[BrewArk]

I only watered when I first seeded.  Let the rain do the rest (hence my problems w/weak stems when the rain arrived late).  My biggest issues have been the lodging and aphids.

I got seed (Bere, Lacey, Excelsior) from sustainable seed last year, before they went out of stock on "malting barley" varieties.  They still have the "excelsior" (http://sustainableseedco.com/heirloom-grain-seed/barley-seed/hulless-barley/organic-excelsior-hulless-barley.html), that Fisher's Hombrewer's Garden recommended.  It's not cheap ($4.99 for 25 seeds), but after growing last spring, and this winter, I'll have enough seed for my garden so that I will have some to malt.

[Herminator]

Awesome!  Look forward to reading about how it all turns out. 

[pete b]

I only watered when I first seeded.  Let the rain do the rest (hence my problems w/weak stems when the rain arrived late).  My biggest issues have been the lodging and aphids.

I got seed (Bere, Lacey, Excelsior) from sustainable seed last year, before they went out of stock on "malting barley" varieties.  They still have the "excelsior" (http://sustainableseedco.com/heirloom-grain-seed/barley-seed/hulless-barley/organic-excelsior-hulless-barley.html), that Fisher's Hombrewer's Garden recommended.  It's not cheap ($4.99 for 25 seeds), but after growing last spring, and this winter, I'll have enough seed for my garden so that I will have some to malt.

Thanks for the info. I think my biggest expense will be fencing to keep the chickens and dog out if I grow it near the house and wild animals from trampling through away from the house.

[pete b]

The only thing left when I got around to ordering was robust. It's six row but it is a malting variety.

Not sure of your growing season but  I was just able to order 2row from Johnny's. Hope to get your experience with malting and kilning etc.

[morticaixavier]

Thanks for the heads up. Maybe I'll order some more for this winter.

Just took a couple pictures of the 'field' last night.

[pete b]

Looks like its just starting to go brown, how soon until harvest? Its just getting time to sow here. The only thing that grows in the winter here is my waistline.

[morticaixavier]

Looks like its just starting to go brown, how soon until harvest? Its just getting time to sow here. The only thing that grows in the winter here is my waistline.

hopefully soon. my wife is getting antsy to get maize and tomatoes in there.

[BrewArk]

I'm seeing quite a bit of variation.  My The Bere & Excelsior ares nearly completely dried out.  The Maris Otter & Belford are just still pollinating.  My other varieties Hanna & Klages need to plump up more.  My rye is pollinating and is about 5' tall.  The hops are still less than a foot tall.  The hot weather should help. Thanks for the update.

(We too are itching to get planting some summer vegetables.)

[morticaixavier]

Where did you get marris otter?

[Thirsty_Monk]

Where did you get marris otter?

If you take malted Maris Otter and seed it you will get some sprouts.

[morticaixavier]

Where did you get marris otter?

If you take malted Maris Otter and seed it you will get some sprouts.

i've heard that. might have to give it a try.

oddly I got about 6 heads of two row in my little field of 6 row. figure cross contamination or the mutation that causes only 2 rows to develop is fairly common and just pops up now and then.

[pete b]

Brewark and Morticaixavier: are either of you using your homegrown for base malt. i intend to and am brainstorming my kilning system. I also expect a big enough hops harvest that I might want to build a system for drying hops and kilning at a low enough temp for base malts involving separate bins because of the hops aroma . My biggest challenge so far is the heat source. Any thoughts?

[morticaixavier]

Brewark and Morticaixavier: are either of you using your homegrown for base malt. i intend to and am brainstorming my kilning system. I also expect a big enough hops harvest that I might want to build a system for drying hops and kilning at a low enough temp for base malts involving separate bins because of the hops aroma . My biggest challenge so far is the heat source. Any thoughts?

I haven't used my homegrown barley for anything yet. I do intend to. I will just do small amounts at a time (around 1 kilo) and kiln in a food dehydrator and the oven for higher kilning.

on the hops, you are better off figuring out a way to dry them with no heat as it will maintain maximum aroma and oil content.

[pete b]

I haven't used my homegrown barley for anything yet. I do intend to. I will just do small amounts at a time (around 1 kilo) and kiln in a food dehydrator and the oven for higher kilning.

on the hops, you are better off figuring out a way to dry them with no heat as it will maintain maximum aroma and oil content.
[/quote]
I was thinking about using our food dehydrator but hope to have quite a bit and was thinking of making something bigger. I suppose doing smaller batches over a few days would make the malting more manageable and lessen the risk of screwing up on all of it.
I probably will use my usual method with hops: on screens in the dark cellar with a fan in the proximity of the dehumidifier. I'll just have to build some more trays.
Maybe I just want to build a cool contraption and am overthinking.

[morticaixavier]

oh well, if the aim is to build a cool contraption than you should go for it. I encourage cool contraption building.