How to Grow Wheat

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Till grass or dirt next to water with a hoe (water hydrates farmland up to 4 blocks away), plant seeds from breaking tall grass, and wait - wheat grows through 8 stages in light level 9 or higher. Bone meal speeds it up, and jumping on the farmland turns it back to dirt, so fence it in.

What you need

Wheat seeds (from tall grass)
Hoe (any tier)
Water bucket
Bone meal (optional)

Step by step

Get seeds. Break tall grass - about 1 in 8 tufts drops wheat seeds. A few minutes of punching grass gives you a starting stack.
Hoe the farmland. Craft any hoe (wood is fine) and right-click dirt or grass blocks near water. One water block hydrates farmland up to 4 blocks away in every direction - the classic 9x9 plot with water in the middle.
Plant and light it. Right-click the farmland with seeds. Wheat only grows at light level 9 or higher, so plant outdoors in daylight or place torches around the field for night growth.
Speed it up with bone meal. Right-click bone meal on the crop to jump it forward several growth stages - 2-3 uses usually finishes it.
Harvest at stage 8. Fully grown wheat is tall and golden. Break it for 1 wheat plus 0-3 more seeds, replant immediately, and never jump on the field - trampled farmland reverts to dirt and pops the crop.

Java vs Bedrock

Java: crops need light level 9+ to grow and a seed planted without enough light pops out of the ground. Bedrock: crops need an internal light level of 9 and grow slightly slower. Rain does not hydrate farmland in either edition.

Versions: Wheat farming is as old as Minecraft - seeds and hoes arrived in February 2010 (Indev). The mechanics are nearly untouched since: hydration radius, 8 growth stages and trample protection with feather falling all still apply.

Frequently asked questions

Why won't my wheat grow?

Not enough light (needs 9+ - torch it), no hydration within 4 blocks (farmland turns dry and brown), or something keeps jumping on the field. Fence it against animals.

Does wheat grow faster on hydrated soil?

Yes - hydrated farmland grows crops about twice as fast and never reverts to dirt unless trampled.

What do I do with wheat?

Craft bread (3 wheat in a row), breed cows and sheep (they follow wheat), make hay bales, cakes and cookies, or trade it to farmer villagers for emeralds.