Quick facts
| Arabic name | القمح |
|---|---|
| English name | Wheat (Qamh) |
| Scientific name | Triticum spp. |
| Family | Grass family (Poaceae) |
| Plant type | Annual grass (grain crop) |
| Height | Usually 60 to 120 cm |
| Water use | High |
Planting and harvest calendar
Best time to plant
November to December
Mostly mid-November to mid-December Harvest time
March to May
About 4 to 5 months after sowingJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Planting timeHarvest or flowering
Times are general for the Saudi climate and may shift a few weeks by region: cooler in the highlands and the north, warmer on the coasts and in the south.
Description
Hollow jointed stems, long strap leaves, and a grain head that turns golden when ripe.
Where it grows
Grown in Al-Qassim, Hail, Al-Jouf and Tabuk. Najran has local types, and it is grown on the old terraces of Asir and Al-Baha.
Soil
Well-drained loam with medium fertility.
Water and irrigation
Regular watering during the season. Because it needs a lot of water, its farming is controlled to save groundwater.
Climate and light
Planted in cool winter and harvested in spring, with full sun.
Propagation
From seeds (grains).
Benefits and uses
- Flour for bread
- Base of dishes like jareesh, margoog, gursan and mataziz
- Straw is used as animal feed
Drawbacks
- Uses a lot of water
- Only grown in winter
- Diseases like rust and birds can harm it
Sources and references
The information was collected and checked from these scientific sources: