Field Crops
O'odham 60-Day corn tasseling in the field
Grains, such as wheat, barley and corn; legumes including garbanzos, lentils and fava beans; and fiber plants like flax and hemp, were grown in this area across extensive fields. Melons and chilies were also commonly grown in large field plots.
Indigenous farmers have long grown warm season crops here, and throughout the fertile floodplain of the Santa Cruz River valley. Corn was an essential crop, and it was grown over large swaths of this land.
In the late 17th century European missionaries introduced grains from overseas, such as wheat, barley, oats and rye. During Spanish colonial times these grains were valuable commodities that were stored in guarded granaries, and even used as currency for trade.
Spikes of white Sonora wheat, an ancient variety introduced during the Spanish colonial period
The introduced grains, especially winter wheat, were adopted by O’odham farmers, and incorporated into their own agricultural traditions. In the original mission garden here, and in the many fields surrounding this site, these crops were grown season after season well into the 20th century.
During Spanish colonial times flax and hemp were also mainstays in fields at missions around the region, as they were essential for linens and cordage in the European tradition.
Left: Flax, wheat, and sunflower / Center: Pima Club wheat, another heirloom wheat grown at Mission Garden / Right: Flax flower
