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. Today I will focus on Feekes 10. While growth stage does vary throughout the County, most of our field have passed through Feekes 9 and are at (or approcahing) Feekes 10 growth stage.
Feekes 10 – Boot
The head is inside the leaf sheath giving it a swollen appearance. The flag leaf sheath and peduncle elongate and the developing head is pushed through the flag leaf sheath. Temperatures below 28 degrees Fahrenheit may cause damage to the developing head.
If you need a reminder on how to determine if wheat is at Feekes GS 10, watch this video.
Management
Scout for insects, weeds, and diseases. Application of 2,4-D after wheat reaches the boot stage of growth can result in trapped heads, missing florets, or twisted awns.