hand sown game crop?

[gr cz527]

looking for some input on hand sowing an area of crop. we have a strip of white grassy area in an old limestone quarry area of a shoot. is it possible to rake and hand sow some cover crops in .2 of an acre? will they stand a chance if the ground is not prepared well enough? we are unable to access by tractor. quad only. we had a 2 year tritakale mix in mind. its for partridge and phesant. we have no arable land its all grass and softwood so looking for a trial of something different in the area. any thoughts or suggestions welcome. its a small diy shoot with limited budget but keen workforce.

 

[jall55]

Yes they will come - obviously depending how well you do it

I "add" some different stuff to existing 2nd / 3rd year plots each year

May i suggest you also put something in that will come next year - maybe chicory

 

[Covert]

Preparation is the key.
For ideas and tips check out what the Americans have been doing with QDM/Turkey feed plots, big market in the USA, may give you some ideas.
Choose a crop that suits the site and whether you want food /cover will depend on what crop/ mix you choose. Have used mustard as a nurse crop as well success. Would be tempted to go with crops that have smaller seeds especially if seed bed prep is limited
Would consider a brassica like a forage rape or stubble turnips in the mix
If you can check the pH and add the necessary line and fertiliser it will greatly improve chance of success.
As in every thing with Mother Nature timing is everything

 

[Tim.243]

looking for some input on hand sowing an area of crop. we have a strip of white grassy area in an old limestone quarry area of a shoot. is it possible to rake and hand sow some cover crops in .2 of an acre? will they stand a chance if the ground is not prepared well enough? we are unable to access by tractor. quad only. we had a 2 year tritakale mix in mind. its for partridge and phesant. we have no arable land its all grass and softwood so looking for a trial of something different in the area. any thoughts or suggestions welcome. its a small diy shoot with limited budget but keen workforce.

for .2 area and a keen team I would look around to hire or loan a power type rotavator as scratching around with rakes it will get old very quickly. Dad borrowed one from a small holding chap, twin cyl petrol, beast of a thing but it worked a treat...
From memory Trc has a barley type head so consider that as it was designed to go in Spaniels ears...

 

[Heym SR20]

Crops have been sown by hand for centuries. Indeed most seeds only need scattering across the surface of the soil, and mixing into a fine tilth. They do need access to water so gentle rain after sowing helps.

 

[Tim.243]

Crops have been sown by hand for centuries. Indeed most seeds only need scattering across the surface of the soil, and mixing into a fine tilth. They do need access to water so gentle rain after sowing helps.

He wants a cover crop not a new lawn....

 

[jimmer.13]

Artichokes maybe or as already mentioned chicory.

 

[Phil fox man]

we have used section of a horse harrow towed behind the quad to prep the surface.then broadcast the deed.

 

[jall55]

Artichokes maybe or as already mentioned chicory.

I would avoid artichokes as they offer no feed value - or interest to insects

 

[Rhodesianjess]

I would avoid artichokes as they offer no feed value - or interest to insects

Agreed, plus OP is in Scotland so they won't last long. I inherited some on one estate I worked on, two frosts and a high wind flattened them. Got shot of them sharpish.

 

[Pelyma]

I had a noise attenuation bund built, part of it is too steep for a tractor, after speaking to Cotswold seeds I used a lawn spreader and a pollinator mix covering around an acre and it has grown really well. If you can get a set of chain harrows I'd use them so the tines dig in and sow into that.

 

[VSS]

Has anyone got any experience of using sunflowers as a game cover / wild bird crop?

 

[jall55]

Y

Has anyone got any experience of using sunflowers as a game cover / wild bird crop?

Yes we use it VSS as part of a mix

Lots of the heads rotted last year before they properly went to seed - so we are planting it a bit earlier this year to hopefully get the feed benefit

A farm local to me does a crop and has a pick your own business.
In the winter - together with our bird plots the flocks of finches was awe inspiring
He was going to combine it - but missed the boat - so the crop was all left

 

[VSS]

Y

Yes we use it VSS as part of a mix

Lots of the heads rotted last year before they properly went to seed - so we are planting it a bit earlier this year to hopefully get the feed benefit

A farm local to me does a crop and has a pick your own business.
In the winter - together with our bird plots the flocks of finches was awe inspiring
He was going to combine it - but missed the boat - so the crop was all left

Thanks.
What's the mix you're using with the sunflowers? Is it something that's already made up, or are you doing the mix yourself? Also, what's the right time of year to sow a sunflower mix? I'd like to put in a couple of strips along field margins this year, but not sure how it'll fit in with my grazing rotation.

 

[jall55]

Thanks.
What's the mix you're using with the sunflowers? Is it something that's already made up, or are you doing the mix yourself? Also, what's the right time of year to sow a sunflower mix? I'd like to put in a couple of strips along field margins this year, but not sure how it'll fit in with my grazing rotation.

We usually use a mix from Kings - Winter wildlife holding cover - wild song bird - or simply mix some sunflowers in with moir mix

This year - because i also feed tonnes of the stuff to the birds in the winter - i am experimenting with creating one - only doing 3 fresh plots this year because the other 15/20 will last several years now.
I am using sunflower/ millet/phacelia/rape/ wheat / gold of pleasure

I have also already put this mix into the crops from last year - that also had a good proportion of chicory - i did this by walking and trampling or raking into bare patches.

The beauty of the mixes we use if they last 3,4,5 years - saving money - but more importantly to me ensuring no nests or other animals are chopped up in preparing each year

 

[VSS]

We usually use a mix from Kings - Winter wildlife holding cover - wild song bird - or simply mix some sunflowers in with moir mix

This year - because i also feed tonnes of the stuff to the birds in the winter - i am experimenting with creating one - only doing 3 fresh plots this year because the other 15/20 will last several years now.
I am using sunflower/ millet/phacelia/rape/ wheat / gold of pleasure

I have also already put this mix into the crops from last year - that also had a good proportion of chicory - i did this by walking and trampling or raking into bare patches.

The beauty of the mixes we use if they last 3,4,5 years - saving money - but more importantly to me ensuring no nests or other animals are chopped up in preparing each year

Would mid to late May be too late?

 

[jall55]

Would mid to late May be too late?

No - We will be doing our new ones last week in May

I just try to have things at different stages of their lives to create different habitats

 

[gr cz527]

thanks to evreyone for their replies. i will go away and speak to kings, brights etc see what mixes may be best. im sure my dad has a lawn seed spreader. need to see if i can get a petrol tiller for a weekend and look at how to best prep the area.

 

[jall55]

thanks to evreyone for their replies. i will go away and speak to kings, brights etc see what mixes may be best. im sure my dad has a lawn seed spreader. need to see if i can get a petrol tiller for a weekend and look at how to best prep the area.

You could also think about creating a thicket ? - plant some blackthorn / privet / box / holly / hawthorn etc etc

Once it gets going it will last for years and years with little work and great results - and a magnet for other wildlife too

 

[sh1kar]

We usually use a mix from Kings - Winter wildlife holding cover - wild song bird - or simply mix some sunflowers in with moir mix

This year - because i also feed tonnes of the stuff to the birds in the winter - i am experimenting with creating one - only doing 3 fresh plots this year because the other 15/20 will last several years now.
I am using sunflower/ millet/phacelia/rape/ wheat / gold of pleasure

I have also already put this mix into the crops from last year - that also had a good proportion of chicory - i did this by walking and trampling or raking into bare patches.

The beauty of the mixes we use if they last 3,4,5 years - saving money - but more importantly to me ensuring no nests or other animals are chopped up in preparing each year

I use the same