Mowing Winter Rye & other Cereal grains with Brassicas

[Joe Buck]

Due to time limitations, etc. we may have to plant winter rye, wheat and brassica mix around the last weekend in July. My question is if the cereal grains get to old and tall can we mow them or are we better off just leaving them. We are in Central Wis. Adams County. We are also trying to establish a clover plot with a winter rye cover crop at the same time. Is cutting the winter rye an option there as well? Thanking you in advance for your replys

 

[John-W-WI]

If you can, I would leave the rye in both fields. Not so much for the crop you are planting this year, but to have rye in the spring.

I always try to have winter rye available in the spring. It's the 1st thing to green up, and the deer pound it early when they need it most.

Just my $.02

 

[SWIFFY]

Im in central MN and i would say, yes, thats too early for your small grains. I find planting my small grains closest to Sept.1 seems to be best. I dont see how you could mow if you have brassicas growing amongst your rye. If you have to plant, just do it and leave it. I would think it would still be fine as a cover for your clover but leave it until next spring and then mow it once your clover has established.

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

Just to clear up any questions some of us may have, Are you planting all of that in a mix or cereals in one and brassicas in another?

 

[Ben Glantz]

Here is a possible idea for you- Last year I planted a combo of WR, Oats, Brassicas, clover the 3rd week of July. (I planted early because I have crappy soil and I was afraid that I might need multiple plantings to get it going because of the lack or rain and several sand hill cranes and other birds that were pounding my plots)I went fairly light on the WR. Then around the middle of August I broadcast WR into the plot and then I did it again in the beginning of September. This method helped keep young green shoots of WR available. I am kind of guessin because I forgot to do a seclusion cage but the interest in the WR went down as it got taller. I would say when it got past 8-10 inches, I noticed less browse on those plants.