Can Supergrains Be Grown In Gardens & Allotments? The Idea Is Appealing, But What Is The Reality? And Are They Supergrains?
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The video by Rooted Way discusses several “medieval supergrains” that have been partially sidelined by modern industrial agriculture in favour of high-yield, chemically dependent hybrids. The narrator argues that these ancient grains offer superior resilience, nutrition, and independence for farmers. But Is this reality? And are these grains supergrains?
The 7 Medieval Supergrains As Explained In the Video
Einkorn: The oldest domesticated wheat (~5,000 years old). It is highly resilient, requires 25–50% less nitrogen than modern wheat, and is cold/salinity tolerant [01:28]. Its unique “shattering” habit allows it to naturally reseed itself [02:42].
Emmer: Known as the “Egyptian survival grain,” it is incredibly drought-tolerant and competitive against weeds [03:13]. It has a natural resistance to diseases that often plague modern wheat, requiring no fungicides [04:12].
Spelt: A “hulled” grain that acts as a natural insurance crop [05:16]. The tough hull protects it from pests and mould in storage without chemicals [05:31]. It contains significantly more protein and amino acids than modern varieties [07:06].
Rye: Described as a “self-perpetuating rebel” because it recedes aggressively and can maintain itself for decades without replanting [07:25]. It thrives in cold climates and poor soils where wheat fails [07:58].
Barley: Historically a primary food source, not just animal feed [09:25]. It is highly salt-tolerant, making it viable in degraded soils where modern wheat cannot grow [10:00].
Khorasan Wheat (Kamut): An ancient grain with high genetic complexity (four chromosome sets) [11:30]. Studies suggest it can help reduce insulin and glucose levels and lower inflammation [12:26].
Perennial Grains (The Future): The video highlights modern efforts to develop grains like Kernza and Salish Blue (a wheat/wheatgrass cross) that never need replanting [13:30]. These grains have deep roots that improve soil health and eliminate the need for annual seed purchases [14:36].
Core Themes
Resilience over Yield: While modern wheat produces more kernels per acre, it is fragile and requires intensive chemical inputs. Medieval grains prioritise survival and self-sufficiency [02:17].
Nutritional Superiority: Heritage grains often contain higher levels of antioxidants and minerals, and are generally easier to digest, causing less inflammation than modern high-gluten wheat [06:40].
Economic Independence: The video argues that modern agriculture is designed to keep farmers dependent on annual seed purchases and chemical fertilizers [15:10]. Medieval grains represent “freedom” because they can be harvested using traditional methods that leave enough seed to reseed the next crop naturally [10:56].
Watch The Video, Then Read My Comments On The “Facts” Presented
Firstly, some of these grains are still grown and can be bought in supermarkets. Eg. Spelt and rye are both available in all the major UK supermarkets. So they are far from sidelined.
Sadly I find many of the other comments made to be equally incorrect. In general they are imprecise, overstated, or lack crucial context. They present a simplified, promotional view that omits the significant trade-offs (especially lower yields and processing challenges) that led to the displacement of these grains by modern wheat.
Crop rotation: Wheat is part of the Norfolk Four Course Rotation.
I’m not saying modern grains do not have problems, especially reliance on artificial fertilisers and synthetic chemical pesticides. Let me explain below.
But before doing that consider the following. The grains above are all from the grass family (Gramineae [Poaceae]). And many grasses are true perennials, living many years whilst seeding annually. In some species the plant will die after one year and thus they are not technically perennial. They are annuals that will then regrow from the easily shed seed.
Line-by-Line Critique Of The Supergrain Claims
1. Einkorn:
“Oldest domesticated wheat (~5,000 years old)”: Misleading. Domestication of einkorn began around 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent. The 5,000-year figure is incorrect for its domestication age.
“Requires 25–50% less nitrogen”: Plausible but needs context. Ancient wheats generally have lower yield potential, thus lower nitrogen demand. The claim is more accurately stated as having a lower nitrogen requirement per unit of yield. However, their absolute yield is also much lower than modern wheat under optimal conditions.
Cold/salinity tolerance & “shattering”: Correct in principle. Einkorn is known for hardiness. The “shattering” (seed dispersal) claim is backwards: a key domestication trait was the selection of non-shattering types to prevent seed loss at harvest. Wild einkorn shatters; domesticated einkorn has reduced shattering.
2. Emmer:
“Incredibly drought-tolerant”: Correct. Emmer is well-documented for its drought tolerance, a key reason for its historical prevalence in arid regions.
“Natural resistance to diseases… requiring no fungicides”: Overstated. While often showing resistance to some specific diseases (e.g., certain rusts), it is not universally resistant. Commercial emmer cultivation can still suffer from fungal diseases like Fusarium head blight. The claim “requires no fungicides” is an absolute that does not hold in all environments, especially under intensive cultivation.
3. Spelt:
“The tough hull protects it from pests and mould”: Partially correct. The hull offers physical protection during storage, but it does not confer complete immunity. Spoilage and pest infestation can still occur under poor conditions.
“Contains significantly more protein and amino acids”: Unsubstantiated generalisation. Comparative studies show variable results. Some research indicates spelt may have a slightly higher protein content in some environments, but the amino acid profile (notably lysine deficiency) is similar to modern wheat. The critical difference is often in the type of gluten proteins, not a universally higher nutritional value.
4. Rye:
“Self-perpetuating rebel… can maintain itself for decades”: Accurate in the context of cover cropping/seeding. Rye is a vigorous, cold-tolerant cereal known for its allelopathic properties (suppressing weeds) and ability to volunteer (self-seed) aggressively, which can be a challenge in crop rotations.
“Thrives in poor soils where wheat fails”: Correct. Rye has superior performance on sandy, acidic, and low-fertility soils compared to wheat.
5. Barley:
“Historically a primary food source”: Correct. Barley was a staple grain for many ancient civilizations (e.g., Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece).
“Highly salt-tolerant”: Correct. Barley is consistently documented as one of the most salt-tolerant cereals, often used in soil reclamation projects.
6. Khorasan Wheat (Kamut®):
“High genetic complexity (four chromosome sets)”: Correct. Khorasan is a tetraploid wheat (AABB, like durum), while modern bread wheat is hexaploid (AABBDD) ie even more complex!
“Studies suggest it can help reduce insulin and glucose…”: Needs heavy qualification. Some short-term, small-scale intervention studies (often comparing refined modern wheat products to whole-grain Khorasan) have shown beneficial metabolic effects. These cannot be generalised as inherent properties of the grain itself. Causation is not proven, and effects are likely linked to its typical consumption as a whole grain and its specific fibre/protein composition, not a unique medicinal property.
7. Perennial Grains:
“Deep roots that improve soil health”: Strongly supported by research. Perennial systems like Kernza (intermediate wheatgrass) demonstrably reduce soil erosion, increase soil organic carbon, and improve water retention.
“Eliminate the need for annual seed purchases”: True by definition. This is the core concept of a perennial.
Critical Omission: The major trade-off is that yields of current perennial grain varieties are drastically lower than annual grains, and seed size is often smaller. Kernza is not yet agronomically or economically competitive with annual wheat for mass calorie production. The work on Salish Blue is even more preliminary. The promise is long-term, not immediate.
Summary of Key Omissions (Why Modern Wheat Dominates)
The critique fails because it presents ancient grains’ resiliency traits without acknowledging their primary weaknesses:
Low Yield: The single most important factor. Modern wheat varieties out-yield ancient grains by multiples under good conditions.
Hulling Requirement: Einkorn, emmer, and spelt require an extra processing step to remove the tough hull, increasing cost and labour.
Baking Properties: The gluten in most ancient grains (except some spelt) is weaker, making them less suitable for leavened bread.
Lodging: Many ancient and heritage grains are tall and prone to falling over (lodging) under high nitrogen fertilization, limiting yield response.
My Supergrain Conclusions
The statements are a mix of correct facts, half-truths, and optimistic simplifications. They highlight genuine agronomic and potential nutritional benefits of diverse grains but frame them as superior without the critical context of their significant agronomic and economic limitations, which are well-documented in crop science literature.
