DD Linseed/Flax

[JAB]

I think I've seen a little linseed grown in the UK, but not much. Is there a particular region where the climate lends itself to production? And have any of you DD's grown it? Seems like it may be difficult with summer rains, but it is an excellent rotation crop that on the whole has more, although different, rotational benefits than OSR. Maybe markets are limited as well. (?)

 

[JAB]

Should have put in the DD Crops & Agronomy forum I guess.

 

[Badshot]

I direct drilled it this year, excellent crop, half inch of rain all season, managed about 750 kg/acre when many managed much less per hectare.

 

[JAB]

I direct drilled it this year, excellent crop, half inch of rain all season, managed about 750 kg/acre when many managed much less per hectare.

Nicely done. Do you follow the flax with wheat or barley?

Depending on the soils we're averaging 550 to 1100 kg/acre. Still trying to perfect the art of harvesting it without a desiccant. Seems like if it reaches moisture at all it will start blooming again even when it looks like it's dry and ready to harvest. Yields on following crops in rotation have been much higher than average, which I guess I'm attributing to the mychorrizal activity. Canola and OSR have a big presence in my area because of a ready market, but if I had to choose between flax and OSR, it's a no-brainer as far as a broadleaf leg in the rotation.

 

[Badshot]

I've actually followed it with oilseed rape because of blackgrass infestation
I might risk wheat after, but it will be a big risk.

 

[Brisel]

@Daniel grows a lot of it using a Claydon Hybrid drill. I never got on very well with it but 2 dry springs didn't help. I'd choose a drill that had pretty narrow row spacings though the Claydon seemed ok.

Further South makes for earlier harvesting but lots more early maturing varieties are available now. If you're looking at yellow linseed from Premium Crops, don't be fooled into believing that VT50 is early maturing!

 

[Badshot]

Marquise is early maturing, and this year was ridiculously easy to cut.

 

[Daniel]

@Daniel grows a lot of it using a Claydon Hybrid drill. I never got on very well with it but 2 dry springs didn't help. I'd choose a drill that had pretty narrow row spacings though the Claydon seemed ok.

Further South makes for earlier harvesting but lots more early maturing varieties are available now. If you're looking at yellow linseed from Premium Crops, don't be fooled into believing that VT50 is early maturing!

Only grown Winter Linseed for the past few years, spring linseed too risky on our light soil with the dry springs we’ve been having.

Winter Linseed would be very risky if you had much blackgrass though.

 

[ollie989898]

Spring linseed is this? Direct drilling is the only way to do it- conserves moisture, seed must be shallow. Seen acre after acre done with Amazone primera years ago, worked a treat.

 

[britt]

Spring linseed establishment has been far more reliable since we've been direct drilling it.
But, the last few years have been bad for flea beetle, which wasn't a problem before we had cruiser. So why it's been a problem since loosing it odd. Maybe it's just been weather conditions.

 

[Dockers]

Have sown plenty with a JD750a, no problem. More of a problem with harvest but have used a stripper header when to overcast for normal header. As long as the stubble/stalks are dry, had no problem DDing wheat in to stripped residue with 750a.

 

[ollie989898]

Seriously, DD is the only way to do spring linseed. The moisture retention is absolutely key to getting it away evenly and fast. Drill it, roll it and watch it grow, its fantastic. Remind me, can you put centurion max on linseed or not?

 

[Fish]

Even works up here
750 drilled end April 18, clay loam

 

[Brisel]

View attachment 754650 Even works up here
750 drilled end April 18, clay loam

When did you harvest it? Thinking about it, 2018 was an early harvest year - when do you normally harvest spring linseed? It has always been early October down here. Batsman & VT50

 

[Fish]

When did you harvest it? Thinking about it, 2018 was an early harvest year - when do you normally harvest spring linseed? It has always been early October down here. Batsman & VT50

Usually first/second week in sept, normally cut winter beans then drive straight into the linseed.
We ain't very high, only 30m above sea level.

 

[Badshot]

Planted my marquise may 8th, harvested last week of August.

 

[JAB]

Thanks for all the replies. Great rotation crop.

 

[mikep]

Winter linseed is all I can grow here, the flea beetle see to that. Great crop and good possible BG control with C Max and Crawler and just note that Atlantis doesn't harm it either but doesn't add much to the BG control. I have found the lower rate Crawler doesn't kill but it doesn't seem to seed.
Bonus is a very early harvest and stuff away early for some early money.

 

[britt]

I'm using home saved seed this time so that I can use a much higher seed rate (to reduce flea beetle impact), which would not be viable at bought seed cost.
I had wondered about planting rape with some to see if it reduces the problem. The rape would them be taken out with the herbicide.
Any other suggestions for a companion crop to draw flea beetle away ?

 

[mikep]

I'm using home saved seed this time so that I can use a much higher seed rate (to reduce flea beetle impact), which would not be viable at bought seed cost.
I had wondered about planting rape with some to see if it reduces the problem. The rape would them be taken out with the herbicide.
Any other suggestions for a companion crop to draw flea beetle away ?

Isn't it supposed to be a different beetle? I can't say for sure but when we used to grow spring linseed they eat that rather than volunteer rape.