Yes , plant into warm soil when rain forecast. Make a fine firm seedbed with most of fert incorprated or combine drill. Mix some slug pellets with the seed if you expect slug trouble. In good growing conditions it should come out of the ground like a stabbed rat. Drilling early can be a disaster if a cold snap arrives . Last week of April seems to suit over here ,though one of the best crops i ever grew was drilled at the end of May . Watch out for pollen beetle and spray as soon as threshold is reached . All going welll a ton and a half is achievable.
So, what's the secret to success with it then ? A lot of people seem to dismiss it at being a waste of time, but some seem to think it's a good option..Patched in once a few years ago and it was better than the Winter, thinking about having a go this year
Like everything in life a little luck is required, but spring rape is very finicky and if it gets a bad start it can be a disaster . If everything comes together and it emerges thick and even it will supress the weeds. Then if the pollen beetles are kept at bay youre nearly there. Herbicide options are Butisan an off label rec or Salsa a new product . But really shouldnt need weed control . As drilling off the heap is not usually an option due to been a minor crop seed will have to be purchased and it aint cheap so really no shortcuts on seedbed quality .
I just did flooded areas in a field of WOSR when they dried out in the spring probably 25% of a 20 acre field ( under drained now ) so I’m no expert, but been put off by others saying I was just lucky and not needed to since til this year
Hang on, Per hectare or acre ?
I am still mostly imperial stones, hundredweights, units and ACRES so yes a ton and half acre !!!Hang on, Per hectare or acre ?
We're still in old school acres down here in the southwest !!
HAaha. That's what I read it as, and would be delighted with to tell the truth !!
You have several times commented that it’s a successful crop in Sweden. Do you not have pollen beetles?
