Einkorn

Hello I signed up to ask this. This is my first time growing Einkorn so Im a little overwhelmed and not sure whats best. Hopefully some of you have some suggestions.

I have 5lbs of hull on Einkorn and 1000 square feet was tilled for me yesterday. My biggest concern is planting time. I was planning to plant this fall but now Im worried that it wont grow well here in SW Missouri (Zone 6b). Do you think it will hold up during winter or would it be best to plant in the spring? Ive read conflicting information about Einkorn being a winter wheat.

Also Im worried about grass growing back especially if I wait. Im thinking about spraying to kill the remaining grass or maybe covering it or running my small tiller as needed. I had to pay someone to break the ground up so Id really like to avoid having to do that again.

Ive never grown any wheat before and never anything on this large of a scale. Any suggestions would he appreciated.

Welcome to the forum!

Based on this post it sounds like it would be best to plant as soon as the last frost date in the spring:

Bryant said, "einkorn takes 100 days to head out usually

https://permies.com/t/73320/Growing-Einkorn-Deep-South#610501

I hope you will come back after your crop has been harvested to let the forum know how this worked out.

From what I have read Einkorn can be grown as either a winter wheat or a spring wheat, depending upon your climate conditions. If you want to find out which is best for your situation, how about planting half this fall and the other half in the spring? I've had great luck with fall sowing rye last year. It came up and made nice heads with zero input (water, fertilizer, etc.) from me. We're in zone 6a so not too much different from you as far as winter cold is concerned. We get lots of moisture in the winter and spring, then go hot and dry in the summer, which is perfect for drying down fall-sown grains. BTW, I did not do anything to inhibit growth of other species. The rye took over just fine.

I'd be interested in the results, whichever way you go.