How early can you drill Spring beans

[Low ground pressure]

As above, how early has anyone drill Spring beans?

 

[Gong Farmer]

In trials, early January with no ill effects. Usual caveat about keeping rooks off, though.

 

[radar]

Depends on whether you are growing them and hoping for some blackgrass removal before drilling. You won't achieve that by drilling too early.

 

[Teejay]

I planted them on 15th January one year, perfect soil conditions, they came up very well. BUT we did not have resistant blackgrass then.

 

[franklin]

Never been dry enough here to go before Valentines day. Typically April-sowings have poor pre-em performance.

 

[beefandsleep]

How does Tundra perform as a spring bean or is if for winter only? I would like to grow some spring beans but separate storage would be a headache and I already have tundra. I know wizard can do both but is it unique in that respect?

 

[SRRC]

Best to wait until soils are warming a bit, then they will be up and away quickly. That'll reduce rook risk.
Don't forget that essentially the only difference between winter and spring varieties is frost resistance, so best to avoid that danger.

 

[ollie989898]

As above, want them up and out evenly so as to mitigate rook risk.

Will be direct drilling with Claydon, only way to grow em IMO. Pre-em tailored to suit pocket. Minimal blackgrass but a charlock issue. Never quite sure if PDM/Clomazone is going do much for it or not, worked well last few years though.

 

[Brisel]

Isn't the pre em suited to the weed pressure?? I have budgeted for 3.5 l/ha Nirvana + 0.25 clomazone on dirty ground. I think we're losing bentazone after this season too, if I can get it this season...

 

[yellow belly]

Isn't the pre em suited to the weed pressure?? I have budgeted for 3.5 l/ha Nirvana + 0.25 clomazone on dirty ground. I think we're losing bentazone after this season too, if I can get it this season...

we will not be able to grow beans on land with charlock which will reduce the nector producing cropped area for bees

 

[Andrew K]

we will not be able to grow beans on land with charlock which will reduce the nector producing cropped area for bees

Which euro crat idiot keeps banning all our useful agchems? There will be nothing soon!

 

[Flat 10]

Which euro crat idiot keeps banning all our useful agchems? There will be nothing soon!

I agree with your sentiments but l always thought bentazone was one of the most useless chemicals out there.....

 

[Flat 10]

we will not be able to grow beans on land with charlock which will reduce the nector producing cropped area for bees

I didn't realise that nirvana didn't control charlock.....
I assumed that pdm got it. Have some land with quite a bit and l never see it in winter cereals. Is it because it doesn't work as well in spring?

 

[Brisel]

Nirvana also contains imazamox which is part of Clearfield herbicides. That should do the charlock but only using its residual activity not the contact activity post emergence.

 

[Andrew K]

I agree with your sentiments but l always thought bentazone was one of the most useless chemicals out there.....

Does a useful job for us getting Borage out of beans though.