Anyone grown barley?

[Snadger]

I've been given about 30Kg of barley to feed my chicks with! I've sown some in a 10" pot indoors but was thinking of devoting an unused(at the mo) veg bed 4foot by 12 foot to it for autumn sowing. Any thoughts?

[HayleyB]

Not that I have ever grown anything before this year so as you know Snadger I'm in no position to give advice, but if you haven't another use for the plot why not just go for it, what have you got to lose?

The farmers around here grow winter barley and it is always the first harvested well before wheat and rape so should leave the plot free for a catch sowing - oooh hark at me

[sewer rat]

You need to find out if it's a winter or spring barley Snadger. The winter type requires a cold period (vernalisation) so it should be okay. The spring stuff is as the name would suggest, best sown in Spring.