How many grains can you think of when asked to list them? Wheat, corn, rice? You are probably familiar with these three varieties. After all, without cultivating them, it would not be remotely possible to feed the world's population. On the other hand, if you mention emmer, spelled and einkorn, you are wrong. Because these avoidable varieties are only subspecies of the seven main groups. On this page you can read what they are and what makes them special.

There are countless types of grain, all of which belong to the grass family

The seven main groups

All grain varieties belong to the plant genus of sweet grasses. There are mainly seven main groups:

  • rice
  • Corn
  • oats
  • rye
  • barley
  • millet
  • wheat

rice

  • Latin name: Oryza
  • Main growing area: humid tropical regions
  • Staple food in: Asia
  • preferred locations: swampy soils
  • Ingredients: iodine, iron, fiber, phosphorus, magnesium, little fat
  • Characteristics: 20-30 culms per plant with a length of 50-160 cm, spikes with single panicles
  • Divided into three main groups: medium-grain rice, round-grain rice, pointed-grain rice, about 8,000 varieties in total
  • Use: primarily for cooking

Corn

  • Latin name: Zea mays
  • monoecious separate sex
  • maximum growth height: 2.5 m
  • Culms up to 5 cm thick
  • Inflorescence: spadix instead of spikes
  • undemanding to the soil, also tolerates drought and heat
  • Pollination: by the wind
  • Staple Foods in: America
  • Time of sowing: late spring
  • Use: side dish, salads, animal feed, popcorn
  • Taste: floury, sweetish
  • Harvest time: September to October
  • Corn is not a vegetable!

oats

  • Latin name: Avena sativa
  • Characteristics: downward-sloping panicles, 50 cm long, instead of spikes with two grains at the top
  • Growing area: as a summer crop in Germany
  • preferred location: temperate climate, lots of precipitation
  • Fertilization: self-fertile

.- Special feature: gluten-free (therefore not suitable for baking)

  • Use: oat flakes, flour, vegetable drink, bran
  • Taste: mild, nutty, sweetish
  • Harvest time: mid-August

rye

  • Latin name: Secale cereale
  • Cultivation decreases more and more
  • Properties: frost hardy
  • Appearance: awns of medium length
  • Grain colour: gray-yellow
  • Ear structure: two grains in two rows on an ear axis
  • maximum growth height: 65-200 cm
  • Ear length: 5-20 cm (slightly curved due to the weight of the grains)
  • healthy ingredients: magnesium, iron, fiber
  • Usage: muesli, brown or sourdough bread, to make vodka
  • Flavour: strong and aromatic
  • Harvest time: July to August

barley

  • Latin name: Hordeum vulgare
  • the fastest growing cereal species
  • very adaptable and robust
  • Appearance: long awns, lower grains have longer hairs than upper grains, thick pointed grains
  • maximum growth height: 70-120 cm
  • Leaves: 1-2 cm narrow, 25 cm long
  • Origin: South Asia
  • Use: spring barley as food, winter barley as animal feed, for brewing beer and malt coffee
  • Taste: nutty-aromatic
  • Harvest time: winter barley in spring, spring barley in July and August

millet

  • Subdivision: large-grain sorghum, small-grain millet
  • Properties: gluten-free, one of the oldest cereals
  • low location requirements
  • maximum growth height: 5 m
  • resembles corn
  • Use: porridge, salad, flatbread, side dish

wheat

  • Latin name: Triticum aestivum
  • most important grain variety in Germany
  • Subdivision: hard and soft wheat, winter and spring wheat
  • Site requirements: mild climate, yet frost hardy, heavy, nutrient-rich soil
  • maximum growth height: 0.4-1 m
  • does not form awns
  • Grains: ridged reverse side, elongate-oval, hairy, green
  • Ear length: 6-18 cm
  • Use: animal feed, pasta, alcohol, baked goods, starch
  • Taste: mild
  • Harvest time: Midsummer

Category:

Vegetable garden