Winter cereal

Winter cereals, also called winter grains, fall cereals/grains, autumn-sown grains, etc.) are the cereals which are sown in the autumn. They germinate before the winter comes, may partially grow during mild winters or simply persevere under a sufficiently thick snow cover to continue their life cycle in spring. They are harvested earlier than the spring-sown grains of the same type.

In general, winter cereals have a much higher yield than spring cereals because they can utilise snow as moisture for growth.

Winter forms are known for rye (winter rye/fall rye), wheat (winter wheat/fall wheat), barley (winter barley/fall barley) and triticale (winter triticale).