Growing guide · Field crops

Barley (spring barley)

Hordeum vulgare

Finland's most grown cereal: 367,300 ha of barley in 2025. Feed and malting barley are spring-sown.

Key figures

Item	Value	Source
Sowing / planting	when soil is 4–5 °C	^[5]
Sowing depth	max 6 cm (malting barley)	^[3]
Seed rate / spacing	6-row 450–500, 2-row 500–550, malting 550–600 seeds/m²	^[2]
pH	above 6.2	^[2]
Harvest	combine below 25 % moisture, dry to below 14 %	^[2]

The full guide (care, pests, beginner and professional tips) is currently in Finnish. The figures above are the same and come from the sources below.

These are general guidelines. Always check the variety, seed packet or fertiliser instructions and current regulations.