Cover crop after osr before ww

[matttargett4]

Anybody doing this regularly?

Seems there is 2 months of good growth time there where maybe we could achieve something? Was thinking legumes to grow nitrogen? Or mustard to starve slugs? Or radish to move soil?

Obviously csfb is a huge issue with most things, hence the question who's doing what and what do they feel they are achieving?

Likely the crop wont be direct drilled.

 

[Devil's advocate]

volunteer rape?

 

[moretimeforgolf]

Not done it myself yet. Buckwheat, phacelia and oats?

 

[Clive]

Depends I harvest date really

We do some years - I find linseed, sunflower and mustard a very fast growing mix

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

Can you graze the fields?

 

[Gong Farmer]

Did trials on it years ago (mustard). The only way to get the mustard successfully established in time was to broadcast it into standing wheat.

 

[matttargett4]

Depends I harvest date really

We do some years - I find linseed, sunflower and mustard a very fast growing mix

Do you not get trouble with flea beetle in the mustard and linseed?

When would be your cut off date for planting?

 

[Clive]

Do you not get trouble with flea beetle in the mustard and linseed?

When would be your cut off date for planting?

not had any major issue with CSFB here ............. yet ??

cut off would be any less than 6 weeks between CC and wheat for me but a bit season (moisture) dependent

 

[Clive]

Did trials on it years ago (mustard). The only way to get the mustard successfully established in time was to broadcast it into standing wheat.

surely that depends on harvest and drilling date and moisture ? we had some chest high mustard between OSR and wheat this year

 

[matttargett4]

Did trials on it years ago (mustard). The only way to get the mustard successfully established in time was to broadcast it into standing wheat.

This surprised me also, planted mustard October 1st and was knee high by mid November one year back along.

 

[matttargett4]

Where does everybody source their cc seeds?

 

[Gong Farmer]

surely that depends on harvest and drilling date and moisture ? we had some chest high mustard between OSR and wheat this year

Yes, this was on Cotswold soil though not brashy. I think sowing it after harvest worked one year out of four.

 

[Brisel]

volunteer rape?

This. It's essentially free, will hold CSFB off your new osr in late August as the beetles emerge from temporary dormancy and fly around looking for their next meal.

 

[DanniAgro]

volunteer rape?

After rape I've always found that the volountary rape makes a good cover crop, and is often so thick that it has to mown down before the WW is sown. Plus it's a good distraction for CSFB.

 

[Billboy1]

So would you let the volunteer osr just green up or tickle with discs 1st

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

After rape I've always found that the volountary rape makes a good cover crop, and is often so thick that it has to mown down before the WW is sown. Plus it's a good distraction for CSFB.

Could it be grazed?

[Thinking outside the box...]

 

[DanniAgro]

Could it be grazed?

[Thinking outside the box...]

Never tried, although the young rape always looks so lovely and green.But doesn't it contain some bitter compounds?

 

[JCfarmer]

We strip grazed a 10 acre field of volunteer osr by the farm last year and drilled feed wheat in early Nov. Ideal as saved on straw bedding, silage and mucked the ground. Wheat looks well.

 

[Mr Charisma]

This. It's essentially free, will hold CSFB off your new osr in late August as the beetles emerge from temporary dormancy and fly around looking for their next meal.

The theory sounds good but ,,,,,,,,
I planted 13 fields of rape last season , 3 next to previous seasons rape stubbles and 10 away from other rape stubbles ,
I have 3 awfull fields of rape to harvest !!!!!!!!
In the one field I ran out of insecticide first time over at cotyledon stage ,,,, nothing there at all but rubbish

 

[Badshot]

The theory sounds good but ,,,,,,,,
I planted 13 fields of rape last season , 3 next to previous seasons rape stubbles and 10 away from other rape stubbles ,
I have 3 awfull fields of rape to harvest !!!!!!!!
In the one field I ran out of insecticide first time over at cotyledon stage ,,,, nothing there at all but rubbish

My linseed got hut hardest next to my neighbours rape this spring.