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 9 and 10. Most of our wheat has progressed to the Feekes 9 growth stage, some fields are or soon will be in Feekes 10 growth stage.
Feekes 9 – Ligule of flag leaf visible.
The flag leaf is completely emerged from the whorl. Flag leaf and the next-to-last leaf (penultimate leaf ) combined account for 70 to 90 percent of the photosynthates used for grain fill and must be protected for the plant to develop to its full potential.
Management.
Scout for insects and diseases. Consider a fungicide application to protect the flag leaf if foliar diseases are present on the lower canopy. Nitrogen application can increase grain protein levels.
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.
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.