AB15 poor establishment

[Robm 1959]

So, planted 30 odd ha of Ab15 last autumn, about half has established well, while the remainder is poor and patchy. I’ve a mind to just go with the poor bits, and mow in accordance with the rules, and hope for the best. Have the seed invoices and records of drilling etc. Anyone else in/ been in the same boat ? Should I contact defra for agronomy advice in this situation??!!

 

[teslacoils]

Let them know. Take photos. Do what's needed.

 

[Flat 10]

I was worried to death about mine in the late spring following sowing the previous autumn. Topped weeds out and then it went mental and i was really satisfied with how it ended up. Topped several times and let it seed the final time so when i topped it filled in some of the thinner patches.

 

[Hindsight]

So, planted 30 odd ha of Ab15 last autumn, about half has established well, while the remainder is poor and patchy. I’ve a mind to just go with the poor bits, and mow in accordance with the rules, and hope for the best. Have the seed invoices and records of drilling etc. Anyone else in/ been in the same boat ? Should I contact defra for agronomy advice in this situation??!!

Does it matter? Other than not the competitive sward you intended. Over the last four Autumns i have seen some pretty dire establishment of AB15.

 

[Wheater]

I've had very little luck with AB15 sown in the autumn. had much more success when I re-drilled it in the spring. Won't be growing it again once my agreement is up. Seems to be a breeding habitat for BG imo.

 

[yellow belly]

the ab 15 and nector mixes i have planted in the autumn have never looked that good in the late winter early spring and at this time of year
give them time top them and give them time they usually fill out by late june with the legumes taking over and smothering out the weeds

this year has been cold and wet in april which has slowed growth
there only needs to be a few plants per m to fill out by july

 

[DrWazzock]

Why drill it in the autumn? It rarely gets big enough to survive frost and there’ll be BG coming through with it. Why not wait till spring, cleanup the BG flush and drill into warmer conditions of sustained growth. We wouldn’t drill a clover ley later than July and expect the clover to take very well.

 

[farenheit]

Why drill it in the autumn? It rarely gets big enough to survive frost and there’ll be BG coming through with it. Why not wait till spring, cleanup the BG flush and drill into warmer conditions of sustained growth. We wouldn’t drill a clover ley later than July and expect the clover to take very well.

Them's the rules

 

[Robm 1959]

Why drill it in the autumn? It rarely gets big enough to survive frost and there’ll be BG coming through with it. Why not wait till spring, cleanup the BG flush and drill into warmer conditions of sustained growth. We wouldn’t drill a clover ley later than July and expect the clover to take very well.

Have a word with defra !

 

[DrWazzock]

The rules are wrong then. I recall attending a seminar at Riseholme College years ago put in by Kings Seeds or Masstock and they warned against drilling clover after early August as it wouldn’t get big enough to withstand the frost. That chimed with our experience with grass leys. Seldom have we had a decent clover component when drilled in August. It’s also tge case that clover is very sensitive to DFF herbicide. If folk bothered to read the label they’d also agree that delaying sowing until the spring after cereal harvest would allow DFF to dissipate and result in a better stand of clover. But what do I know. Only 30 years growing it.

 

[Grass And Grain]

Throw some clover seed on now.