Herbal Ley sowing date?

steveR said:

Typical seedsman, vague and wish washy.....

Be nice to see the barley off and the straw cleared by then I have to say!

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steveR said:

I had hoped to be putting in several fields of Herbal Leys this Autumn under the STEPS scheme from Severn Trent, however, the Spring Barley is still standing* there, and listening to the forecast this morning, it doesn't look like coming off in the coming days either...

When do the "herbal" constituents realistically need to be in by, to get them germinated and set safe and ready for Winter? Intention had been to lightly disc and then broadcast and roll. Now looking at a double pass DD into the stubbles as PLENTY of moisture about!

The Bumblebird mix needed to have been in by now, according to one local guy with a lot of experience I spoke with, so that can wait until next year now... But it would have been nice to get the Ley's in, but not to lose some elements of the mix at the price it costs, even from the ever competitive "Kev from Cornwall"!





* At least it is standing!!

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steveR said:

I know... if a fail on dates, then plant as soon as the weather warms next Spring was the advice I had.


Prezackerly, damned if we do, damned if we don't.

Weather is poor for the coming week..

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Humble Village Farmer said:

In 2016 I got a really good take on the 6th Sept with a direct drill. Last year, 1st week of August and nowhere near as good even with good rain in the first few weeks. Legumes especially poor. I think undersowing in the spring is better but then you have the drought risk. As you say, the seed is too expensive to risk wasting it. You can't win sometimes. Might be better to bide your time all things considered.

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