Grain
Kharkov
C tier
Kharkov is a hard red winter wheat introduced from Ukraine (Kharkiv region) to North America in the late nineteenth century, closely related to Turkey Red lineages. It brought winter hardiness and bread quality that founded much of the Great Plains hard red winter industry. Historically milled for strong bread flour, Kharkov and its selections underpinned early prairie baking quality. Heritage growers still maintain Kharkov-type lines for winter-hardy hard red flour and breeding parents.
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History
Kharkov winter wheat was grown in Ukrainian steppe agriculture for hard bread grain.
Kharkov introductions reinforced Turkey Red–type hard red winter on the Great Plains.
Canadian and US breeders selected Kharkov stocks for hardiness and milling quality.
Improved hard red winter cultivars descended from Kharkov and Turkey Red dominated acreage.
Kharkov persisted in pedigrees and heritage seed lists more than commercial fields.
Heritage grain projects grew Kharkov for historic Plains bread wheat flavour.