- Location
- somerset
l have grown it, and very successfully, on our driest grounds, it just grew, and grew, stayed green, in any dry period, 3/4 cuts a year, aut sowing.Agronomist says drill it now as the weeds aren't as competitive
Getting pH over 6.5 is the starting point
The reason we stopped, was simple, we didn't have enough acres, to grow grass, maize and lucerne. And with lucerne, you need enough, to feed x amount a day. Grew it without a companion grass, but fesques were mentioned. Came to plough it out, the roots were like a brillo pad, worse than couch ! It took a couple of years, after ploughing, before the volunteers stopped.
We have more acres now, and may well dabble again, there are grazing types now, as well, they could be a good component, in a diverse ley.
First saw it early 70's, friend farmed a lot of 'gravel beds' Hertfordshire, he went from 1 cut a year, and zero aftermath, to 3, or 4 good cuts a year ! And no N.