Barley
Worldwide, Barley is the fourth important cereal crop (after maize, rice and wheat). Barley is used to prepare malt which is one of the main ingredients needed for beer brewing. Barley is also used in health foods, to make barley bread, or as an animal fodder.
This page provides some basic information and facts about barley together with photos, some barley proverbs and quotes, and barley recipes.
Basic information on barley
| Scientific name: | Hordeum vulgare |
| Family: | Poaceae (or Gramineae) |
| Order: | Poales |
| English: | Barley Common barley |
| Dutch: | Gerst |
| German: | Gerste Gerstenkorn |
| Spanish: | Cebada |
| French: | Orge Orge commune |
| Italian: | Orzo |
| Origin: | Barley was first cultivated in the Near East, in the area of the Tigris-Euphrates river system. |
| Distribution: | Barley grows in temperate regions. Countries with the highest production include Russia, Canada, Spain, Germany, France and Turkey. It is also grown in Australia, United Kingdom, United States, and Ethiopia. |
| Plant: | Barley is a domesticated plant belonging to the grasses family. It usually produces one to six tillers (stems) per plant. |
| Ears: | Barley has erect or nearly erect spikes that are 2 to 10 cm long, excluding the awns. Awns are straight and 10 to 15 centimeters long. |
| Climate and weather: | Barley prefers dry cool climates. It will not grow well in warm humid climate. |
| Pollination: | Barley is a self-pollinating plant. |
| Height: | Barley plants are, depending on variety and soil health, between 60 and 120 centimeter tall. |
| Type of soil: | Barley grows well on well-drained fertile loams or on light clay soils. |
| Preferred pH: | Barley prefers pH of 6.0 or higher. It does not grow well on acid soils. |
| Moisture: | Barley can tolerate moderate drought conditions. |
| Propagation: | Barley is propagated by seed. |
| Insect pests: | Aphids |
| Harvesting: | |
| Uses: | The main use of barley is to make malt, which is an ingredient to make beer. Malt is prepared by making the grains germinate by soaking them in water and then drying them with hot air to stop further germination. Barley is also used as a fodder crop or to make barley bread. |
Barley photos
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Proverbs about barley
- It is safe to lend barley to him who has oats.
- Who sows barley cannot reap wheat.
Quotes about barley
- In the age of acorns, before the times of Ceres, a single barley-corn had been of more value to mankind than all the diamonds of the mines of India. (Henry Brooke)
- And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. (Bible. Exodus 9:31.)
Did you know that?
- Since the early 14th century, shoe sizes are based on the length of barleycorns. This was a decision by King Edward II. Three barleycorns is one inch. The king had shoe size of 36 barleycorns, which is 12 inch (size 12).
- As there are three barley corns in an inch, so one barleycorn is 8.46 millimeters.
Recipes
No barley recipe yet.