Maddaftspaniel Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 Anybody got any experience of Jerusalem Artichokes as game cover? How long do they take to establish? Are they good cover? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1steele Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 I have used them and they will give a lot of cover early on but once they have been through a couple of times and had a bit of frost they soon become bare. They don't offer a lot in the way of cover from the weather. I generally prefer a mix of kale and something like mustard as it offers good cover and something to keep the birds occupied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 an advantage is they grow more year on year. you will only need to plant once unless eaten! they can grow 7 feet tall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1steele Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 an advantage is they grow more year on year. you will only need to plant once unless eaten! they can grow 7 feet tall. True, once planted they are easy to keep but personally I have never been a fan of game cover that has all that height and doesn't last the season. I prefer something that will give a full seasons cover and 3-4 feet in height is plenty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 give good cover for chicks early on but unless your shooting is early season, not worth it very cold later on. Kale is best cover but suffers with flea beetle maize seems popular we use it but does not offer the food quantities quoted look how much is chopped up end of season. last season put utopia on a piece of land that got cleared late, new of a couple of people used it and said useless bit of research sprayed it for flea beetle it worked. but a lot is about knowing your land cover plots tend to be the worst plots on a farm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferretboy111 Posted February 24, 2014 Report Share Posted February 24, 2014 I've planted a few patches here. Usually the north side of a wood. Strips no bigger than 12m wide. Mine stands all season regardless of weather. As wind breaks and little shelter belts it's ideal but not main covers! Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddaftspaniel Posted February 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Thanks I am just looking at alternatives. We have 12 acres of cover crops but they have been in the same place for years and struggle to grow anything but triticale and some forage rape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1steele Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Thanks I am just looking at alternatives. We have 12 acres of cover crops but they have been in the same place for years and struggle to grow anything but triticale and some forage rape What have you tried that hasn't worked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddaftspaniel Posted February 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 Tried Kale and rape mixed with triticale and oats. The brassicas germinate but never come to much despite plenty fertiliser (3cwt/acre). The cereals go fine but provide no cover after the first snow (no snow this year) Too far north for Maize. Thought of trying some perenials such as artichokes , canary grass or chickory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1steele Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 With the canary grass I would tend to plant it in strips/belts rather than as a whole gamecrop. You could try a mix of artichokes with some stubble turnips, in patches amongst your triticale and rape. I haven't really tried chickory so can't comment on that. It may be worth having a soil sample checked for it's pH and then trying something that suits the acidity/alkalinity of your soil. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddaftspaniel Posted February 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 Did soil sample last year no lime needed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1steele Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 (edited) Did soil sample last year no lime needed So presumably you have alkaline soil (unless it's totally neutral) but how alkaline is it? If it's too alkaline it's sometimes as bad as being too acidic and you may need to choose plants that prefer a highly alkaline soil. Biggest problem as I'm sure you're aware of is trying all these different crops can work out costly, especially if they fail. Do you know what others are using in your immediate area as it may give you a good indication of what might grow? Edited February 26, 2014 by r1steele Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 used some utopia this year just on a bit of land I got late, broad cast it on and dragged it in on august 11 sprayed once after about a week for flea beetle stands roughly 24-30" high. may be worth a try if you can get it in earlier it would get higher (this was in Lincolnshire on silt) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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