This dataset originates from the 2024 long coleoptile wheat trial conducted at Dookie College, Victoria, Australia. The trial investigates the interactions between wheat genotype, sowing depth, and presswheel pressure (as a proxy for soil strength) on early crop establishment and development. The core experimental design is a factorial combination of six wheat genotypes (Scepter, Calibre, Mace, Mace18, Magenta, Magenta13), two sowing depths (shallow: 30–40 mm; deep: 80–100 mm), and three presswheel pressures (light, standard, heavy), resulting in 36 treatment combinations replicated across multiple blocks. The dataset is structured across multiple Excel file (.xlsx) sheets, each representing different aspects of the trial, including experimental design, field maps, seed characteristics, soil measurements, and emergence data. Key files include treatment layouts, seed packing details, soil strength and moisture data at various depths and time points (pre-sowing, 0 days after sowing, and 12 days after sowing), temperature logger data, and detailed emergence counts over time. Soil strength was measured using a Geotester penetrometer, while gravimetric moisture and matric potential were assessed through laboratory analysis of soil cores taken at specified depths. Temperature sensors recorded hourly data at 0, 3–4, and 8–10 cm depths in selected plots. Seed characteristics such as thousand seed weight, seed size grading, and germination/vigour assessments were recorded for each genotype. The emergence data includes counts from two seeding rows per plot, tracked over multiple dates post-sowing, allowing for analysis of emergence dynamics. The dataset supports investigations into how genotype and agronomic practices influence wheat establishment under varying soil mechanical resistance and moisture conditions. All data is labelled with consistent identifiers for plot, treatment, genotype, depth, and pressure, facilitating integration across sheets. This comprehensive dataset enables robust analysis of genotype by environment by management interactions relevant to improving wheat establishment under challenging sowing conditions. Lineage: Field-based plot phenotypic data