Skyfall as a "Spring wheat"?

[Aceface]

I have been told that Skyfall has a very relaxed need for vernalisation, and therefore will grow to maturity if sown as late as March or even April, is this correct, and if so, is it as worth sowing in the spring yield wise as opposed to a specialist "Spring" variety? Any views or experiences greatly appreciated.
Many thanks,
Phil

 

[DRC]

I was told Skyfall was the one to sow the latest, but I’ve not done it, so can’t really say either way.
I believe spring wheat is selling out fast

 

[farmerphilly]

If it gets too late for my Kerrin then I intend doing the same. Perhaps not as late as April though!! We need to find someone who has done it in the past!

 

[bobk]

I was told Skyfall was the one to sow the latest, but I’ve not done it, so can’t really say either way.
I believe spring wheat is selling out fast

They'll find some more , they always do .

 

[Cowcorn]

They'll find some more , they always do .

If it gets too late for my Kerrin then I intend doing the same. Perhaps not as late as April though!! We need to find someone who has done it in the past!

Around 00 i think i drilled winter wheat for seed after beans at the behest of a merchant in late march . It got plenty of cold nights and even a fall of snow but despite assuarnces from the seed company it seemed to struggle to break out of vegative growth . It eventually produced heads but had huge amounts of tillers and heads of many stages of devlopment . The Dept of Ag seed inspector was very skeptical about the crops chances of reaching harvest before Christmas and advised cutting it for silage . Eventually we Regloned it in late Oct and it was still as green as a leek . It yielded around 3 ton of low bushel high moisture grain which we had to ripen of in the drier. Come to think of it it was probably 02 . I would keep the seed for next year if you cant get it in before Feb . Spring wheat seed might cost a lot but you can save on fert and spray and it will be cut earlier than march sown ww .

 

[Boerseun]

I have grown it in March planted around the 20th from memory, worked ok. It’s a few years back and had some seed left. I will do it again this year as I have the seed again. Home saved seed so not costing much. I’ll check but think it did about 6t/ha. Did not spend much on it spray or fert wise.

 

[DRC]

I suspect it’ll depend on where your are in the country. More chance of some cold days or frosts up north than in the southwest .

 

[bobk]

I suspect it’ll depend on where your are in the country. More chance of some cold days or frosts up north than in the southwest .

How do they cope with vernalisation in Spain ?

 

[DRC]

G

How do they cope with vernalisation in Spain ?

good question

 

[Boerseun]

I’m in the midlands. Skyfall has a spring variety parentage from the continent.

 

[BigBarl]

How do they cope with vernalisation in Spain ?

By growing irrigated veg for a lot more margin I expect

 

[bobk]

By growing irrigated veg for a lot more margin I expect

That's not answering the question

 

[BigBarl]

That's not answering the question

different varieties have a different requirements for vernalisation so I would guess they have selected for varieties with a lower vernalisation requirement over time (e.g Skyfall) but don’t forget there is nothing to stop you drilling a spring wheat variety in late October/ Nov so they could just grow what we term spring types drilled in the autumn?

 

[Brisel]

How do they cope with vernalisation in Spain ?

@Spanish

 

[bobk]

different varieties have a different requirements for vernalisation so I would guess they have selected for varieties with a lower vernalisation requirement over time (e.g Skyfall) but don’t forget there is nothing to stop you drilling a spring wheat variety in late October/ Nov so they could just grow what we term spring types drilled in the autumn?

We'll do well to get on before March now

 

[deleted user 837354]

The vernalisation requirement of a wheat variety depends on how much spring parentage they have. Ask the supplier or breeder as to the latest safe sowing date for what you have.

 

[bobk]

The vernalisation requirement of a wheat variety depends on how much spring parentage they have. Ask the supplier or breeder as to the latest safe sowing date for what you have.

That's the problem

 

[B'o'B]

That's the problem

@deleted user 837354 did also say “or breeder”. They are normally pretty helpful and happy to answer questions. Some put out agronomic advice sheets with latest recommended sowing dates on.

 

[Tractor Boy]

Skyfall has a latest sowing date of End Feb according to RAGT. No one will vouch for anything different so it’s drill it in March off your own back.

 

[Fubar]

If the breeder says end of March then you would imagine that they are 100 % confident that this date is safe. Surely then, there is some room for manoeuvre, possibly stretching the date by at least a week or 10 days into March without too much concern.
How can the breeder know if you are in Scotland or southern England? And there can be massive variations in spring temps from year to year. I've drilled end of Jan stuff in mid Feb in the past without any issues but i must say it was always a relief to then get a cold spell in early March.
I think it's safe to say that unless we suddenly get a dry 2 - 3 week spell of dry then there will be a lot of on farm vernalisation experiments trials going on next spring( assuming it's stopped raining by then). I think I'd rather risk drilling wheat a week later than it's safe date than maul it into a cold wet soil in December.