Cover crop seed - where to source it

[Feldspar]

I think it would be useful to have a thread on sources of cover crop seed. It seems that in the States they have access to a huge range of different seeds whereas over here the choice is a lot more limited. Nevertheless it would be useful to me at least to have a compliation of the different places that sell cover crop seed. Recommendations and reviews would be great too.

For example, has anyone bought any of DSV's terralife range of cover crops? I believe they don't market them in the UK but speaking to one of their reps at LAMMA they seemed to think that it would be possible to get hold of some if required.

 

[Feldspar]

Clive, I've just seen your comment aimed at Farming4Profit. Care to explain what your silly idea is?!

On a separate note, I know nothing about getting seed in from other countries. How easy it is to do? From titbits that I remember bringing seed in from the US is very difficult.

I'd be interested to hear from any French members about their experiences with cover crop seed. Do you have many suppliers? Has the price of cover crop seed fallen much over the years as people have grown more cover crops?

 

[desmoseb]

I'd be interested to hear from any French members about their experiences with cover crop seed. Do you have many suppliers? Has the price of cover crop seed fallen much over the years as people have grown more cover crops?

In France you can find easily cover crop seeds.
Concerning the prices, it hasn't fallen whit the developpment of cover crop.

Concerning me, I produce all the seeds I need. It takes time, and at the end you have to be sure to have clean seeds without weeds. But it's the only way, in my opinion, to have cover crop seeds at a good price, especially when using different species. Even if it's unauthorised in France, for some species.

It's possible also to work with others farmers, each one produces a different species, and you exchange. But in practise it's not so easy.

 

[Feldspar]

I'd be interested to hear from any French members about their experiences with cover crop seed. Do you have many suppliers? Has the price of cover crop seed fallen much over the years as people have grown more cover crops?

In France you can find easily cover crop seeds.
Concerning the prices, it hasn't fallen whit the developpment of cover crop.

Concerning me, I produce all the seeds I need. It takes time, and at the end you have to be sure to have clean seeds without weeds. But it's the only way, in my opinion, to have cover crop seeds at a good price, especially when using different species. Even if it's unauthorised in France, for some species.

It's possible also to work with others farmers, each one produces a different species, and you exchange. But in practise it's not so easy.

Desmoseb, thanks for your reply. I had thought about a possible system where a few local famers each grew one cover crop for seed and then swapped to allow the creation of mixtures. I can imagine as you say that in practice there are difficulties.

Which types of cover crops have you tried growing for seed? Are some much easier to grow for seed than others? Which do you find the easiest (or cheapest) to grow?

 

[desmoseb]

Which types of cover crops have you tried growing for seed? Are some much easier to grow for seed than others? Which do you find the easiest (or cheapest) to grow?

I've already grown many species : peas, beans, lentils, vetchs, different clovers, gesse (lathyrus sativae), oats, different radish, phacelia, mustard and I maybe forget some.

There are many species which are easy to grow, for beginning you can try with those one, and buy only the others if you want to do some mixes.

The most difficult to grow are phacelia, clovers, radish; they are the most expensive. The most difficulty is mainly for harvesting.

 

[Great In Grass]

I've already grown many species : peas, beans, lentils, vetchs, different clovers, gesse (lathyrus sativae), oats, different radish, phacelia, mustard and I maybe forget some

I can supply most of them and more from four different UK seed houses, perhaps I could make a list to be emailed on request?

 

[ploughman1963]

I bought some off Pedders last year - failed but not his fault, just sown too late and too wet, live and learn - will be getting some more to try again this year

 

[Great In Grass]

I have an excellent catalogue which I believes covers most of what you guys are looking for seed wise. It's 42 pages and 17.5Mb so to large to upload here. I have however extracted the index pages and one other page to give you a flavour of it's contents. I can upload batches of separate pages if you so wish thus making a complete catalogue.

 

[Mattch]

I plan to establish some overwinter green manures on land destined for spring barley. The Pedders mixes I have read about on various forums would seem to fit the bill but I don't have any contact details. Anyone able to help?

 

[Old Spot]

I am sure he will be along in a minute, lost detail, used some last autumn, easy to deal with, again not his fault it failed. I am convinced cover crops a an intergral part of successful DD