Hordeum vulgare
Origin: Takmachik, Ladakh, India
Improvement status: Landrace
Seeds per packet: ~150
Germination tested 01/2026: 97%
Life cycle: Annual or biennial
'Takmachik Landrace' barley is a beautifully diverse hull-less barley population grown by organic farmers in Ladakh (India) for generations. It's well-adapted to low-input, low-till farming practices. This barley is traditionally used in bread, for malting, or roasting and grinding into "tsampa," a classic Himalayan cereal food.
We got these seeds from our great friend Chris Hardy of Hardy Seeds in Ashland, Oregon. Chris was given this variety by a farmer in the Ladakh village of Takmachik on a trip there years ago.
GROWING TIPS: Given its diversity, it's probably worth trying some portion of these seeds in spring and some in fall, to see which works best in your region. Direct-sow seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep. Plants will probably do best separated by 8-12 inches.
