Sowing & Growing: Flexicover 2 Year Game Mix

This two year mix includes a robust level of kale and fennel to provide cover into the second year. It can be sown as stand alone game cover and to warm up blocks of maize by sowing alongside the edge.

Suitable soils: This mix can be sown from early May to late June, once the risk of frost has passed.

How to sow: A well worked weed-free seedbed is required. Aim to create several flushes of weeds which can be sprayed off or cultivated before sowing.

Drill the seed mix at 10-15 mm depth. This mix can be sown on wide rows to allow game birds to move through the cover or in narrow rows to create a denser block of cover.

Management: Sow by late June to ensure the slower growing species like kale have established by the autumn.

Nutrient requirements: Game crops require P and K levels to be ADAS Index 2 and benefit from 20-50 kg N/ha in the seedbed or an application once established. Alternatively, the site should be spread with FYM before sowing in the spring.

 *The brassica element of the mixture is susceptible to flea beetle damage*

Aim to sow into farm conditions with the addition of fertiliser, to encourage the brassicas species to grow past the risk of Flea beetle damage. This is usually at the 1-4 true leaf stage.

Second Year Management:

The annual species like the cereals, sorghums, millets and radish will die away during the winter of year one. However the kale and fennel should feature strongly in year two.

An application of fertiliser in the spring of year two can help these second year species create better cover for the upcoming shooting season.

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Date Posted: 12th May 2023