Growing Heritage Wheat.
Heritage wheats are used for crafting because they have a longer length between the head and the first node than modern varieties and the stalks are hollow. I buy some wheat from Rosemary Sault who grows wheat, oats and rye. www.simplystraw.co.uk I also grow some in my allotment which is not a huge area, obtaining the seeds from the straws I purchased from Rosemary. My method , established through trial and error, is outlined below. You can buy some heritage wheat seeds from John Innes of Cambridgeshire but it seems that you have to buy quite a large quantity.
In early September, I line a trough with folded sheets of kitchen towel and sprinkle seeds on top. I keep it damp
It germinates in less than a week and after about 3 weeks looks something like this.
I seperate the seedlings from the kitchen towel and lay them in a shallow trench, I then cover the seed and roots with soil
If it hasn't rained, I keep them damp and within a week they will be established and growing
I then largely ignore it until July, when it suddenly shoots up and produces the flower and seed head. At this stage I need to keep it covered. Just as the stalks start to turn golden , I cut it at ground level
I prepare the straw for weaving by cutting above the first node and leaving it to dry in the sun or hung in an open window. Here it is raised above the ground. drying. When dry the sheath slides of the stalk very easily and the corn is ready to use.