Free Cover Crop Seed

[Great In Grass]

In my search for the various cover crops you guys have been mentioning in your posts I have been offered some free trial seed.

This is all a little new to me, being based in a predominately dairying area it's usually, 5 year grazing/cutting ley, yes or no to clover and Bobs your uncle, jobs done.

I will post what info I have at the moment, ask as many questions as you like and I will find the answers.

Once all the questions have been answered I will then give you the details on the (limited) free seed, I can tell you it will be one half acre packs (5kgs).

I will post what details I have so far on the crop concerned.

 

[Great In Grass]

The main goals of any fodder radish cover crop in arable farming are to:
Catch nutrients that may be lost after the growing season and reduce nitrogen leaching.
To reduce soil erosion and weed growth.
To suppress Nematode populations
It is more effective than Mustard and other fumigant crop.
Anti-Nematode radish is an excellent cover crop which can be used for potatoes sugar beet and carrots. This is due to its outstanding ability to drastically reduce the population of Nematodes in the soils (up to 300%). - Better than any other
As you are aware, Nematodes are a major problem within the root vegetable industry and therefore reducing the amount of nematodes is essential to achieve better yields.
This radish has been purposely bred to reduce the amount of cyst Nematodes (PCN in potatoes). Once sown and established, you can plough it back into the soil where it will release natural bio fumigant that will also help to reduce the number of nematodes in the soils.
The idea of is to produce a dense crop that also has a high degree of biomass because these crops have greater impact upon Nematode’s in the soil, which in return will improve the quality of the following root’ crop.
To achieve best results it is recommended that around 80 units of nitrogen is applied and that the crop should be ploughed, once there is round 50% of the radish flowered. The natural bio fumigant that is contained becomes active immediately upon chopping into small pieces and once the crop is ploughed, the plant has a bio fumigant effect which will then see the number of nematodes reduce.
We have now been supplying this product to growers over the last few years and we have had fantastic feedback in regards to the beneficial outcome it achieves for potatoes, sugar beet and carrots. Not only does it reduce the population of Nematodes but it is also a cost saver.
Facts:
Reduces the population of nematodes
Easy to sow and establish
300% more effective than mustard and other fumigants crops
Suppresses nematodes in the soil
Sowing rate: 10kg per acre or 25kg per hectare
Cost saver
Delivers the best results
Works for potatoes (PCN)
Works for carrots
Works for sugar beet (sugar beet cyst nematodes) also non host to violent root rot

 

[Clive]

I'm going to be drilling a lot of cover crops this summer so up for any trials you might have in mind

some will be short term (drill up to aug 15th pre WW drilled mid October) others will be over winter pre spring break cropping

 

[Steevo]

Any good for stem nematodes in beans?

 

[Great In Grass]

The variety is;

is a non-host for:

- Globodera rostochiensis and pallida (Potato cyst nematode)
- Heterodera avenae (Cereal cyst nematode)
- Heterodera goetingiana (Pea cyst nematode)
- Meloidogyne naasi (Cereal root-knot nematode)
- Ditylenchus dipsaci (Bulb nematode)
- Ditylenchus destructor (Potato tuber nematode)
- Prathylenchus scripnerie (Scribner’s lesion nematode)
- Tobacco rattle virus (TRV)​

a bad host for:
- Paratrichodorus teres (Stubby root nematode)

I will enquire regarding beans.

 

[Great In Grass]

An image of the plant.

 

[SilliamWhale]

Done fodder radish in past. Its ok but would prefer the daikon style if can get it

 

[Great In Grass]

More info:

This is an extremely late flowering variety with fast early vigour and good re-growth after cutting.
Resistant against the white and the yellow beet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii and betae) – reduction of the population with 80 to 90% is possible – and the variety is also resistant against (false) Columbia root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne chitwoodii and fallax) with a reduction comparable with black fallow.

 

[Great In Grass]

Done fodder radish in past. Its ok but would prefer the daikon style if can get it

This is called an "Oilseed Radish", is that the same as a fodder radish? Another question I need to ask.

 

[Mdt]

How much is the fodder radish crop please sounds like what am looking for for the veg garden.

 

[BSH]

Looking at the Hurrels web site ( Assuming this is the same seed) it looks as if this radish is more relevant as a Bio fumigant in a horticultural situation than as a cover crop in a wheat barley cropping situation, although it probably has a place as a constituent of a cover crop mix.

 

[Great In Grass]

Well I don't know how many sugar beet growers would call them selves horticulturist, all I know is I have 20 x 5kg bags to give away.

So if anyone would like to "start a conversation" and give me their name & address plus telephone number and email address, I will organise your free 5kg bag.

First twenty, first come, first served!

 

[JD-Kid]

do yer shipover seas ??

 

[Elmsted]

I'm going to be drilling a lot of cover crops this summer so up for any trials you might have in mind

some will be short term (drill up to aug 15th pre WW drilled mid October) others will be over winter pre spring break cropping

Clive not at all sure I agree. Think you are month too late ( Though hate dates as a decision making tool) on planting wheat, and about a fortnight too late getting rape in.

Still rate volenteers as a source of winter cover. Or cleanings. Given you are on combinable crops. with good spreader on combine. Spreader top back combine in to straw chopper.

 

[Great In Grass]

do yer shipover seas ??

I did ask, but both you and I knew what the answer was going to be, sorry not possible. Distance was a problem but all the rules and regulations meant it would have been a big no,no.

 

[JD-Kid]

there used to be fodder radish out here years ago but don't know what happened some of our ground here is hard as all hell and thought it may help to crack the soil a bit more ..

 

[Great In Grass]

Just made a quick search, may be of use.

"There are currently 2 radish varieties marketed for cover cropping with certified genetics - Graza and Tillage Radish®. Graza from Pyne Gould Guinness Seeds (PGG, Ltd.) in New Zealand was developed over 17 years through a complex series of crosses of 3 species—garden radish (Raphanus sativus), cabbage (Brassica oleracea), and perennial seaside radish (Raphanus maritimus). The breeding program selected for smooth leaves, ability to recover from multiple grazings, and resistance to bolting. Graza will grow vegetatively for an extended period when spring planted unlike most other cover crop radishes. Compared to rape and forage turnips, Graza radishes have greater ability to respond to high fertility and build up larger root reserves, providing more resilience under difficult conditions (Stewart and Moorhead, 2004). Tillage Radish®, officially known as Variety CCS-779 received U.S. Plant Variety Protection status in June 2012. Unauthorized propagation of Graza and Tillage Radish® for seed production is strictly prohibited."

 

[brendan paul]

Hi I am a new member and got to you via tillage radish which 1 of my customers is looking for.
he is in Kent.
I am in Thrapston Northants and run the forgae seeds business for Agrii.
if you want to make contact please do.