Borage

[Agcons]

Has anyone used a pod sealant on Borage? thinking of growing some for the first time, losses at harvest seems to be a big problem?

 

[Brisel]

I think @Robert K has grown some in the past.

Getting rid of the volunteers in following crops is the tricky bit I think.

 

[Robert K]

I think @Robert K has grown some in the past.

Getting rid of the volunteers in following crops is the tricky bit I think.

Thanks Brisel

We still grow it here and yes volunteers can be a problem but if you catch them early on you are normally ok.

As for pod stick we haven't used it ourselves but really it's all about swathing it at the right time then leaving it a good 10 days before picking up with the draper header.

Also it is important to pick up the swaths swiftly after the 10 day period otherwise regrowth in the swath can be a problem.

 

[corkman2013]

What is the crop used for

 

[Brisel]

If I remember rightly, borage is a bee keeper's wet dream. Huge amounts of excellent honey made from it. I think you need lots of hives just to make sure the crop is pollinated fully and it flowers & seeds continuously.

 

[Robert K]

What is the crop used for

If I remember rightly, borage is a bee keeper's wet dream. Huge amounts of excellent honey made from it. I think you need lots of hives just to make sure the crop is pollinated fully and it flowers & seeds continuously.

Borage is used for a product called starflower oil which is used in pharmaceutics and yes the bees go absolutely mad for a field of borage, we have had some great honey yield over the years

 

[yellow belly]

Thanks Brisel

We still grow it here and yes volunteers can be a problem but if you catch them early on you are normally ok.

As for pod stick we haven't used it ourselves but really it's all about swathing it at the right time then leaving it a good 10 days before picking up with the draper header.

Also it is important to pick up the swaths swiftly after the 10 day period otherwise regrowth in the swath can be a problem.

What is the right time ?
last year i may have been 3 days late as it was torrential rain on the day I wanted to swath
our crop did not establish that well
despite this it returned far more than the rape that should have been growing

 

[Bax]

Has anyone used a pod sealant on Borage? thinking of growing some for the first time, losses at harvest seems to be a big problem?

If you have never grown Borage what ever you don’t start. Once grown Borage will become a permanent weed. We grew it years ago it’s still causing us problems to this day.

 

[yellow belly]

If you have never grown Borage what ever you don’t start. Once grown Borage will become a permanent weed. We grew it years ago it’s still causing us problems to this day.

What crops and how

 

[Bax]

It is hard work but not impossible to control in most break crops. It competes with other crops at establishment, takes over in cover crops and game covers. If grown in close rotation the volunteers make your crop too thick also.

 

[Agcons]

Swathed the crop on Saturday last, I think a few days later than advised but weather was broken last week. Question is when is it advisable to pick it up? The forecast for friday (day 6) is dire, is thursday too soon or should we wait until after the weekend? Expecting a yield of 1 to 2 ton so floor drying shouldn't be a big problem if needed. A whole new experience here!

 

[yellow belly]

last year my first with borage we swathed 15 august delayed because of heavy rain so 3 days too late

picked it up 10 september after we had finished barley harvest

this year swathed 7 to8 august will be picked up when dry enough depending on weather
this years crop has much bigger swaths so will be easier to pick up

 

[Bax]

last year my first with borage we swathed 15 august delayed because of heavy rain so 3 days too late

picked it up 10 september after we had finished barley harvest

this year swathed 7 to8 august will be picked up when dry enough depending on weather
this years crop has much bigger swaths so will be easier to pick up

Combine it ASAP as big swaths don't dry very well once wet.

 

[Martin Holden]

If you have never grown Borage what ever you don’t start. Once grown Borage will become a permanent weed. We grew it years ago it’s still causing us problems to this day.

Won’t a good weed killer sort it out? Was in a field of it today trying an experiment to turn the swath to dry it, but losses looked high. Volunteers already appeared. High value risky crop so it appears a bit of a gamble. Good on those trying out alternatives to traditional cropping but in out climate, going “off piste” carries risk..... and sometimes reward

 

[Green oak]

I was traveling to colchester over the weekend and there’s fields of borage in the swarth with regrowth coming through. And starting to flower. Not good.

 

[Martin Holden]

I was traveling to colchester over the weekend and there’s fields of borage in the swarth with regrowth coming through. And starting to flower. Not good.

Yes, looks like this years crop is a bit of a challenge. Rains cane at just the wrong time

 

[Flat 10]

Swathed the crop on Saturday last, I think a few days later than advised but weather was broken last week. Question is when is it advisable to pick it up? The forecast for friday (day 6) is dire, is thursday too soon or should we wait until after the weekend? Expecting a yield of 1 to 2 ton so floor drying shouldn't be a big problem if needed. A whole new experience here!

What did you do?

 

[Agcons]

Picked it up yesterday, after 24 days. First time we got 3 dry days together. Got c1.1 tonne from 5 ha. A lot of seeds on the ground. Had winter oats last year , surprised at the amount of oat seed in the borage. Into the cleaner next. will probably only need a light seeding rte next year. Anyone any thoughts on a cover crop for the winter? Sowed crimson clover last year, 15th Sept, a bit late so never really got going. Weather broke again today so dont know when it will be ploughed.