Mustard/Kale Hybrid

This is a hybrid species combining the parentage of the kale and mustard plants. The mustard part of the parentage ensures the plant is quick growing with rapid establishment, along with the more frost tolerant genes of the kale plant. A successful mustard x kale hybrid variety has been Utopia, A more recent addition is the variety Carbon, from the same breeder.

Uses

Cover for game birds.

Persistence

An annual brassica species.

Strengths

A very quick growing species, providing cover in a short space of time for the shooting season. An economical cover, due to its low sowing rate.

Frost Tolerance

Some early frost tolerance.

Sowing Rate Advice

2kg per acre / 5kg per ha.

Normally sown as a pure stand, packed in acre packs.

Ideal Sowing Time

Sow from June to July, as a fresh sowing or to patch up early spring planted game cover.

Management

Keep the sowing rates for carbon low, sowing too thickly will give game birds less room to move around in the cover. Sowing too early in the spring may result in the plant going to seed and dying away before the autumn, reducing the amount of green cover.

Distinguishing characteristics

Seed
This is a small, round seed. It varies from 2 - 3mm in size and may be coated with a seed treatment.

Seedling
The seedling produces two rounded cotyledons, with shallow toothed edges and a purple coloured stem.

Flowering Plant
Pale green in colour, with a purplish, mealy, leathery texture on the stem and branches. The leaves are oval to elliptical in shape, with toothed or jagged edges. It produces a yellow flower before seeding. The plant has a short branched taproot.

Additional Info

It can reach a height varying from 60-100cm.