Purple Karma Tibetan Barley Seeds
Purple Karma Tibetan Barley Seeds - Hordeum vulgare
- Annual
Full Sun
- Germination Tested October 12, 2025: 96%
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Heirloom Tibetan hulless barley with a deep purple-brown colour.
From Skye, the grower: "Lovely as a whole-grain addition to soups or stews, I also quite like barley lightly browned in a skillet, then cooked in an Instant Pot or similar as a salad amendment. Flavour is nutty, deep, and very wholesome. Winter comfort! Would also make a lovely ornamental fall display if harvested when purple.
Barley is relatively straightforward to grow, requiring only average soils. Threshing is not complicated once plants are very dry. Best started in spring, although in mild winter areas, it can be fall sown. We do not know the exact degree of cold tolerance of this variety; some online sources suggest barley can be damaged by cold in the -6° range. Six row type with awns.
According to Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, this variety was collected in Tibet in 1924, then sat in a gene bank for many years. Eventually, Pat Hayes of Oregon State University used this seed
to introduce this variety to the west."
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Seeds are grown by our friends Skye and Maple at Tardigrade Seeds on Salt Spring Island, BC.
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Plant in spring around the average last frost date, 1/2" deep in rows with plants 2-3" apart. Fall planting may also be successful depending on how cold the winter gets. Plant into low- to moderate- fertility soil; highly fertile soil will cause the plants to fall over ("lodge").
Harvest: Mature heads proceed from purple to light brown colour. May benefit from further drying to aid threshing. For small quantities, seed heads can be rubbed with gloves to release the seeds. Or, put it into a sac and beat it against the ground. Remove chaff with a fan or similar.
Make sure the grain is very dry before storage.
Dry growing (growing without irrigation):
We generally do not irrigate our fall plantings. In good soil spring planting may not require irrigation, although irrigation may improve yield. Avoid getting the heads wet when they start to dry down.
Growing Instructions
Growing Instructions
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
By placing an order, customers agree to the shipping & refund policies detailed on this page.
Most orders are sent via Canada Post to keep costs low.
Shipping within Canada
We ship seeds via Canada Post within Canada for $6 to $8 depending on weight.
We ship seeds in Canada via regular letter mail, which is an untracked service, and usually takes 1-3 weeks to arrive once we fulfill your order, but occasionally orders take longer, especially to the Eastern provinces and rural areas.
Customers can now opt for tracked, express shipping options at checkout if you require faster delivery.
Larger bulbs and plants are usually sent via tracked flat rate box.
Shipping to the US
We require all US shoppers to obtain a Small Seed Lot Import Permit before we can mail your seeds. It's free to apply, and you will likely be granted the permit instantly, although some require additional verification via mail.
We recommend obtaining a permit BEFORE placing your order.
Please email your permit and shipping label PDFs to us promptly before or after you order.
If you do not email us your permit documents after one week, we will refund your order minus a $10 processing charge.
How to apply for your Small Seed Lot Import Permit:
- Please follow these instructions carefully so you don't end up with the wrong type of permit!
- Go to https://efile.aphis.usda.gov/s/
- Select PPQ-587 in the dropdown menu and click "Get Started".
- Please use the exact same name and address as on your order.
- Login and follow the instructions to obtain a permit.
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Under the Commodity Type drop down, make sure you select the "Small Lots of Seed". See screenshot below.
- It's best to list "Eligible Taxa" instead of listing all the species you'd like to import so you don't need to worry about missing any species you ordered.
- Once you receive your permit, promptly email us 2 PDFs: a copy of your permit and a copy of the yellow/green shipping labels. Tell us which USDA station you want us to send the seeds to. If not mentioned we will choose one close to you. Our email is grow@cicadaseeds.ca
- Once we've accepted your documents, please contact the plant inspection station we are shipping to and let them know to expect your shipment. Station phone numbers can be found here (select "United States" then "Plant Inspection Stations" in the top 2 fields, then click "Search"). This reminds stations to check for your package, otherwise they may forget about it.
Need help? Contact the APHIS plant permit team at:
EMAIL: plantproducts.permits@usda.gov
PHONE: 877-770-5990
What happens next?
After receiving your documentation, we will mail your seeds to an inspection facility in the US. We will ship via tracked parcel, and you will receive the tracking number when your order has shipped. Orders will be mailed first to a plant inspection facility in the US, then they forward the package on to your address after inspection. Tracking is only available to the inspection facility, not to your address.
The mail and inspection process can take several weeks, depending on how long the inspection takes. Unfortunately we are not able to replace packages that are confiscated or destroyed by customs, or for any additional duties or tariffs placed on your order.
Shipping Internationally
International customers can select tracked or untracked shipping at checkout. The package will list the contents as "Garden Seeds". It is your responsibility to ensure you have the required import permit. We are not able to send any live plant materials internationally. Cicada Seeds will not be responsible for any orders held or confiscated by customs, or for any additional duties or tariffs placed on your order.
International shipping countries include: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom.
This list may change without notice. Sometimes Canada Post will not allow us to ship to certain countries due to wars or natural disasters, see this page for delivery service alerts.
Please reach out if your country is not on this list, email us and we will try to arrange an alternate shipping option.
Refund Policy
Refunds: We stand behind our seeds, so if for some reason you are not satisfied with your purchase, please reach out to us via email and we will do our best to make it right. Please note that shipping costs are non-refundable.
Cancelled orders: If you wish to cancel an order after purchasing, we may refund your order minus card processing and admin fees at our discretion.
Refused orders: We cannot issue a refund if you refuse to accept an order we've sent to you.
Incorrect addresses: Please double check your mailing address, and let us know ASAP if you've entered an incorrect address at checkout. We may need to charge for additional shipping fees to resend orders.
Ecologically Grown
Ecologically Grown
Seeds are grown ecologically without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers.
