When to Destroy Cover Crop

[Happy]

Got an oil radish/phacelia cover crop that was sown early May.
Just flowering now.
Plan is to put field into WW early September.
Will seeds from this be a potential weed problem or are these easy enough controlled with normal weed spray?
Seems a shame to top it now rather than let roots get bigger to do their stuff on the clay

Will be ploughed rather the DD’d.

 

[juke]

you could always run the topper through and get a bit secondary regrowth from the radishes.

 

[thameslade]

Yes the seed will need extra herbicide in your filling crop.

 

[Happy]

you could always run the topper through and get a bit secondary regrowth from the radishes.

Thanks, that might be best option.
Any idea how long I can leave it going by seeds in pictures?
I’ve no idea how quick they become viable.

 

[quattro]

Don’t know about oil radish ,I’ve a phacelia/crimson clover and forage rye which is topped a day or two before drilling osr

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Is there a need to top to allow the drill to work? My preferred option would be to leave it growing until spraying off the day before you drill. That way you will get maximum benefit from the cover crop. The bigger the better.

 

[MrNoo]

I've sheep on mine currently, plan is to let them mow it right down then leave for a regrowth then have them back in before spraying off

 

[Happy]

Is there a need to top to allow the drill to work? My preferred option would be to leave it growing until spraying off the day before you drill. That way you will get maximum benefit from the cover crop. The bigger the better.

No. That’s what I’m wondering.
Will be ploughed rather than DD’d. Just wondering if seed from the raddish will be a problem in following crop/years if I leave it until then.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

No. That’s what I’m wondering.
Will be ploughed rather than DD’d. Just wondering if seed from the raddish will be a problem in following crop/years if I leave it until then.

it might be as it's an oilseed so may survive underground. What about growing species less likely to seed? Eg sunflowers, vetch or warm season grasses?

 

[juke]

Thanks, that might be best option.
Any idea how long I can leave it going by seeds in pictures?
I’ve no idea how quick they become viable.

id be looking at topping it now and then spray off middle of august give it a chance. we would just drill straight into that easy enough,

 

[Brisel]

No issues with phacelia. I've been using it as a cover crop for years. The volunteers rarely last more than 2 seasons and don't compete with the crops.

I can't comment on the radish as I have no experience. I'd say it was safe to leave the cover crop for longer yet. What will you do to the aftermath? Can you drill into high amounts of residue?

 

[quattro]

No issues with phacelia. I've been using it as a cover crop for years. The volunteers rarely last more than 2 seasons and don't compete with the crops.

I can't comment on the radish as I have no experience. I'd say it was safe to leave the cover crop for longer yet. What will you do to the aftermath? Can you drill into high amounts of residue?

When do you start your new job ,if you don’t mind me asking

 

[Brisel]

When do you start your new job ,if you don’t mind me asking

Officially, 3rd August. Unofficially, the week before.

 

[Will 1594]

Officially, 3rd August. Unofficially, the week before.

Can I take the 63 up. ?. But you pay the speeding fines ?‍

 

[Steevo]

Can I take the 63 up. ?. But you pay the speeding fines ?‍

How many fines before a total ban....?

 

[Fish]

Unless that oil radish is an F1 hybrid, I wouldn't let it seed as it might haunt you for years. I would top it before it forms pods, the Phacelia on the other hand is no problem.

 

[Brisel]

Can I take the 63 up. ?. But you pay the speeding fines ?‍

You will still get the points!

 

[Mc115reed]

I've sheep on mine currently, plan is to let them mow it right down then leave for a regrowth then have them back in before spraying off

Are they your sheep? How many ewes too acre? Are they doing well on it? .. been offered some too graze next week but a quick google on oilseed radish seems people say at best the hole condition even chance of loosing condition?

 

[MrNoo]

He had 750 on 55 acres, lambs were taken off yesterday and he'll leave the rest there for a week or two, will then prob spray off or disc lightly then spray off. He said they had done well on it but I'm no sheep expert and once they were in it was a job to find them! He seemed pleased and thats the main thing

 

[moretimeforgolf]

No. That’s what I’m wondering.
Will be ploughed rather than DD’d. Just wondering if seed from the raddish will be a problem in following crop/years if I leave it until then.

I did similar last year but with buckwheat rather than radish. I sprayed it off in early August due to the ryegrass issue in that field. I then got a secondary crop from the seeded phacelia and buckwheat . I’d be a bit more nervous with radish if you have rape in the rotation.