Persian Clover and groundhog radish?

[wisconsinteacher]

I'm looking for a cover crop to plant this spring on my plot. Last fall, I planted Whitetail Ins Oats Plus. I'm thinking about terminating it in late May and planting Persian clover and groundhog radish until it is time for the fall planting in late Aug. Thoughts on this idea? The fall planting will be a mix of cereals and brassicas.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

The oats will be dead this spring, but is there some other seed in Whitetail Institute Oats Plus?

What kind of equipment do you have to prep the soil, plant, spray, etc.?

 

[wisconsinteacher]

I have an atv with a disc, harrow drag and 600# cultipacker. I also have a sprayer for the atv. I forgot to mention, I did put winter rye down as well so that will pop up right away. I was just thinking the clover/radish would be a good summer crop to help build the soil a bit.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

If you have rye out there, I'd probably just leave that in place to build the soil next year until your fall crop. The rye will go to seed, so you won't need to buy any rye seed for your fall blend.

Clover and radishes may also be a good option, but I'd probably stick with the easiest option and that is to do nothing!

 

[bigboreblr]

Ever planted persian clover? The green cover milpa mix has it in there. Not sure what the clover looked like. Didn't see any unusual clover or trefoil like plant when I used that mix.

I almost always plant oats with my winter rye. Sometimes wheat. I get wheat for free, so why not.

Forst seeding some clover and letting it go until fall again isn't a bad idea. I'd save the radish until fall. I'd probably only switch spring food plots if I needed to do some weed control that would kill cereal grains.

Sometimes cereal grains reseed themselves. Sometimes the critters eat most of the seed. I would alteast supplement seed like 50lb/acre min or rye. I find 100-125lbs/acre of rye is about eight for no-till. Assumng 1/2 can be from seeds the birds missed and the other half you add.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

I did some more research and looking. I think I'm going to frost seed some red clover over the plot in March/April and then when the winter rye is 12-16" tall, mow it and let the clover grow as my summer crop. I can terminate it and plant the fall crop in Aug/Sept. That will only mean tiling one time and I will have plants growing most of the season on the soil.

 

[bigboreblr]

I did some more research and looking. I think I'm going to frost seed some red clover over the plot in March/April and then when the winter rye is 12-16" tall, mow it and let the clover grow as my summer crop. I can terminate it and plant the fall crop in Aug/Sept. That will only mean tiling one time and I will have plants growing most of the season on the soil.

Sounds good. If the rye looks thin in the spring, get a bag of feed oats and spread it in there. Every bag I have used germinated just fine. Several different sources. Probably about 20 bags over the year ,all good.

 

[Bill]

Actually no need to mow the rye. It’s a good nurse crop for clover.

 

[matinc]

Curious if a mixture of rape turnips and radish should be planted in may to help build soil and crimp the existing rye on top of it with a good mixture of clover late August

 

[RGrizzzz]

Ever planted persian clover? The green cover milpa mix has it in there. Not sure what the clover looked like. Didn't see any unusual clover or trefoil like plant when I used that mix.

https://store.greencover.com/produc...=1&_psq=persian+clover&_ss=e&_v=1.0#gallery-2

Looks like standard clover to me.

 

[Westwind]

This guy is waist deep in the stuff.

I see Welters is carrying this. I don’t remember them carrying it before.

I like it.

 

[Westwind]

I personally would not do groundhog forage radish in the summer. I do in the fall.

Also- I personally would never spend the money on the type of oats you planted. Plant seed oats. $10 per 32# bushel bag of Jerry Oats are excellent. I have planted the black cosaq oats in a mix. “Premium” oats, more cold tolerant. Not worth it.

 

[RGrizzzz]

I have planted the black cosaq oats in a mix. “Premium” oats, more cold tolerant. Not worth it.

Why do you say that? Didn't overwinter?

 

[homerj]

Forage radishes planted before the summer solstice will likely bolt early and not produce tubers.

 

[Westwind]

Why do you say that? Didn't overwinter?

Why do you say that? Didn't overwinter?

The oats right? Don’t think they over wintered. BUT it is also possible that they did but my rye and triticale choked them out.

 

[Telemark]

Forage radishes planted before the summer solstice will likely bolt early and not produce tubers.

I planted mine in May and hardly got any tap root growth, but it was really dry this summer. Turnips grew like gangbusters.

 

[matinc]

Tele any pics of the growth? Would you recommend planting rape turnips and radishes in may?