Covers for wet holes?

M

mo!

Member

Mixed Farmer

Location

York

• May 25, 2016

• #1

We have some wet areas that either were too wet for anything to grow this spring or were simply standing in water. They are much drier now but we've used all our seed up and of course every field is in a different crop.

So, what is the ideal mix to grow in a wet area that will magically dry it ready for autumn drilling. Currently WW, WB, OSR(or maybe cc then s oats), WW, S beans. Heavy to stupidly heavy.

 

Dan Powell

Member

Location

Shropshire

• May 26, 2016

• #2

An alder & willow cover crop mix might work. It's a long term mix mind.

 

L

Lincsman

Member

Arable Farmer

Location

Lincolnshire

• May 26, 2016

• #3

Mustard.

 

L

Luke Cropwalker

Member

Arable Farmer

• May 26, 2016

• #4

I have left mine, they are filling up nicely with Fat Hen.

 

TelesnaAg

Member

Location

Portland, Victoria - Australia

• May 26, 2016

• #5

would a balansa clover work? or some beans ....

Ant...

 

B

Breakthru

Member

Location

Scottish Borders

• May 26, 2016

• #6

Linseed. cut it with a mower and feed it to sheep. The heavy soil looks like a grow bag after linseed due to all the rooting and the sheep have skins to die for even without the seed.

 

Clive

Staff Member

Arable Farmer

Location

Lichfield

• May 26, 2016

• #7

any sweeping up that you have

 

Fuzzy

Member

Arable Farmer

Location

Bedfordshire

• May 27, 2016

• #8

A mole drainer or putting in some drains would probably be a better investment!

 

Kevtherev

Member

✓

Location

Welshpool Powys

• May 27, 2016

• #9

Best investment

 

M

mo!

Member

Mixed Farmer

Location

York

• May 27, 2016

• #10

It is underdrained, but you're right. Will be trying a mole this autumn, anyone know where there is one to hire near York?

 

Kevtherev

Member

✓

Location

Welshpool Powys

• May 27, 2016

• #11

@Yorkshire Andrew

 

L

Luke Cropwalker

Member

Arable Farmer

• May 27, 2016

• #12

mo! said:

It is underdrained, but you're right. Will be trying a mole this autumn, anyone know where there is one to hire near York?

Click to expand...

Atkinson?

 

M

mo!

Member

Mixed Farmer

Location

York

• May 27, 2016

• #13

Luke Cropwalker said:

Atkinson?

Click to expand...

Aye, he might have one.

 

spin cycle

Member

Location

north norfolk

• May 27, 2016

• #14

oil radish?

 

G

glasshouse

Member

Location

lothians

• May 28, 2016

• #15

dig a hole in the middle and fill it with stones

 

N

N.Yorks.

Member

• Jul 1, 2016

• #16

Dig a hole (soil pit) first and see if you can work out why its a wet area. (You may have already done this, don't want to tell you how to suck eggs)

Is it an area of compaction, that is worse than the rest of the field? It could all have started way back with a compacted pan, which made that area wetter which then because it didn't dry then got further damage at a high traffic time of year.

Is it a natural rising spring that occurs in years when it's very wet? If it is you could drain accordingly.

If you can't subsoil then some of the deep rooting cc's like radishes (mentioned above) may benefit the situation.

 

M

mo!

Member

Mixed Farmer

Location

York

• Jul 1, 2016

• #17

They are low spots and we didn't/couldn't subsoil in the autumn. I haven't got round to doing anything with them and now it is too wet again. Is it worth putting a cover in now before autumn sowing?

 

N

N.Yorks.

Member

• Jul 1, 2016

• #18

Here is information from NIAB/TAG about Radishes. Look for Tillage Radish varieties.

I guess, and this is a guess, if you planted now the radish would develop rapidly and go to seed. The only other risk is that it comes dry and it doesn't get away. Given you're not doing whole fields and have a number of wet areas, perhaps you could try two different approaches and gain the experience that will help you in the future.

Just give it a go and don't spend a lot of money on the job.

 

mikep

Member

Location

Arse end of Surrey, UK

• Jul 16, 2016

• #19

mo! said:

We have some wet areas that either were too wet for anything to grow this spring or were simply standing in water. They are much drier now but we've used all our seed up and of course every field is in a different crop.

So, what is the ideal mix to grow in a wet area that will magically dry it ready for autumn drilling. Currently WW, WB, OSR(or maybe cc then s oats), WW, S beans. Heavy to stupidly heavy.

Click to expand...

Ideal mix is a 4:1 mix and put some houses up.