Summer brassica break crop

Alias · Mar 20, 2022

We have half a field, about 5 acres, which stock don’t eat well. We ploughed and reseeded the other side a few years back and they always eat this first, but drains are too near surface to plough this half. We’ve overseeded meadows and this has worked well, but not much success with pastures.
I’m thinking spray it off, chain harrow a few times, then broadcast brassica seed on, perhaps late April, and strip graze over summer with cows. Overseed with grass late summer. Does this sound like a good idea? What type of brassica, redstart? We haven’t much spare fertiliser, but plenty of slurry or even solid muck. Ph should be ok, it’s been limed twice in last few years. Will it need spraying again before the grass seed, or will a good harrowing do?
Any advice appreciated, we normally just grow grass.

Anymulewilldo · Mar 20, 2022

Spray it off, borrow a set of discs if you can from someone. Chain harrows won’t be savage enough. Slurry, Right good discing then sow your redstart. Roll and leave it be. Graze it off, slurry or muck again, good disc up and sow your grass. Roll and leave it be.

neilo · Mar 20, 2022

Alias said:
We have half a field, about 5 acres, which stock don’t eat well. We ploughed and reseeded the other side a few years back and they always eat this first, but drains are too near surface to plough this half. We’ve overseeded meadows and this has worked well, but not much success with pastures.
I’m thinking spray it off, chain harrow a few times, then broadcast brassica seed on, perhaps late April, and strip graze over summer with cows. Overseed with grass late summer. Does this sound like a good idea? What type of brassica, redstart? We haven’t much spare fertiliser, but plenty of slurry or even solid muck. Ph should be ok, it’s been limed twice in last few years. Will it need spraying again before the grass seed, or will a good harrowing do?
Any advice appreciated, we normally just grow grass.

I’ve done the same on a few fields here that you really wouldn’t want to cultivate ‘properly’, but using a Simtech DD. A light discing after spraying off would get a bit of tilth, but harrowing a few times would likely be enough for brassicas as long as it rained after. Roll after broadcasting to get better seed soil contact & conserve moisture.

Personally, I would spray again before grass, to remove as many weeds as possible while you can. It only needs a low dose (2 litres/ha glyphosate + water conditioner) as they’ll be young weeds.

Redstart or similar would work well, but seed is dearer and you’ll not get the benefit of the regrowth it can offer. A cheap fodder rape and/or stubble turnips would give you the same feed for less money. Hardly worth falling out over 5ac though.

Alias · Mar 20, 2022

Sounds like we have a plan. We have some old discs so I’ll dig them out and have a go, it has been eaten off fairly bare so shouldn’t take a lot of doing. Thanks

Anymulewilldo · Mar 20, 2022

@neilo is right about the spray, I ran out on the last 1/2 acre last year and couldn’t be bothered too mix a tiny bit so left it, just disced it up and got the grass in. Bloody creeping thistle came straight up

Nearly · Mar 20, 2022

@Great In Grass sent me some fodder rape a few years ago.

Same again this year I think.

Derrick Hughes · Mar 21, 2022

I would put stubble turnips on myself , fraction of the cost

Derrick Hughes · Mar 21, 2022

Other than that , I've done a lot with spraying and cultivating with a rotorspice, rotavator would do same job , could direct drill but would depend how Matty the old grass is

casper74 · Mar 21, 2022

Derrick Hughes said:
I would put stubble turnips on myself , fraction of the cost

I keep getting told, no stubble turnips available!!!

Ysgythan · Mar 21, 2022

Cotswold seeds do a tutorial video on YouTube. Well worth a look.

Derrick Hughes · Mar 21, 2022

casper74 said:
I keep getting told, no stubble turnips available!!!

Ive got some Turnip Seed

Great In Grass · Mar 21, 2022

I didn't think anyone had certified Stuble Turnip seed available and we are all waiting for the new season crop.

Derrick Hughes · Mar 21, 2022

Great In Grass said:
I didn't think anyone had certified Stuble Turnip seed available and we are all waiting for the new season crop.

That man had plenty of White Star

in his van last

Great In Grass said:
I didn't think anyone had certified Stuble Turnip seed available and we are all waiting for the new season crop.

Great In Grass · Mar 21, 2022

Derrick Hughes said:
That man had plenty of White Star View attachment 1024036 in his van last

Yellow label for standard seed I see and not blue for certified seed.

Derrick Hughes · Mar 21, 2022

Great In Grass said:
Yellow label for standard seed I see and not blue for certified seed.

Some Frisia in the shed somewere as well ,I stock a lot of seed have carry over most years

Derrick Hughes · Mar 22, 2022

Suppose I better get these grazed
For reference, thats the bolting date

ollie989898 · Mar 22, 2022

As above, soil test, spray off, sort lime/P/K and run discs over it to generate some tilth. Sow redstart/swift when soil warms up. Graze off as necessary, spray off if needed then reseed with grass. Excellent break crop for grass. Does want some nitrogen though, I have seen chicken muck used for this to great effect.

Kevtherev · Mar 22, 2022

Great In Grass said:
I didn't think anyone had certified Stuble Turnip seed available and we are all waiting for the new season crop.

They will be 2020 season seed I would think

Kevtherev · Mar 22, 2022

Derrick Hughes said:
Other than that , I've done a lot with spraying and cultivating with a rotorspice, rotavator would do same job , could direct drill but would depend how Matty the old grass is

No bother to the pig drill

DanM · Mar 22, 2022

ollie989898 said:
As above, soil test, spray off, sort lime/P/K and run discs over it to generate some tilth. Sow redstart/swift when soil warms up. Graze off as necessary, spray off if needed then reseed with grass. Excellent break crop for grass. Does want some nitrogen though, I have seen chicken muck used for this to great effect.

Would chicken muck have to be worked into soil pre-drilling or could it be top-dressed on post drilling?

Summer brassica break crop

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Attachments

Member

Member

Member

Member

0 %

Up to 25%

25-50%

50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

Share this page