We supply a huge range of seed as straights.
Artichokes
Artichokes are an excellent permanent cover for awkward areas such as hillsides, shady areas, heavy soils and where annual spring cultivation is a problem. Artichokes are sown as tubers (like potatoes) and therefore will need to be planted in ridges, and ideally maintained every year. Growing up to 6ft they make a dense cover, which has a tendency to lodge in December, so if the ridges are not maintained you lose your cover.
Buckwheat
Buckwheat produces a conical shaped seed, which has real value as an early feed source in cover crops. Fast establishing and sown in May, it competes well against weeds. Seed maturity will be reached in 10 weeks and the seeds shed over several months, so the stubble can hold pheasant and partridge. Duck and deer also love it and it can be sown alongside ponds and in forest glades to attract these game species as well. Does not like the frost.
Chicory
Chicory is a perennial herb used largely for grazing. It is very high in minerals, drought tolerant and has anthelmintic properties (helps to reduce liver fluke and worms in deer and grazing livestock).
If left untouched, chicory will bolt and can grow up to 7ft, providing excellent cover from birds of prey. In winter the tall plants tend to lean over, providing a thick mass of material with a network of tunnels and runways.
It has its uses for temporary hedging. It is easily destroyed and easy to establish, it is widely used as a windbreak and is planted in narrow strips for temporary hedging after six months growth.
Canary Grass
Another long-term cover crop providing a tall tussocky grass up to 6ft. A useful crop for areas where re-planting is impractical or uneconomic such as field margins, set-aside, forest glades or plantations. Canary grass is very versatile having the ability to provide a multi-function cover for nesting, holding and driving. Canary grass should be planted in a minimum 30” rows, ideally 40-60”. The growth nature of canary grass means it creeps in the gaps year after year, eventually resulting in it being too thick. If this occurs our advice is to top it in the early spring and with a nap sack sprayer, spray out large lines to clean up the area enabling the canary grass to grow tall creating a canopy and tunnel. It is a good idea to spin on some lightning mustard to keep the weeds down as canary grass is slow to establish.
Gold of Pleasure
Has been grown in Europe for centuries in the Iron and Bronze Ages it was an important agricultural crop. Before gas and electricity, its oil was used in oil lamps and its also a common edible product. Gold of pleasure is an annual or over-wintering herb. It has branched stems that become woody at maturity. Suited to most climates and soil types, it will provide highly nutritious seed well into January.
Lightning Mustard
The best varieties for game cover. Mustard is a most versatile crop, very easy to plant either by drilling or broadcasting and then harrowing in. It will easily germinate to form a crop loved by both partridge and pheasant. It is relatively pest free due to the strong flavour, and very resilient to the harsh UK climate by being able to cope with drought and cold. It will stop growing when the temperature falls below zero. Many keepers broadcast mustard into standing cereals in July to ensure an early cover.
Linseed Blend
This oilseed crop is normally sown between March – July, depending on location. However, both winter and spring varieties are normally available, and dresses seed is preferable. Quick to establish, linseed is a magnet to partridge. Many keepers prefer to use linseed alongside other cover crops.
Phacelia
Phacelia is used in the UK as a brood rearing crop. Its purple flowers have the tremendous ability to attract a large array of insects. In the summer you can hear a crop of phacelia buzzing. In trials where it has been growing alongside or with a kale it produces an excellent cover, and although an annual, due to its high seed drop will re grow for many years by self-seeding. It’s not hardy enough to withstand frosts and therefore needs to be sown with other crops if it is being considered as part of your cover plans. Where it has been grown alongside kale, we have noticed that the problem of flea beetle is reduced. This could be due to the presence of hover flies in phacelia which feed on the flea beetle.
Quinoa
Quinoa can produce over one tonne per acre of high protein grain. When planted in a game cover situation this provides an extremely palatable and nutritious food for both game and song birds. (a conservationist’s heaven).
Spring Triticale
Of all the cereal crops triticale is probably the best for use in game cover situations. Triticale is a hybrid of wheat and rye and will grow on the poorest of soils with pH as low as 4.9. It is very drought and cold tolerant ensuring that it will last well into the season. Triticale shows some tolerance to rabbit attack. It is an ideal crop where maize is not an option and very good in marginal situations. As well as providing food and cover for game birds, it provides great habitat for a number of the declining species of songbirds, such as the Corn Bunting.
Sunflowers
With so much focus on the countryside, growing sunflowers should be in every shoot’s game plan. They cheer people up; all birds love to eat them and the seed is highly nutritious. Easy to grow, they will tolerate most soil types and drought, the young plants are prone to slug damage and rabbits. Mature, well grown sunflowers will provide plenty of food through the winter months, seed crops of 1 tonne per acre are not unknown. Sunflowers are best grown in combination with other crops. Our varieties are commercial and very high yielding. They have excellent standing, are of medium height. Perfect for use in game cover.
Sweet Clover
This tall growing legume can reach 4-5ft in height and last several years. Its bright yellow flowers will attract an abundance of insects. With strong seeding vigour it is suited to calcareous and neutral soils. It really needs to be established with another crop such as kale which will act as cover in the first year. The sweet clover will come into its own in year 2 or 3.