soil in fall (winter spelt) or early spring (spring spelt).
- 3Rake in and water. Harvest when heads are dry-tan and grain is hard.
- 4You'll need to de-hull before eating — spelt keeps its tough hull.
Storage: 3–4 years dry.
My Spelt notes
Spelt seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
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