Is it too late to sow stubble turnips?

[neilo]

Can the seed loose vigour if over yeared?
Just wondering if we had our seed from the same place .

I always carry a bit spare, in case of running out, etc. It always grows just fine the next year, or the year after (if I forget where I put it).

I know of someone who 'may' have left 1/4ac in the corner of a field once, then combined it for the seed. He reckoned seed from his stash was still good 7 or 8 years later.

 

[Brisel]

Half my turnip seed was left over from last year. There is no visible difference in the crop, despite a change of variety. I'll take some pictures over the weekend.

 

[DRC]

My earlier sown, after barley and later after wheat . Nothing like the crops we usually grow . Rained heavily the day after putting fertiliser on . Talking to fellow forum member locally this morning , who has similar turnips to my later ones. Seed from different source.

 

[DRC]

I’ve also had issues with uneven establishment , with poor growth behind the tractor wheels. Never been an issue before. Even disced the later fields and they’ve come up the same . Didn’t roll, but have individual rollers on the drill. Should’ve drilled at an angle really.

 

[Chae1]

I’ve also had issues with uneven establishment , with poor growth behind the tractor wheels. Never been an issue before. Even disced the later fields and they’ve come up the same . Didn’t roll, but have individual rollers on the drill. Should’ve drilled at an angle really.

Mines similar. You'd think they'd been sown too thin. Put on 2kg/acre which was ample last year.

 

[DRC]

Mines similar. You'd think they'd been sown too thin. Put on 2kg/acre which was ample last year.

Mine have had some pig slurry and a bit of Bagged N. Plus sprayed out the volunteers .
Going to be a dead loss unless they pick up soon. I’ve always said that they need to be in early to do any good, but my sheep man asked for some later ones as they keep sheep here until 1st April, so didn’t want them all going woody or bolting

 

[Bogweevil]

Can the seed loose vigour if over yeared?
Just wondering if we had our seed from the same place .

Brassica seed good for seven sometimes even nine years if stored cool and dry. Cauliflower breeders for example only grow a batch of seed now and then, not every year.

 

[DrWazzock]

Seed dressings can reduce the vigour of seed if over yeared. It soaks into the seed and knobbles it.

My natural turnip seed has come up well. Coated over yeared rape seed is rubbish establishment a fortnight later with same system as stubble turnips. Makes you wonder. Did the fortnight delay make the difference, or the seed dressing?

 

[DrWazzock]

I have had OSR which seems to be stuck at cotyledon for three weeks now even despite recent moisture and warmth. Very slow. Very frustrating.

 

[Bogweevil]

Seed dressings can reduce the vigour of seed if over yeared. It soaks into the seed and knobbles it.

My natural turnip seed has come up well. Coated over yeared rape seed is rubbish establishment a fortnight later with same system as stubble turnips. Makes you wonder. Did the fortnight delay make the difference, or the seed dressing?

Seed dressing do seem to often greatly reduce seed storage life...

 

[Brisel]

Half my turnip seed was left over from last year. There is no visible difference in the crop, despite a change of variety. I'll take some pictures over the weekend.

Last year's left over Samson seed

This year's Vollenda

Both undressed seed, so I wasn't expecting problems. Sown 8-10th August

 

[DanM]

Last year's left over Samson seed
View attachment 836002
This year's Vollenda
View attachment 836003

Both undressed seed, so I wasn't expecting problems. Sown 8-10th August

Looks impressive; do you need a grazier for those turnips!?!?!

 

[Frodo2]

Last year's left over Samson seed
View attachment 836002
This year's Vollenda
View attachment 836003

Both undressed seed, so I wasn't expecting problems. Sown 8-10th August

They look great.
What seed rate, fertiliser and previous crop, cultivations? When do you intend to graze them?

 

[Brisel]

Looks impressive; do you need a grazier for those turnips!?!?!

I've already got one thanks. Same chap who has been coming for the last few years.

"Land of the Druid" suggests South Wilts. I'm Hants/Wilts/Dorset border country. The land of bandits, hippies, pikeys the Steam Fair and the odd crop circle.

They look great.
What seed rate, fertiliser and previous crop, cultivations? When do you intend to graze them?

Previous crop was winter wheat, cut at the beginning of August. Straw baled. Stubble raked then direct drilled with a Claydon Hybrid 8-9th August. Twin row approx. 5" wide sown 33cm centres. Rolled & 1 dose of slug pellets (unnecessary with hindsight but slug problems in the previous osr crop before the wheat). 75 kg/ha N applied as liquid pre emergence with some sulphur in. No further sprays, not even a graminicide for wheat volunteers. Some years we have to treat for turnip sawfly. Watched carefully for flea beetle & slugs but no issues. A useful amount of rain fell shortly after sowing so they weren't short of moisture. The rolls were tight behind the drill so I wasn't wasting any either.

The grazier normally brings store lambs on from early November until mid-late March. We leave the outer 6m undrilled as a lie back area. There are a few skylark plots where bale stacks were so we just drilled around them.

 

[Frodo2]

Thanks. I guess where we might struggle in scotland with that template is to get wheat cut first week August.

 

[Bruce Almighty]

How well would stubble turnips grow if you sowed them off a subsoiler ?

We've sown some for the first time this year but used the flexitine then Carrier, spun them on & rolled them in.
Then 35 units N & a flea beetle spray
They're a bit patchy due to volunteer wheat, but at least the ewes will eat the wheat

 

[DanM]

I've already got one thanks. Same chap who has been coming for the last few years.

"Land of the Druid" suggests South Wilts. I'm Hants/Wilts/Dorset border country. The land of bandits, hippies, pikeys the Steam Fair and the odd crop circle.

The grazier normally brings store lambs on from early November until mid-late March. We leave the outer 6m undrilled as a lie back area. There are a few skylark plots where bale stacks were so we just drilled around them.

Lucky him! They look a splendid stand for feeding lambs. I’m more mid/east wilts, with the less famous stone circle. Always interested in partnerships with capable root/cover crop growing arable farmers.

 

[David.]

These are mine today, straight into baled barley stubble with KV TS, July 31st. 2.5kg/ha. Samson.
1cwt ac Nitram, 1cwt ac Piamon. 0.6l of Falcon. No insecticide.
Cannot see drilling today into colder wet soil coming to much unless weather stays very open and kind.
W

Was feeling quite chuffed till I saw Brisel's turnips.
BTW, you have a woman's hand my Lord...

Regards seed treatments, I saw a photo today of a block of rape, left side of picture lovely crop of farm saved off the heap, uniform about 6" high; right side of picture planted same day new C2 seed, few straggly plants and not much else. Opinion seems to be seed coating delayed moisture uptake and retarded emergence sufficiently for csfb to do their thing, which they certainly have.

 

[Brisel]

BTW, you have a woman's hand my Lord...

That's a Blackadder quote?! Not sure I should feel quite so flattered after all...

Nowt wrong with your turnips