About Winter Wheat
Winter wheat is one of the most consistently preferred cereal grains in deer preference trials, providing high-protein forage (often exceeding 25% crude protein in fall growth) from establishment through spring bolt. It is slightly less cold-tolerant than cereal rye but establishes a more productive stand in favorable conditions and deer use it more heavily in direct head-to-head comparisons. Awnless varieties are strongly preferred — deer avoid the seed heads of awned types, which can reduce overall plot utilization into spring.
How much Winter Wheat seed per acre?
The standard broadcast seeding rate for Winter Wheat is 90–120 lbs per acre, dropping to about 75 lbs per acre when drilled. 90–120 lb/ac broadcast for pure stand; 60–90 lb/ac drilled. In blends with clovers, reduce to 40–60 lb/ac. Choose awnless varieties for deer — deer avoid awned heads. The calculator above scales this to your exact plot size and converts it into the number of retail bags to buy.
When to plant Winter Wheat
Winter Wheat is a cool-season crop. In the northern US, plant in Aug–Sep; farther south, plant in Sep–Oct. Sow it 1" deep and plan on 14–21 to germination; usable forage in 45–60 days.
Soil, pH & fertilizer
Aim for a soil pH near 6.5(don't go below ~6). 300 lb/ac 13-13-13 at planting; top-dress with 100–150 lb/ac 34-0-0 when stand reaches several inches. P and K per soil test. Not sure where your soil sits? Read our soil test & lime guide.
Winter Wheat blends well with Austrian winter peas, crimson clover, ladino clover, turnips, cereal rye if you want a more diverse, resilient plot.
Winter Wheat FAQ
- How much Winter Wheat seed do I need per acre?
- Broadcast Winter Wheat at about 90–120 lbs per acre, or 75 lbs per acre if you drill it. 90–120 lb/ac broadcast for pure stand; 60–90 lb/ac drilled. In blends with clovers, reduce to 40–60 lb/ac. Choose awnless varieties for deer — deer avoid awned heads.
- When should I plant Winter Wheat?
- In the northern US plant in Aug–Sep; in the South plant in Sep–Oct. Expect 14–21 to germination; usable forage in 45–60 days.
- What soil pH does Winter Wheat need?
- Winter Wheat does best at a soil pH around 6.5 (minimum ~6). 300 lb/ac 13-13-13 at planting; top-dress with 100–150 lb/ac 34-0-0 when stand reaches several inches. P and K per soil test.
- Do deer like Winter Wheat?
- Deer preference: high — crude protein often exceeds 25% in fall; deer use it heavily from germination through April; awnless varieties preferred.