Today managing your wheat crop requires knowledge of the different growth stages of the plant. Growth stage identification is critical for scouting and proper timing of fertilizer and pesticide applications. Each week throughout the rest of the growing season I will discuss the various wheat growth stages I am seeing in our wheat fields and management issues at each stage. This week I will focus on Feekes 7. While growth stage does vary throughout the County, most of our field are at or beyond Feekes 7 growth stage.
Feekes 7 – Second node of stem visible
This stage is characterized by the rapid expansion of the head and a second detectable node. Look for the presence of two nodes—one should be between 1.5 and 3 inches from the base of the stem and the other should be about 4 to 6 inches above the base of the stem. These nodes are usually seen as clearly swollen areas of a distinctly different (darker) shade of green than the rest of the stem. The next-to-last leaf is just visible.
Note: the upper node may be hidden by the leaf sheath; you may have to run your fingers up the stem to feel for it.
If only one node is present, then your wheat is still at Feekes Growth Stage 6. Wheat will still respond to N applied at Feekes 7.0 if weather prevented an earlier application; however, mechanical damage may occur from applicator equipment. Demand for water and nutrients increases. Temperatures lower than 24 degrees Fahrenheit can damage the developing head.
If you need a reminder on how to determine if wheat is at Feekes GS 7, watch this video.
Management
Plant growth regulators may be applied at this growth stage. Scout for insects, weeds, and diseases.