News

19/07/2010

General Update

Having had the driest spring since the 1920s it presented a real challenge growing and establishing game cover crops.

Maize

The early sown crops that were drilled into moisture have grown on well and as the moisture dropped in the soil the roots were able to follow down. Plants with high vigour like Flightpath and Topgun have really shown their metal.

Late sown crops drilled above the moisture line have really struggled as the only way they can germinate and grow is from moisture from above which of course has not happened. Some have still not even germinated today.

Many customers are asking what they can drill into a troubled maize crop. If they have not sprayed, it is easy but if they have, most of the chemicals are residual and so you have a very limited choice of what you can sow into it and we recommend you call in to one of our specialists.

Sorghums

Enjoying the best year for the last 3, they love it. They have a low requirement for moisture and bask in hot weather.

Millets

Another semi-tropical crop which is doing much better in the sunshine. They have been very unhappy the last 2 wet summers. It's no surprise to see the semi-tropical crops doing well in this weather.

Brassicas and kale

These have had a horrible spring, no moisture to germinate and if and when they did the flea beetle attacked with a vengeance. Having sprayed, the pigeons attacked and if and when it rains we must keep an eye out for slugs.

During the last 2 wet summers, kale has been a great success but this year it has required a lot more skill and luck to get a good crop. We are trialling some Bio-Roote to aid establishment. Early results show that it seems to be well worth using. More detail at a later date.

For sowing now we recommend Utopia or Autumn Promise.

We have just noticed this morning that the saw fly are attacking the mustard, we are going to spray with insecticide.

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