The quick and convenient step by step guide to growing your Canada Wild Rye!
Not to be confused with agricultural rye, this cool-season native grass is one of the most popular species for native plantings. It is fairly easy to grow, it adapts to a wide variety of soils, it is winter hardy, and it is affordable - what more could you want in a grass?
We no longer carry seed for every plant we write about. What we can hand you is the way we grow the herbs we do sell: living soil, no synthetic fertiliser, no pesticide, and a soil test we publish. Build a regenerative herb garden the way we do →
How to Grow Canada Wild Rye!
#1 | Direct sow either in late fall or early spring. Plant the seed just below the surface of the soil, compacting the soil very firmly. For spring planting, mix the seeds with moist sand and store in the refrigerator for 60 days before planting.
# 2 | Keep the soil lightly moist until germination, since this seed cannot germinate in dry soil.
# 3 | Water seedlings occasionally until they become established. Mature plants adapt to nearly any kind of soil including sand, gravel, and clay; they also tolerate drought and poor soil well.
# 4 | This plant readily reseeds itself and can grow very quickly in good conditions. It makes an excellent choice for providing forage and cover for birds and other wildlife.
