kale

[jpd]

thinking of trying some but have little knowledge
i grow cover crops on barley stubble so know a bit about how to sow em
june early july for sept utilisation ?
whats the latest it could be sown?
is there a rotation(same crop for a few years in the same field)?
if i want to put some in ground after silage
is it necessary to plough?
tia

 

[Brisel]

The earlier it is sown the better. You won't get much in Sept by planting into dried out dust in late July. Mid August is the latest but that's winter grazing at best.
A rotation is better but if it is only a catch crop in the ground for a few months the pests & disease won't build up much. Don't grow it if you have oilseed rape in the rotation.
Make sure your pH is kept up as acidity encourages clubroot which knackers the soil for brassicas for life.
Ploughing isn't always necessary as long as you have good root structure and can get the drill through the soil. In June you could lose lots of soil moisture and get poorer establishment but if you're on the west coast that might not be a big issue.

 

[jpd]

never too far from rain here
last summer being the exception with plenty of late grass reseeds having to be resown in sept

 

[ollie989898]

Drill it by the middle of May when soil temp is high. Roll to give good seed to soil contact so it emerges fast and even.

 

[Limcrazy]

Sow it in June. September is too early to be grazing kale as that's when it seems to bulk up most. Direct drill after first cut silage.

 

[hendrebc]

If you want something to graze that quickly why not use forage rape or a rape kale hybrid? It would be cheaper than kale seed and I think it would grow faster too.
@Kevtherev ?

 

[ollie989898]

PM for details on weed controllos.