So it's harvest time...

End of July beginning of August sheaves of golden wheat should be rustling in the wind ready to harvest, if only...

On the right is the healthy rogue wheat, on the left one of the bigger plants from the main crop :-(

Well I've harvested what few grains I have, there are so few I could probably give them all names, see below:

Well at least the winnowing and chaffing wasn't too arduous ;-) but when all's said and done not even enough for a cracker.  So I guess that's where our story ends for now, maybe when the seasons roll round I'll consider finding some winter-wheat to plant...

Ear we go

So we have some ears appearing on a significant number of the plants:

Whilst this is good news, compared to the rogue-growth in the back lawn the main crop is only around 30cm tall, versus over 70cm, and the ears are small (I'll try to produce an image directly comparing the two in due course).  None of which bodes well for the flour yield I reckon, ho hum.  Oh well at least I'm not alone the U.K. drought has affected many professional growers with some reported to be ploughing their cereal crops back into the ground and replanting (see here).

This is more like it

Slow and steady

So there are signs of growth with the odd shoot standing out above the rest, here's hoping it's not just grass:

No news is good news

So there are signs that the wetter weather is encouraging some growth from our wheaty friends but no photographic evidence as yet.  In the meantime here are a few snaps of recent baking efforts to whet your appetite (improvement in the photos can be attributed to the return of the key grip ;-).

Nature Knows Best

So whilst the main crop struggles to make 8cm of growth there are some renegades in the back-garden doing considerably better:

It's no coincidence I think that the site of the rogue growth is directly beneath a pigeon's nest but it's amazing how much difference regular watering, a slightly sunnier aspect and some fertilizing can make.
Still at least I know that what I've planted is wheat - here's hoping that the main crop is just being a bit lethargic and the recent rain will help it along.

Onwards and upwards

I've been out of the country for a while so have been reliant upon my happy helpers to tend the crop.  Given the somewhat novel situation of a Mancunian drought over the last couple of weeks that's actually involved some watering!
Anyway growth continues, all looks well, albeit from afar (see below).