Kale/ Turnips alternatives

[cotswoldcs]

I've been growing kale, turnips, hybrid rape here in a rotation for many years now. I've got one field, currently in fodder beet that's got a problem with charlock and I'm concerned that putting it in turnips/kale this spring will result in a mass of charlock. What would you recommend as a replacement that would provide forage for fattening lambs next winter? I must be able to control charlock. I have enough grass on the farm.

 

[ih1455xl]

Oats

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Get the seedbed ready then leave it . Let charlock come through then burn it with roundup. Do it twice if needs be then sown stubble turnips in July. Forget kale its to slow getting away

 

[Derrick Hughes]

What do the experts think of Vetch . Never grown it myself but supposed to be good at chocking weeds out

 

[CopperBeech]

Oat and vetch.

Works very well but they will eat through the acerage a lot quicker than turnips etc. But may get a second graze.

 

[cotswoldcs]

We grew a little vetch once and harvested it. Not very impressive but left a lovely seedbed behind it for next crop.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

We grew a little vetch once and harvested it. Not very impressive but left a lovely seedbed behind it for next crop.

Spring or Winter

 

[SilliamWhale]

What do the experts think of Vetch . Never grown it myself but supposed to be good at chocking weeds out

Expensive

 

[Dicky.A]

Westerwolds rye grass. Grows like mad. Less bite for them though.

 

[andybk]

have been grazing vetch / oats this winter , lambs have done very well on it , and oats keeps shooting for another bite , would have been a mess if we had gone for first option of stubble turnips with all the rain , neighbour who measures it said we had the wettest winter last year for as long as hes recorded it , and this year we have had 11" more so far (oct on ) was a crap gappy crop in november after it was so cold after planting , but its been moving since december and kept them quiet till now , just giving it a rest and a chance to sort the carp out of the lambs before they go back over , after this next cold spell, (entire ram lambs )

 

[Derrick Hughes]

have been grazing vetch / oats this winter , lambs have done very well on it , and oats keeps shooting for another bite , would have been a mess if we had gone for first option of stubble turnips with all the rain , neighbour who measures it said we had the wettest winter last year for as long as hes recorded it , and this year we have had 11" more so far (oct on ) was a crap gappy crop in november after it was so cold after planting , but its been moving since december and kept them quiet till now , just giving it a rest and a chance to sort the carp out of the lambs before they go back over , after this next cold spell, (entire ram lambs )

When was it sown and was it winter vetch

 

[andybk]

When was it sown and was it winter vetch

yes a winter vetch , sown in mid august , quite a sparse crop really not worth the extra cost , recon simple oats to form a mat and grow back some green for second bite , and stubble turnip be a better mix assuming can be planted early enough , Quite interested in banging red/ white clover in with fert just as grain crop leaf closes over in spring , plants should be there waiting to go after harvest for early bite