Main Crop
Kale
A reliable option for high-yield, winter-hardy forage
This crop delivers excellent yields of palatable forage suitable for both sheep and cattle. To maximise its potential, it should ideally be sown in May or June, allowing for a long growing season.
Moisture in the seedbed is essential for rapid germination and to minimise early competition from weeds and pests. As a nutrient-demanding crop, it performs best when well-fed. A split nitrogen application is recommended: apply 65% at sowing and the remaining 35% when the crop reaches approximately 15cm in height.
To prevent clubroot, avoid growing after a brassica crop for at least five years. If a shorter rotation is necessary, or if there is a known history of clubroot, clubroot-tolerant varieties are available and should be considered.
Regular crop monitoring is vital, particularly during early establishment when it is vulnerable to flea beetle, slugs, and pigeons.
Select the right variety based on livestock: those with thicker, high-yielding marrow stems are ideal for cattle, while shorter types with a higher leaf-to-stem ratio are better suited for sheep grazing.
