Westerwolds

[5312]

We sowed some Westerwold last September for the first time , grazed it in January and just cut it for silage.

If we cut it every 4 or 5 weeks, how many times will we be able to cut it?

Also, if we let it go to seed later in the summer will it self seed to any extent?

 

[Beef farmer]

Let it seed at your peril.

If you cut it every 5 weeks, then you should be able to work out how many 5 week intervals there are between now and october.
It wont do a 2nd season. Westerwold is really a 10 month crop.

 

[M-J-G]

If you cut every 4 or 5 weeks a few times early in the season you are unlikely to get mature enough grass later in the season and will in turn struggle to get it to shed viable seed that will germinate.

 

[5312]

Let it seed at your peril.

If you cut it every 5 weeks, then you should be able to work out how many 5 week intervals there are between now and october.
It wont do a 2nd season. Westerwold is really a 10 month crop.

I didn't realise that it would last until October. I was expecting to need to reseed the field late summer. Hoping to get more clovers in the next ley.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I didn't realise that it would last until October. I was expecting to need to reseed the field late summer. Hoping to get more clovers in the next ley.

Why dont you put some long term grass in

 

[5312]

Why dont you put some long term grass in

It is supposed to be back in barley in 2 or 3 years, thought it might be worth having some of next years seed from this crop.

 

[5312]

What would be the optimim number of weeks between cutting?

How many weeks before it would go to seed?

 

[Dog Bowl]

I cut my westerwolds every 4 to 5 weeks. Last year in the drought though between 3rd and 4th cut it just started to seed in that 4th week!

 

[Derrick Hughes]

It is supposed to be back in barley in 2 or 3 years, thought it might be worth having some of next years seed from this crop.

Then you need Italian or Hybrid Ryegrass

 

[beltextexel]

What’s the price of the seed?

 

[Devil's advocate]

Let it seed at your peril.

If you cut it every 5 weeks, then you should be able to work out how many 5 week intervals there are between now and october.
It wont do a 2nd season. Westerwold is really a 10 month crop.

What happens when it seeds? I imagine the OP is putting it through the combine?