Wirtas Spring Spelt
Europe's exclusive spring spelt for premium milling markets
Wirtas is one of Europe’s only commercially available spring spelt varieties, offering growers a unique opportunity to supply the growing demand for artisan flour, speciality baking and premium grain markets. Combining excellent milling quality, high protein, strong disease resistance and low-input performance, Wirtas is an ideal choice for both conventional and organic farming systems.
Why choose Wirtas?
Wirtas has been selected for growers looking to produce high-quality grain while adding value through specialist markets.
Premium milling quality
- Wirtas produces excellent milling quality with high protein (14%+), strong Hagberg Falling Number and good specific weight, making it well suited to artisan flour production and specialist millers.
One of Europe's only spring spelt varieties
- Unlike traditional winter spelts, Wirtas provides growers with a genuine spring cropping option, increasing rotational flexibility while supplying a niche, premium market.
Higher nutritional quality
- Research from the breeders indicates that spring spelt contains higher levels of protein, gluten and minerals such as iron, zinc and copper compared with commonly grown winter spelt varieties.
Excellent disease resistance
- Organic Research Centre work found Wirtas to be relatively disease free, reflecting previous Agrii trial results and supporting lower-input production.
Why grow spring spelt?
Interest in spelt continues to grow as demand increases for artisan bread, speciality flour, breakfast cereals and alternative grains.
For growers, spring spelt offers:
- A profitable niche break crop
- Access to premium milling markets
- An excellent option for organic and conventional farming
- Lower input requirements than many modern cereals
- Greater rotational flexibility when autumn drilling isn’t possible.
When should you grow Wirtas?
Wirtas is ideal if you’re looking to diversify your rotation with a premium-value cereal.
It is particularly suited to growers who:
- Need a spring-drilled alternative after difficult autumn conditions.
- Want to access higher-value speciality grain markets.
- Farm under organic or low-input systems.
- Are growing for artisan milling, flour or food markets.
- Have lighter or less fertile land, where spelt performs particularly well and lodging risk is reduced.
Organic and low-input farming
Wirtas performs well in lower-input systems and has demonstrated good disease resistance in UK trials.
Like winter spelt, it is best grown on less fertile soils to minimise lodging while maintaining grain quality. These characteristics make it particularly attractive for growers seeking resilient, lower-input cropping options.
Proven performance
Although spring spelt naturally produces lower yields than winter spelt, Wirtas delivers quality that attracts premium markets.
Trials have shown:
- Good performance under UK conditions
- Yield comparable with spring wheat
- Excellent grain quality for milling
- Strong disease resistance in organic trials.
Mildew | Brown Rust | Leaves Septoria | Ear Septoria | Ear Fusarium | Foot Diseases |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8.1 | 6.9 | 6.7 | 7.9 | 8.4 | 8.2 |
High | Medium | Medium | High | High | High |
Results from breeder (Polish data)
1 = low resistance/ 9 = high resistance
Premium contracts and market opportunities
Demand for spelt continues to grow across the UK as artisan bakeries, specialist millers and food manufacturers seek high-quality grain.
Because spelt remains a niche crop, growers are encouraged to secure a contract before planting. Cope Seeds can discuss current seed availability and market opportunities.
What is Wirtas spring spelt?
Wirtas is one of Europe’s only commercially available spring spelt varieties, offering growers a flexible spring-drilled alternative with premium milling quality.
Why grow spring spelt instead of winter spelt?
Spring spelt provides greater rotational flexibility when autumn drilling isn’t possible. Wirtas also offers excellent milling quality with high protein and mineral content.
Is Wirtas suitable for organic farming?
Yes. Wirtas has shown good disease resistance in UK organic trials and is well suited to organic and lower-input systems.
What markets can Wirtas be grown for?
Wirtas is primarily grown for artisan flour, speciality baking, milling and premium food markets, where quality is valued over maximum yield.
Where does Wirtas grow best?
Like most spelt varieties, Wirtas performs best on less fertile land, helping reduce lodging while maintaining grain quality.
Get in touch
Contact COPE to discuss growing Wirtas.