Winter linseed drilling

moretimeforgolf

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
North Kent, UK
Just wondering when others with experience of winter linseed think is the best time to drill?
I know some will have got theirs in already but I’m in Kent so was thinking mid-September?
@Flintstone was early last year but don’t recall seeing how it performed.
 

Flintstone

Member
Location
Berkshire
Hi
It got up and away well last year, and then got hit hard by the frost and cold wind in Feb/March, when we had minus 7 for a week and some biting winds that added some serious wind chill.
It recovered quite well, despite going black and blue.

Then, after a very delayed Spring stem extension, it went flat! This made it hard to cut, and the result wasn’t very good at all. To top it all, the shed it was put in flooded in one of those massive August storms a few weeks ago.

I’ve dropped the acreage right back this year, and planted 75 acres three days ago. As far as I’m concerned this is its last chance before I scrap it from the rotation.
 

moretimeforgolf

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
North Kent, UK
Hi
It got up and away well last year, and then got hit hard by the frost and cold wind in Feb/March, when we had minus 7 for a week and some biting winds that added some serious wind chill.
It recovered quite well, despite going black and blue.

Then, after a very delayed Spring stem extension, it went flat! This made it hard to cut, and the result wasn’t very good at all. To top it all, the shed it was put in flooded in one of those massive August storms a few weeks ago.

I’ve dropped the acreage right back this year, and planted 75 acres three days ago. As far as I’m concerned this is its last chance before I scrap it from the rotation.
Thanks for your very honest reply!
 

Badshot

Member
Location
Kent
I don't see the advantage of winter linseed.
It doesn't yield better.
It doesn't have the big grassweed advantage.
It doesn't have any advantage except cutting early.
If that's an issue grow spring and strip it.
Be better off buying a stripper header and having it in your armoury.
Oh, and a disc direct drill.
 

B'o'B

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Rutland
I don't see the advantage of winter linseed.
It doesn't yield better.
It doesn't have the big grassweed advantage.
It doesn't have any advantage except cutting early.
If that's an issue grow spring and strip it.
Be better off buying a stripper header and having it in your armoury.
Oh, and a disc direct drill.
It doesn’t get nibbled by Flax flea beetle, but generally agree with you on the rest.
 

moretimeforgolf

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
North Kent, UK
I don't see the advantage of winter linseed.
It doesn't yield better.
It doesn't have the big grassweed advantage.
It doesn't have any advantage except cutting early.
If that's an issue grow spring and strip it.
Be better off buying a stripper header and having it in your armoury.
Oh, and a disc direct drill.
I’ve never got on with spring linseed so I thought I’d try winter instead as a direct replacement for osr. I’ve had trouble with flax beetle in spring crops and insecticides haven’t been used here for 8 years and not about to start again. Winter crop will be disc drilled in spring barley stubble.
I take your point about the stripper header … does anyone hire them?
 

Badshot

Member
Location
Kent
I’ve never got on with spring linseed so I thought I’d try winter instead as a direct replacement for osr. I’ve had trouble with flax beetle in spring crops and insecticides haven’t been used here for 8 years and not about to start again. Winter crop will be disc drilled in spring barley stubble.
I take your point about the stripper header … does anyone hire them?
I don't know, but I want to look at them for next year.
I really don't need to cut the straw.
 

Devon James

Member
Location
Devon
May I give a positive story for the variety Attila.
Drilled on 21st September. Up and away with the rain on the 28th. Spring drilling can run into dry conditions
The crop powered through that cold February spell.
100kgs/ha of nitrogen, was a little too much as it got tossed around on the overlaps by the strong winds in June.
However, no glyphosate to senesce it for reasons that will come clear. Combined in August where we could wait for a good spell. The combine hardly blinked at it....had changed all the knife sections. No stripper header needed...thats good as none around here.
Yield was a tonne an acre on the nose. Beautiful bright sample
Straw was baled and sold.
Now I'm looking forward to planting wheat, and I know we have the potential for a great yield as linseed does wonders to the soil....the seedbed will be like an "ashes"..Devon terminology 😂
Now, the crop was on a seed contract. Even though the germination is in the 90s it doesn't look like it will move for its purpose. So, if you are looking to grow and get the benefits I've mentioned, have a look at Attila!
 
Just wondering when others with experience of winter linseed think is the best time to drill?
I know some will have got theirs in already but I’m in Kent so was thinking mid-September?
@Flintstone was early last year but don’t recall seeing how it performed.
Personally i would sow 20th-end of September given how far south you are. If you sow too early it gets too big going into winter and you might as well let grass weeds germinate as much as possible. Also if conditions are dry then you might as well wait because sowing into a dust bowl adds nothing.
 

moretimeforgolf

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
North Kent, UK
Personally i would sow 20th-end of September given how far south you are. If you sow too early it gets too big going into winter and you might as well let grass weeds germinate as much as possible. Also if conditions are dry then you might as well wait because sowing into a dust bowl adds nothing.
We’ve got a bit of moisture now and possibly some more tomorrow.
I felt that if it was a bit larger it would tolerate the planned Crawler application.
 

ajd132

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Suffolk
Please can you enlighten us , as if it will not stripper head their is a serious problem with the crop. :scratchhead: :scratchhead: :scratchhead:
I think it was too dead, it just pulled out the ground, it should have been done when slightly green I think, so it was my fault and not the actual crop. We did strip some spring linseed for someone which I think went okay but it did wrap up in the header a few times. Another neighbour has spent 3 days in a 14 hectare field with 2 combines trying to cut spring linseed.
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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